Abu Dhabi's economy grew by nearly 4 per cent annually in the second quarter of this year, underpinned by strong performance in its non-oil sector.
Gross domestic product in the three months to the end of June jumped 3.8 per cent to Dh306.3 billion ($83.4 billion), the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Thursday, quoting data from Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi.
The growth was boosted by the non-oil economy's contribution of Dh174.1 billion, which was up 6.6 per cent annually, surpassing the record it achieved in the first quarter, the report said.
For the first half of the year, the emirate's economy climbed 3.63 per cent annually to Dh597.4 billion, with non-oil activities rising 6.37 per cent to Dh337.6 billion.
Growth was driven by key industries including manufacturing, construction, finance, real estate, and information and communications technology, the centre said.
“The consistent growth of Abu Dhabi’s GDP over the past few years underscores the emirate’s position as a dynamic economic hub guided by an ambitious vision, a multidimensional strategy and detailed road maps to accelerate economic growth and diversification," said Ahmed Al Zaabi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
Manufacturing remained the biggest contributor (at 10 per cent) to the non-oil sector, growing 3.1 per cent annually to Dh30.1 billion.
This came on the back of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, which has driven a 23 per cent increase in industrial GDP since 2022 and increased the number of industrial enterprises by 19.4 per cent, the report said.
"Investments in advanced industries and robust licensing have positioned Abu Dhabi as a regional manufacturing hub," the ADMO said.
Activity in the construction sector also rose 9.7 per cent to Dh30 billion and comprising 9.8 per cent of GDP, driven by major infrastructure and housing initiatives.
The finance and insurance sector jumped 10.3 per cent to Dh21.8 billion, accounting for 7.1 per cent of non-oil GDP, as government initiatives boost Abu Dhabi's appeal as a global financial centre.
Real estate activities during the first half of 2025 jumped 10.2 per cent to hit Dh11.7 billion, with transactions up by 39 per cent, on a growing population and more active investor community.
The ICT sector also grew 6 per cent to Dh8.6 billion, while the wholesale and retail trade sector grew 1.6 per cent to about Dh16 billion.
Professional, scientific and technical services expanded 10 per cent to Dh9 billion, while transportation and storage grew 7.5 per cent to Dh7.5 billion.
Abu Dhabi is "building a future-ready economy, one that is diversified, resilient, inclusive and globally competitive," Mr Al Zaabi said.
"Our priority remains building an innovation-led, high value economy, that expands private sector opportunities and enables all segments of society to realise their full potential," he added.
Abu Dhabi has continued its shift away from oil and has taken several measures to attract international investors, boost its competitiveness and improve the ease of conducting business.
The UAE capital's non-oil foreign trade in the first half of 2025 jumped 34.7 per cent annually to Dh195.4 billion.
Technology is one of the focus centres for the emirate: on Wednesday, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, reviewed progress on key AI and digital transformation goals that aim to make the emirate the world's first AI-enabled government by 2027.
Abu Dhabi was also the second highest ranked Middle Eastern entry on the 2025 edition of the Global Financial Centres Index, which was released last week, soaring 10 positions to 28th place ranking the year before.
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
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Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Labour dispute
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Pickford, Pope.
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Maitland-Niles, Mings, Saka, Trippier, Walker.
Midfielders Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Winks.
Forwards Abraham, Barnes, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Ings, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
