Q1 2025: The Non-Oil Economy Takes the Lead
In the first quarter of 2025, Abu Dhabi’s GDP grew 3.4% year over year to Dh291 billion. Interestingly, for the first quarter on record, the non-oil sector increased by 6.1%, contributing Dh163.6 billion, or 56.2% of the emirate’s GDP.
Building, Manufacturing, and Finance Propel Diversification
Key sectors driving growth included manufacturing (Dh28.5 billion, +5%) and construction (Dh27.5 billion, +10.2%), each contributing around 9–10% to GDP. The finance and insurance sector also delivered strong performance, up 9.1% to Dh19.6 billion, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s status as a growing financial hub.
Thriving Retail, Real Estate, and Services
Other sectors—retail and wholesale trade (+3.6%), transport and logistics (+7.5%), real estate (+6.7%), health services (+5.2%), and professional, scientific, and technical services (+10.3%)—all recorded positive growth. This broad-based expansion demonstrates the robustness of Abu Dhabi’s diversified economy.
The Intersection of Digital Transformation and Economic Stability
Abu Dhabi’s “Falcon Economy” strategy and digital projects, such as its Dh13 billion AI government roadmap, were praised by officials for facilitating innovation-driven, sustainable growth. The population of the emirate is expected to reach 4.14 million by 2024, and its economic model is demonstrating resilience and readiness for the future.
