Abu Dhabi’s economy continues to point out robust momentum in 2025, with Gross Home Product (GDP) reaching AED291bn ($79.2bn) within the first quarter—a 3.4 per cent enhance in comparison with Q1 2024, in accordance with the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD).
Driving this development is the emirate’s increasing non-oil financial system, which surged 6.1 per cent year-on-year to AED163.6bn ($44.5bn).
For the primary time ever in a Q1 interval, non-oil sectors contributed 56.2 per cent of whole GDP, underscoring Abu Dhabi’s continued financial diversification efforts.
Abu Dhabi financial system
The oil sector accounted for the remaining 43.8 per cent, or AED127.4bn ($34.7bn).
Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), mentioned: “Day after day, Abu Dhabi’s financial system is reaffirming the success of the emirate’s long-term technique and the effectiveness of well timed insurance policies and measures to deal with modifications and challenges in regional and international panorama.
“Our Falcon Economic system orchestrates multi-dimensional methods throughout totally different sectors, enabling us to construct synergies and work in tandem to realize Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s strategic targets”.
The manufacturing sector was the most important non-oil contributor, including AED28.5bn ($7.8bn) in worth—a 5 per cent year-on-year enhance. It now represents 9.8 per cent of the emirate’s GDP. As a part of this, new industrial licences rose 4.7 per cent and the quantity off factories shifting to manufacturing surged 65 per cent, reflecting sectoral enlargement
Development posted the strongest development amongst non-oil sectors at 10.2 per cent, reaching AED27.5bn ($7.5bn) and contributing 9.4 per cent to whole GDP.
This enlargement is supported by continued funding in housing, infrastructure, and AI-powered allowing methods such because the Binaa platform.
The finance and insurance coverage sector grew 9.1 per cent to AED19.6bn ($5.3bn), buoyed by a 43 per cent enhance in registered establishments at Abu Dhabi World Market (ADGM) and a 33 per cent rise in property below administration.
International funding into Abu Dhabi Securities Trade (ADX) hit AED8.5bn ($2.3bn), up 151 per cent year-on-year and ADX market capitalisation crossed AED2.93tn ($797.8bn), a 3.2 per cent enhance.
Different examples of the various non-oil development throughout sectors, embrace:
- Wholesale and retail commerce: AED16bn ($4.4bn), up 3.6 per cent
- Actual property: Up 6.7 per cent
- Transport and logistics: Grew 7.5 per cent, affirming Abu Dhabi’s position as a logistics hub
- Well being sector: Up 5.2 per cent, aligned with quality-of-life initiatives
- Skilled and technical companies: Contributed 10.3 per cent, pushed by rising demand for information financial system jobs
- Arts and leisure: Grew 8.4 per cent, reinforcing tourism and tradition’s rising affect
Abu Dhabi’s inhabitants climbed to 4.14m in 2024, up from 3.8m in 2023. This demographic surge enhances the emirate’s sturdy non-oil enlargement, supporting demand for housing, public companies, and jobs.
The emirate’s AED13bn ($3.5bn) Digital Technique (2025–2027) goals to place Abu Dhabi because the world’s first absolutely AI-native authorities by 2027. By automating all public sector operations, the plan will increase effectivity, improve service supply and stimulate innovation-led financial development.
Abdulla Gharib Alqemzi, Director Common of the Statistics Centre, mentioned: “The primary quarter of 2025 reaffirms the energy, adaptability, and maturity of Abu Dhabi’s financial mannequin. Our transition towards a diversified, knowledge-based financial system continues to achieve momentum, with high-growth sectors like manufacturing, development, and monetary companies driving sustainable enlargement”.