Abu Dhabi’s economy shows the fastest growth rates in the MENA region at 10.5%, a true “Falcon Economy”

• Abu Dhabi’s economy has the power to continue growing and maintain competitiveness
• Real GDP exceeds AED 830 billion by the end of the first nine months of 2022
• 50.3% contribution of non-oil sectors to the real GDP
• Real estate sector has seen a 20.3% increase in activity

Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD) has announced statistical estimates that show the growth of Abu Dhabi’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first nine months of 2022, reaching 10.5%, the highest in the Middle East and North Africa, compared to the same period of 2021.

Through the provision of an enabling knowledge-based economy and a resilient economic framework, Abu Dhabi continued to grow in leaps and bounds at the end of Q3 2022 across its various sectors thanks to the collaborative efforts of various government and private sector organisations. Abu Dhabi strengthened its international standing and maintained its competitiveness and macroeconomic stability.

Abu Dhabi has launched a number of initiatives in recent years as it focuses on diversifying its economy away from oil, promoting its non-oil economic activities, maintaining a prudent fiscal policy and progressively responding to the market needs and trends to upgrade the regulatory and legal frameworks to encourage foreign direct investment and promote its domestic investments.

H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), said: “Abu Dhabi’s robust economy continues to prove its superiority driven by our leadership’s clear vision, its ability to attract foreign direct investments and agile policies that enabled our economy to achieve the strongest growth in the region.”

His Excellency added: “Abu Dhabi, with its world-renowned cosmopolitan lifestyle and unparalleled infrastructure, is the destination of choice for global investors and talent. The private sector plays a crucial role in supporting the economy’s continued growth, and we will continue to prioritise sustainable economic policies to broaden the investment landscape.”

H.E. Ahmed Mahmoud Fikri, Director General of the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, said: “The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has attained accelerating growth rates in the non-oil gross domestic product, culminating in a 10.3% increase by the close of the third quarter of 2022. This growth is attributed to the strategic policies of prudent leadership, which have aimed at diversifying the economy, fostering private sector engagement, and investing in human capital. These efforts have established a robust economic environment resilient to challenges.”

His Excellency added: “According to statistical estimates of the first nine months of 2022, all economic sectors demonstrated impressive growth with the exceptional performance of main economic sectors. This included remarkable increases that portend a bright future for indicating a thriving and robust economy.”

Soaring Growth Across Key Economic Activities – Contribution of non-oil Sectors to GDP

According to statistical estimates that the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi announced, the non-oil sectors contributed 50.3% to GDP, with an increase of AED 39 billion compared to the same period in 2021 to reach AED 417.3 billion in total by the end of Q3 2022.

20.3% growth in real estate activities

Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector experienced an exponential 20.3% growth compared to the same period the previous year. The growth was due to the rise in real estate activities during the first nine months of 2022, as investors have been attracted to Abu Dhabi’s renowned waterfront and island communities, such as Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, Al Reem Island and Al Raha Gardens.

20.2% growth in accommodation and food services

The accommodation and food services sector in Abu Dhabi achieved a growth rate of 20.2% in the first nine months of 2022. In Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector, hotel occupancy rates, amongst other key indicators, have reached a two-year high. In 2022, Abu Dhabi hosted a total of 4.1 million overnight hotel guests, an increase of 24% on the previous year. Hotel occupancy rates reached 70%, well above the Middle East average of 63.6% which makes Abu Dhabi among top tourism destinations in the region in 2022.

The robust growth is being driven by increased awareness across international and domestic markets of Abu Dhabi’s offering of entertainment and sporting events, cultural and heritage experiences, and leading international partnerships.

17.4% growth in wholesale and retail trade activities

During the first nine months of 2022, the wholesale and retail trade sector reached AED45 billion, with a 17.4% increase compared to the same period in 2021. This sector accounted for 5.4% of Abu Dhabi’s nine-month GDP.

11.4% growth in transportation and storage activities

The transportation and storage sector saw an added value of AED14 billion in the first nine months of 2022, recording a growth of 11.4%. This sector, which boosted the emirate’s GDP by 1.7%, covers the transportation of passengers and cargo via rail, road, water, or air, and related storage activities. Abu Dhabi Airports reported that the Emirate’s airports were used by a combined total of 15.9 million passengers in 2022.

8.1% growth in manufacturing activities

The manufacturing activities in the Emirate witnessed a growth rate of 8.1%, with a contribution of 8.0% to the GDP during the first nine months of 2022. The manufacturing sector is expected to double in size by 2031 with the newly announced Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy to strengthen the Emirate’s position as the region’s most competitive industrial centre. Abu Dhabi government recently announced that it will invest AED10 billion across a number of ambitious industrial programs to more than double the size of the emirate’s manufacturing sector to AED 172bn by 2031.

The new strategy will boost Abu Dhabi’s trade with international markets, with the aim of increasing the Emirate’s non-oil exports by 143% to AED178.8 billion by 2031.

6.9% growth of the financial sector

Abu Dhabi’s financial sector grew by 6.9% in the first nine months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, with a value of AED28 billion. The sector accounted for 5.5% of the GDP.

The growing confidence of the international community and the economic growth potential has made Abu Dhabi a preferred destination for investors, businessmen, entrepreneurs, innovators, and other professionals from different parts of the world to the “Capital of Capital”.