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Dubai's GDP grew by 4% y-o-y in the 1Q 2025, reaching AED 119.7 bn, with growth fueled by strong performance across a broad range of strategic sectors, according to recent data by the Dubai Media Office. This is up from a 3.5% y-o-y growth in 4Q 2024, and 3.2% growth for 2024, according to a research note (pdf) from Emirates NBD.
Adding momentum to growth was the wholesale and retail trade sector, which grew 4.5% y-o-y to AED 27.5 bn during the period. This sector fueled overall growth by 1.03 percentage points and Dubai’s GDP by 23%.
The real estate sector, a cornerstone of the emirate’s economy, grew 7.8% y-o-y to reach AED 9 bn during the period. The sector contributed 7.5% of Dubai’s total GDP. Meanwhile, finance and ins., which grew 5.9% y-o-y to AED 16 bn, contributed 13.4% to Dubai’s GDP and 0.8 percentage points to growth of the overall GDP.
The manufacturing sector expanded by 3.3% y-o-y, while the transport and storage industry, which includes all land, water, and air transport services involving people and goods, as well as handling, storage, and postal activities, grew by 2% y-o-y to AED 15.7 bn. This sector contributed 13% to the GDP of the emirate and added 0.27 percentage points to total growth, with air transport serving as the largest contributor to the sector due to high output.
The human health and social work sector was the fastest growing contributor, surging 26% y-o-y to AED 1.9 bn during the period. This sector accounted for 1.5% of the emirate’s total GDP and added 0.3 percentage points to overall economic growth.
MEANWHILE- The accommodation and food services sector expanded 3.4% y-o-y to AED 4.9 bn, contributing 4.1% to the emirate’s GDP and adding 0.14 percentage points to the overall growth. The information and communications category rose 3.2% y-o-y to AED 5.3 bn, also contributing 0.14 percentage points to the growth, and accounting for 4.4% of the emirate’s GDP.
Looking ahead: Emirates NBD sees Dubai’s economy accelerating 3.7% y-o-y in 2025, thanks to “substantial public sector investment and ongoing investments from the private sector, particularly in residential, mixed use and hospitality projects,” according to the research note. This is slightly more optimistic than the IMF, which expected the emirate’s economy to grow 3.3% this year, before growing 3.5% next year.
