Dubai’s GDP reaches AED 473 billion in H1 2026 as financial, health and construction sectors grow

Dubai: The Government of Dubai has announced the emirate’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) results for H1 2026, with real GDP reaching approximately AED 473 billion, according to data released by the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment at Digital Dubai. The results reflect continued growth across a range of strategic sectors and activities, led by financial and insurance activities, human health and social work, information and communication, and construction. The figures underscore the resilience of Dubai’s economy, the diversity of its productive base and continued momentum across several high-value-added sectors. The emirate continues to develop an enabling environment for businesses, investment and talent, while strengthening its competitiveness and creating new opportunities for growth. These efforts support its economic objectives and reinforce its ability to adapt to changing conditions and turn them into opportunities. Dubai’s economic performance in H1 2026 came amid rapid shifts in the global economic environment, which affected a number of activities to varying degrees. The diversity of the emirate’s economic base helped offset some of these impacts, with continued expansion in high-value-added sectors playing an increasingly important role in the economy. Real GDP in H1 2026 reached approximately AED 473 billion, compared with around AED 484 billion in the same period of 2025, representing a decline of 2.3%. GDP at current prices, meanwhile, reached approximately AED 505 billion, recording growth of 0.2%, while a number of strategic and services sectors continued to record positive growth rates. Growth across financial, health, digital and construction sectors Financial and insurance activities recorded real growth of 8.8%, with value added rising to approximately AED 65.9 billion from AED 60.6 billion in the same period of 2025. The sector’s contribution to GDP reached 14%, compared with 12.5% in the same period of the previous year. At current prices, the sector grew by 8.1%, generating value added of AED 64 billion and reflecting the growing weight of financial activities in Dubai’s economy. Human health and social work activities recorded real growth of 14.3% and growth of 16.7% at current prices. Value added at constant prices rose to approximately AED 6.2 billion, compared with around AED 5.4 billion in the same period of 2025. Electricity, gas, water supply and waste management activities grew by 5.4% at constant prices, with real value added reaching approximately AED 10.2 billion, compared with around AED 9.7 billion. At current prices, value added reached approximately AED 10.6 billion, representing growth of 7.4%. The information and communication sector also continued to expand, recording growth of 2.7% at constant prices and 1.6% at current prices. Value added at constant prices rose to approximately AED 24.7 billion, compared with around AED 24 billion in the same period of 2025, reflecting continued growth in activities linked to the digital economy and technology. The construction sector recorded real growth of 2.4%, with value added at constant prices reaching approximately AED 33.2 billion. At current prices, the sector’s value added reached approximately AED 35.3 billion, representing growth of 8.6%. Meanwhile, government services activities grew by 2.9% at constant prices and 5.7% at current prices. Education activities also recorded growth of 1.2% at constant prices and 1.5% at current prices. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “Dubai’s H1 2026 GDP performance reflects the strength and adaptability of an economy built to navigate periods of significant global uncertainty. Importantly, the continued year-on-year growth achieved across a number of strategic and future-focused sectors demonstrates the strength and depth of Dubai’s economic fundamentals and the effectiveness of our continued focus on the sectors that will shape our long-term growth. “We enter the second half of 2026 from a position of strength and with clear momentum. As we continue advancing the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, our focus is firmly on accelerating investment, innovation and talent, strengthening Dubai’s competitiveness and unlocking the next wave of growth. We are confident that the foundations being built today will enable Dubai to emerge from this period with even greater momentum and continue its trajectory of sustainable growth well into the future.” Diversity strengthens readiness Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, said: “Diversity and the breadth of the sectoral base are among the key strengths of Dubai’s economy, which is reflected in the continued growth of a range of strategic sectors during H1 2026, amid the transformations taking place in the global economic environment. This diversity is the outcome of a long-term vision that has guided investment in building new sectors, developing exist