Dubai’s economy grew 4.4 per cent to reach AED241 billion (US$66.6 billion) in the first half of 2025, maintaining its strong upward momentum and surpassing projections.
In the second quarter alone, Dubai’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) climbed 4.7 per cent to AED122 billion (US$33.22 billion), consolidating its position as a one of the world’s most vibrant and competitive urban economies.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, commented: “Dubai’s economic performance reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, whose leadership has created a unique model of sustainable growth defined by innovation, excellence and global competitiveness.
“This vision continues to create new opportunities for investment, enterprise, and talent, underpinned by long-term planning and forward-looking policies.
“Each percentage point of growth is also the outcome of strong collaboration between diverse stakeholders, disciplined execution of strategies, and the emirate’s ability to turn global challenges into new possibilities for progress.
“The high GDP growth in the first half of the year reaffirms the progress of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which continues to translate our vision into measurable results. As we look ahead, we remain committed to advancing initiatives and forging partnerships that further strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading global economic hub.”
Sectoral gains strengthen the Dubai economy
There were exceptional results across key sectors, but the human health and social work activities recorded the highest growth, expanding 20 per cent and contributing 1.4 per cent to overall GDP growth. In Q2 alone, it grew by 12.8 per cent to AED1.4 billion (US$380 million), compared to AED1.2 billion in the same period of 2024.
The construction sector also maintained strong momentum, growing 8.5 per cent and contributing 6.7 per cent to Dubai’s GDP in the first six months. In Q2, it grew by 14.9 per cent, contributing 6.2 per cent to GDP, supported by increased government spending on development projects.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: “These results also highlight the strength of Dubai’s public-private sector partnerships, which continue to be characterised by shared ambition and strategic alignment.
“Dubai’s economy continues to demonstrate competitiveness, resilience, and agility across its bellwether sectors and new and high-growth horizons, consistently attracting investors, entrepreneurs and talent from around the world, while also developing homegrown capabilities and becoming a launchpad for global expansion.
“As we look ahead, we remain focused on building a future-ready, knowledge-driven economy that sustains momentum and also yields further opportunities for investment and innovation.”
Younus Al Nasser, CEO of the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, part of Digital Dubai, added: “The remarkable outcomes achieved by Dubai’s economy in the first half of 2025 reflect exceptional performance across key sectors and the effective collaboration between government entities and the private sector.
“This partnership continues to shape a future where Dubai, a city powered by real-time data, leads through innovation, technology, and data-driven decision-making. At the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, we remain committed to providing accurate, reliable data and enabling innovative analysis that supports Dubai’s economic competitiveness and strategic goals.”
Hadi Badri, CEO of Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of DET, said: “The robust expansion we witnessed – particularly in health, construction, real estate, and financial services – is the direct result of the creation and development of a business ecosystem purpose-built for agility and scale.
“The H1 growth also reflects the effectiveness of Dubai’s innovation-friendly policies that continue to enhance competitiveness and attract high-value investment. At DEDC, we remain focused on building on this positive trajectory to create new growth pathways with the support of our public and private sector partners.
“As we enter the next phase, we will capitalise on these gains by broadening economic diversification and further strengthening Dubai’s position among the world’s most dynamic metropolitan economies.”
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