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Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism reported that the emirate’s GDP stood at AED355 billion, equivalent to $96.7 billion, for the first nine months of 2025. The department’s data issued on January 31, 2026 indicated a 4.7 percent rise compared to the same timeframe in 2024. Third-quarter GDP reached AED113.8 billion with year-on-year growth of 5.3 percent. The figures highlight sustained momentum across the emirate’s economic activities according to the official release.
According to the department, health and social work activities achieved the strongest expansion with 15.4 percent growth, generating AED5.3 billion and contributing 1.5 percent to total GDP. Financial and insurance activities grew 8.5 percent to AED42.8 billion, representing 12 percent of GDP. The construction sector matched the 8.5 percent growth rate, adding AED23.9 billion or 6.7 percent of the total. Real estate expanded by 6.7 percent with an 8.2 percent GDP share during the period.
The department’s assessment found that remaining sectors registered collective growth of 2.2 percent over the nine months and 2.9 percent in the third quarter. Hadi Badri stated, “Growth is being generated across a diverse range of sectors… fast-rising segments like healthcare underscore how new growth areas are scaling alongside established pillars.” The director general’s comments accompanied the release of the latest economic indicators. Badri pointed to the broad-based nature of the expansion as a key strength in the department announcement.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, “Dubai’s growth reflects a dynamic economic ecosystem and a development model that puts people first, invests in talent, and builds prosperity on strong, sustainable foundations.” The statement was included in the January 31 release detailing the GDP performance. It aligns with repeated official emphasis on human capital and long-term planning in economic updates. The crown prince’s remarks framed the reported figures within the emirate’s strategic priorities.
Earlier data from Dubai authorities showed GDP at AED119.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting 4 percent growth from the prior year as reported in August 2025. This initial pace fed into the accumulated nine-month total. A Reuters report in May 2026 detailed that the wider UAE achieved 6.2 percent real GDP growth for all of 2025. Non-oil GDP for the federation increased 6.8 percent to AED1.5 trillion according to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.
The Central Bank of the UAE’s September 2025 quarterly review projected 4.9 percent growth for the national economy that year, largely from non-hydrocarbon sectors such as manufacturing, financial services, construction and real estate. Dubai’s outperformance in healthcare and finance aligns with those national drivers identified in the bank assessment. The IMF’s December 2025 Article IV consultation projected 3.1 percent real GDP growth for the UAE in 2026.
