Page 59 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2024 (Part 1)

Press Release

H.E. Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, said:
“The financial and economic data and indicators endorsing the growth of the UAE’s GDP Q1 2024
reflect the resilience of the country’s vital economic sectors. It highlights the effectiveness of the
concerted efforts to implement the directives of the wise leadership to enhance sustainable
economic diversification, reduce dependence on oil, promote investments, and attract capital and
innovative and emerging projects to the country.”

She added that the UAE’s advanced rankings in multiple global economic competitiveness
indicators can be attributed to several factors, including the stability of the financial system, the
strength of the national economy, and the effectiveness of economic legislation and policies applied
in the country, besides their ability to adapt to changes and face regional and global challenges.

Non-oil economic activities showcase highest growth

Based on the data released by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, financial and
insurance activities have emerged as the leading non-oil economic sector contributing to the UAE’s
GDP growth, with a remarkable growth of 7.9 per cent. This growth can be attributed to the
significant increase in the local credit granted to the private sector, which led to a six per cent
growth and positively impacting the rebound of non-oil economic activities. Following closely
behind in the second place are transportation and storage activities, which saw a growth of 7.3 per
cent. This growth was driven by a notable increase in the number of travellers at the country's
airports during the first three months of this year, reaching 36.5 million travellers, a growth rate of
14.7 per cent compared to the same period last year. The UAE's ports have demonstrated
exceptional performance during this time, with Dubai's international ports witnessing a 3.7 per cent
growth in the number of containers handled, while Abu Dhabi's ports experienced a 36 per cent
increase in cargo handling volume on an annual basis.

Ranking third, construction and building activities experienced a growth rate of 6.2 per cent in line
with the several development projects initiated by the UAE government in early 2024. They saw a
substantial rise in the government’s public capital expenditures, reaching AED 4.8 billion,
compared to that of Q1 2023.

The restaurant and hotel sector secured the fourth spot with a 4.6 per cent growth during the first
quarter of 2024 compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Moreover, the UAE emerged at the
forefront of global tourism landscape, attracting a substantial number of tourists from around the
world. In particular, Dubai witnessed a remarkable influx of 5.18 million international tourists,
representing an 11 per cent increase as compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Abu Dhabi
also maintained its exceptional performance in key tourism indicators, including the average hotel
occupancy rates and revenue per available rooms.

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