UAE Economy Growth 2026: Non-Oil Sector Drives 3% Rise In First Quarter
The UAE economy growth 2026 figures for the first quarter are in, and they show the country’s economy expanded by 3 per cent year-on-year, reaching Dh485 billion.
The non-oil sector was the clear driver behind the numbers, contributing nearly 79.4 per cent of the national economy. Financial and insurance activities led the way, growing 17.3 per cent, ahead of other key sectors.
What makes the figures notable is the backdrop. The quarter overlapped with a period of regional tension, including missile and drone attacks linked to Iran. Despite this, economic disruption across the UAE stayed limited, and the country’s growth momentum held steady alongside other Gulf economies.
Analysts point to this resilience as a sign of how diversified the UAE‘s economy has become in recent years, with less dependence on oil revenue and stronger contributions from finance, tourism, real estate and trade.
The data offers an early signal for how the rest of 2026 might shape up, particularly as the country continues pushing initiatives to expand non-oil investment and attract international capital, even amid wider regional uncertainty.
