Dubai’s gross domestic product (GDP) reached AED473 billion ($129 billion) in the first half of 2026, with financial services, healthcare, information and communication, and construction among the sectors recording growth, according to data released by the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment at Digital Dubai.
Real GDP declined 2.3% year on year from approximately AED484 billion in the first half of 2025. GDP at current prices, however, rose 0.2% to around AED505 billion, reflecting differences in sector performance amid changes in the global economic environment.
Financial and insurance activities recorded 8.8% real growth, with value added increasing to AED65.9 billion from AED60.6 billion a year earlier. The sector accounted for 14% of Dubai’s real GDP, up from 12.5% in the corresponding period of 2025.
Human health and social work activities registered the strongest growth among the highlighted sectors, expanding 14.3% in real terms. Value added at constant prices rose to approximately AED6.2 billion from AED5.4 billion in the first half of 2025.
The information and communication sector grew 2.7% in real terms, with value added reaching AED24.7 billion. Construction expanded 2.4%, generating AED33.2 billion in value added at constant prices.
Electricity, gas, water supply and waste management recorded real growth of 5.4%, while government services grew 2.9% and education expanded 1.2%.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said the results demonstrated the adaptability of an economy navigating global uncertainty, with growth in strategic sectors supporting its longer-term development.
He added that Dubai would continue advancing the objectives of its Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, with a focus on investment, innovation, talent and competitiveness.
Trade, transport and real estate face mixed performance
Despite continued expansion in several strategic sectors, Dubai’s major economic activities recorded uneven results during the period.
Wholesale and retail trade accounted for the largest share of real GDP at 20.5%, followed by financial and insurance activities at 14% and real estate at 11.8%. Transportation and storage contributed 10.7%.
Wholesale and retail trade recorded a 6% decline in real terms, with value added reaching AED96.9 billion. At current prices, the sector grew 2%, while Dubai’s foreign trade increased 4% year on year.
Transportation and storage generated AED50.6 billion in value added, a decline of 7.4% compared with the first half of 2025.
Real estate value added increased 5.4% at current prices to AED65.1 billion. However, the sector contracted 2.5% in real terms, with value added at constant prices reaching AED55.8 billion.
Manufacturing also recorded a slight real decline of 0.9%, with value added at constant prices reaching AED23.7 billion. At current prices, the sector generated AED24.1 billion, representing annual growth of 0.5%.
Digital transformation and talent remain priorities
Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, director general of Digital Dubai, said the breadth of the emirate’s economic base had helped sustain growth across several strategic sectors despite global economic shifts.
He highlighted digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) as increasingly important drivers of economic competitiveness and operational efficiency, adding that Dubai was continuing to develop its digital ecosystem to accelerate technology adoption across industries.
Younus Al Nasser, chief executive of the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment at Digital Dubai, said the differing performance of economic activities highlighted the importance of assessing economic indicators across sectors to understand broader trends and support evidence-based decision-making.
Hadi Badri, chief executive of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, said investment interest remained strong, particularly in sectors central to the emirate’s future economy. He pointed to financial services and information and communication as areas reinforcing Dubai’s position as a centre for capital, enterprise and innovation.
The first-half results highlight the contrasting performance of Dubai’s economic sectors, with financial services, healthcare and technology-related activities expanding while trade, transportation and real estate recorded real-term declines. Under the D33 agenda, the emirate continues to focus on attracting investment and talent, accelerating technology adoption and broadening its economic base.