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The Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi has launched a dedicated Digital Economy Survey to gather comprehensive data on digital activities and determine their exact contribution to the emirate’s economic output. The survey targets establishments involved in information and communications technology, online commerce and digital services, requesting details on revenue streams, workforce distribution and technology investments. According to SCAD, the exercise follows international guidelines to produce statistics that align with global standards and inform evidence-based policymaking across government entities. Abdulla Gharib Alqemzi, Director-General of SCAD, noted that high-quality data remains essential as Abu Dhabi implements its digital strategy aimed at becoming the world’s first AI-native government by 2027.
SCAD’s new survey builds on the centre’s recent GDP revisions that have highlighted the rising importance of non-oil sectors in Abu Dhabi’s economy. Official SCAD figures show real GDP reached AED 306.3 billion in the second quarter of 2025, a 3.8 percent increase from the previous year, while non-oil activities expanded 6.6 percent to a record AED 174.1 billion. The centre’s data further indicate that non-oil sectors accounted for 56.8 percent of total GDP during that period, underscoring the shift toward technology-driven growth that the Digital Economy Survey seeks to track more precisely.
The initiative coincides with national efforts to expand the UAE’s digital economy, which currently represents close to 12 percent of GDP with a target of more than 20 percent by 2031. A Khaleej Times review of official strategy reported that artificial intelligence alone could add nearly $96 billion to the UAE economy by 2030, equivalent to almost 14 percent of GDP. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, has described data collection as critical to doubling the digital contribution within non-oil GDP over the next decade.
Businesses selected for the SCAD survey will complete structured questionnaires covering digital sales volumes, spending on software and cybersecurity, and employment in technology-related roles. SCAD stated that all collected information will remain confidential and is required under statistical regulations governing sampled entities. Initial results from the survey are expected to be integrated into future GDP estimates beginning in 2027, allowing for more granular analysis of digital value added across sectors.
This launch reflects SCAD’s broader programme of statistical innovation, including the recent unveiling of AI-powered platforms such as Tbyaan for unified data production across 13 government bodies. The centre also completed a comprehensive GDP rebasing project earlier in 2026 to capture structural economic changes more accurately. SCAD announcements indicate that these tools enhance the reliability of indicators used in national planning and private investment decisions alike.
Parallel statistical work in Dubai has similarly emphasised digital metrics, with the emirate’s first-quarter 2026 GDP reported at AED 232 billion and a 2.4 percent annual increase. The Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment highlighted 2.7 percent growth in the information and communications sector during that period, reaching AED 12.1 billion in value added. Such coordinated efforts across emirates strengthen the UAE’s overall statistical framework, which was modernised through a national programme approved in 2026 to better reflect digital and non-oil expansion.
