Dubai’s economy expanded 4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, with GDP reaching Dh119.7 billion, according to the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment.
Sector performance
Human health and social work recorded the fastest growth, up 26% to Dh1.9 billion, contributing 0.3 percentage points to overall Dubai’s GDP growth. The sector now represents 1.5% of total output.
Real estate expanded 7.8% to Dh9 billion, accounting for 7.5% of GDP and contributing 0.6 percentage points to growth. Financial and insurance activities rose 5.9% to Dh16 billion, equivalent to 13.4% of GDP, adding 0.8 percentage points.
Accommodation and food services increased 3.4% to Dhj4.9 billion, representing 4.1% of GDP, while information and communications climbed 3.2% to Dh5.3 billion. Wholesale and retail trade, the single largest contributor at 23% of GDP, grew 4.5% to Dh27.5 billion, adding 1.03 percentage points to growth.
Manufacturing output rose 3.3% to Dh8.7 billion, while transport and storage expanded 2% to Dh15.7 billion, equivalent to 13% of GDP. Other activities, making up 26% of the economy, grew 1.9%.
2024 momentum
The quarterly growth extends momentum from 2024, when Dubai’s economy expanded 5.8% at current prices to Dh541 billion and 3.2% at constant prices to Dh443 billion. Trade, real estate, financial services, transport, and industry collectively contributed 78% of last year’s expansion.
