{"id":"2026-oct-gulf-uae-h1-2026-gdp-estimates-20261009","canonicalSlug":"2026-oct-gulf-uae-h1-2026-gdp-estimates-20261009","url":"https://wellficent.com/en/news/2026-oct-gulf-uae-h1-2026-gdp-estimates-20261009","language":"en","title":"UAE H1 real GDP estimated at AED961.9bn as Q2 contracts","summary":"Preliminary FCSC figures show 0.4% year-on-year real growth in H1 2026, but a 2.1% contraction in Q2; non-oil GDP grew over H1 and fell in Q2.","body":["FCSC reported preliminary UAE real GDP at AED961.9 billion at constant prices for H1 2026, up 0.4% from H1 2025. The October 9 release also records non-oil GDP growth of 1.8% and a 79.2% share, against 78.1% a year earlier.","The quarterly comparison was weaker: real GDP in Q2 2026 was AED476.9 billion, 2.1% below Q2 2025. Non-oil activity contracted 1.1% in the quarter. The release said tourism, transport and trade were among sectors affected by regional developments and travel disruptions, but it did not quantify each sector’s contribution to the decline.","The H1 and Q2 figures cover overlapping periods, so the half-year growth rate should not be read as the Q2 rate. The 79.2% non-oil share also does not mean non-oil output grew at the same pace in every quarter; the release reports different directions for the half-year and second quarter.","FCSC labels the national accounts preliminary and says a comprehensive GDP series revision is under way, with an updated series expected after approval in Q1 2027. The estimates may therefore change and should be distinguished from final historical data."],"keyPoints":["H1 real GDP: AED961.9bn at constant prices, up 0.4% year on year.","Q2 real GDP: AED476.9bn, down 2.1%; non-oil activity fell 1.1%.","FCSC calls the estimates preliminary; a revised series is expected in Q1 2027."],"sections":[],"text":"UAE H1 real GDP estimated at AED961.9bn as Q2 contracts\n\nPreliminary FCSC figures show 0.4% year-on-year real growth in H1 2026, but a 2.1% contraction in Q2; non-oil GDP grew over H1 and fell in Q2.\n\nH1 real GDP: AED961.9bn at constant prices, up 0.4% year on year.\n\nQ2 real GDP: AED476.9bn, down 2.1%; non-oil activity fell 1.1%.\n\nFCSC calls the estimates preliminary; a revised series is expected in Q1 2027.\n\nFCSC reported preliminary UAE real GDP at AED961.9 billion at constant prices for H1 2026, up 0.4% from H1 2025. The October 9 release also records non-oil GDP growth of 1.8% and a 79.2% share, against 78.1% a year earlier.\n\nThe quarterly comparison was weaker: real GDP in Q2 2026 was AED476.9 billion, 2.1% below Q2 2025. Non-oil activity contracted 1.1% in the quarter. The release said tourism, transport and trade were among sectors affected by regional developments and travel disruptions, but it did not quantify each sector’s contribution to the decline.\n\nThe H1 and Q2 figures cover overlapping periods, so the half-year growth rate should not be read as the Q2 rate. The 79.2% non-oil share also does not mean non-oil output grew at the same pace in every quarter; the release reports different directions for the half-year and second quarter.\n\nFCSC labels the national accounts preliminary and says a comprehensive GDP series revision is under way, with an updated series expected after approval in Q1 2027. The estimates may therefore change and should be distinguished from final historical data.","category":"economy","region":"world","topics":["statistics","non-oil-economy"],"eventDate":"2026-10-09","eventDateBasis":"source-announcement-publication","publishedAt":"2026-10-09T21:52:15Z","modifiedAt":"2026-10-11T23:59:17Z","publicationBasis":"first-publication","preparedAt":null,"sourcePublishedAt":"2026-10-09","translatedAt":null,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.wam.ae/en/article/c2nmxd8-uae-economy-reaches-aed9619-billion-2026-with","name":"Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, reported by Emirates News Agency (WAM)","checkedAt":"2026-10-09","attribution":"Emirates News Agency (WAM). The WAM terms page read restricts use of WAM marks and logos and governs application use; it does not state a blanket license for reusing news text. WAM attributes the preliminary national-accounts figures to FCSC.","publishedAt":"2026-10-09"}],"translations":{"en":"https://wellficent.com/en/news/2026-oct-gulf-uae-h1-2026-gdp-estimates-20261009","tr":"https://wellficent.com/tr/news/2026-oct-gulf-uae-h1-2026-gdp-estimates-20261009","ar":"https://wellficent.com/ar/news/2026-oct-gulf-uae-h1-2026-gdp-estimates-20261009","fr":"https://wellficent.com/fr/news/2026-oct-gulf-uae-h1-2026-gdp-estimates-20261009","es":"https://wellficent.com/es/news/2026-oct-gulf-uae-h1-2026-gdp-estimates-20261009","ru":"https://wellficent.com/ru/news/2026-oct-gulf-uae-h1-2026-gdp-estimates-20261009","pt":"https://wellficent.com/pt/news/2026-oct-gulf-uae-h1-2026-gdp-estimates-20261009"},"corrections":[{"at":"2026-10-11T23:59:17Z","language":"en","text":"Completed full translations and corrected localized terminology and explanatory labels to preserve all original details."}],"locations":[],"type":"news","classification":{"version":"1","dataKinds":["statistical-release"],"geographies":[{"role":"economic-scope","countryCode":"AE","subdivisionCode":null}],"evidenceBasis":["statistical-estimate"],"measurementPeriod":{"to":"2026-Q2","from":"2026-Q1","precision":"quarter"}}}