Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE’s Minister of Economy, announced that the financial technology (fintech) sector currently contributes 8.7% to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with plans to increase this to approximately 12% by 2031. Speaking at Investopia 2025 in Abu Dhabi, Al Marri emphasised fintech’s role in sustainable economic growth.
Al Marri also highlighted the UAE’s focus on emerging sectors, particularly the space economy, aiming to attract more companies to enhance the country’s global standing in this field. Additionally, he noted the importance of agricultural innovation, driven by a food security strategy designed to diversify food sources and position the UAE as a global food export hub.
In 2024, the UAE issued 200,000 new business licenses across various sectors, bringing the total number of active businesses to over 1.1 million. The Ministry of Economy plans to further increase this number in the coming years.
