RIYADH: Dubai’s economy maintained its positive momentum in the first quarter of 2026, with the emirate’s gross domestic product reaching 232 billion Emirati dirhams ($63.1 billion), a 2.4 percent yearly increase.
According to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, the performance was attributed to the diversity and integration of the emirate’s economic activities, alongside development policies aimed at strengthening competitiveness and supporting long-term growth targets.
The gross domestic product series has also been revised since the start of 2026 to reflect updated survey results and administrative data, in line with international statistical standards.
In April, the International Monetary Fund cut its 2026 growth forecast for the UAE as a whole by 1.9 percentage points to 3.1 percent as part of a broader downgrade for the Middle East, reflecting the economic fallout from the US-Iran conflict.
Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, Helal Saeed Almarri, said the latest results “reflect the strong performance, which supports growth and establishes a base of stability, enabling Dubai to accelerate its growth rate during the rest of the current year and extending to the next year.”
