The ongoing Iran war failed to derail Dubai’s strong economic performance, as the Emirati city, in Q1 2026, saw its GDP reaching AED232 billion, representing a 2.4% increase from the same period in 2025.
Since the year’s beginning, Dubai, aligning with the international statistical best practices and standards, has been revising its GDP estimations to reflect the latest results of economic surveys and data derived from administrative records.
Breaking down the latest data, the Human Health and Social Work Activities sector recorded the highest growth rate at 17.5%, contributing 1.5% to Dubai’s GDP. The Electricity, Gas, and Water Supply; Waste Management The activities sector also registered strong growth of 8.4%, while the construction sector grew by 8.2%, contributing 8.1% during Q1.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said, “Dubai’s economic growth continues to be anchored in visionary leadership, proactive strategic planning, and a deep-rooted resilience across our key sectors. Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the close follow-up of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, the Q1 2026 GDP results reflect another successive quarter of robust performance, marking a consistent trajectory that has established a strong platform for stability and positioned Dubai to accelerate through the remainder of the year and beyond.”
“Dubai’s growth narrative is defined by a commitment to long-term objectives, and successive quarters of strong performance are not coincidental; they are the product of deliberate policy, structural depth, and an economy built to perform regardless of external conditions. As we look ahead, the seamless synergy between our public and private sectors, combined with the sustained confidence of the global investment community, will fuel the next phase of our development, further cementing Dubai’s position as a premier global economic hub in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33,” the official added further.
Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, remarked, “The results of Q1 2026 reflect the resilience of Dubai’s economy, which continues to achieve sustainable growth amid a rapidly evolving global economic landscape. The strong performance across key economic sectors highlights the success of the emirate’s diversified and agile economic model, built on competitiveness, innovation, and global connectivity, while advancing the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to position Dubai among the world’s top three urban economies.”
“Dubai continues to strengthen its economic ecosystem and enhance its business environment by investing in key enablers that drive growth, foster productivity, and create new opportunities. These include advancing government efficiency, strengthening institutional capabilities, and harnessing modern technologies to support informed decision-making. These efforts will contribute to achieving further economic milestones in the future and reinforce Dubai’s position as a global hub for business and investment. and reinforce its status as a leading global hub for business, investment, and talent,” he added further.
Among other sectors, real estate continued its steady growth, expanding by 3.1% from the same period in 2025. The sector generated approximately AED26 billion in gross value-added in Q1 2026, contributing 11.2% to Dubai’s GDP.
The wholesale and retail trade, on the other hand, recorded 2.6% growth from the same period in 2025. Its real gross value-added reached AED50.9 billion, up from AED49.6 billion in the same period of the previous year.
The sector remained the largest contributor to Dubai’s economy, accounting for approximately 22% of GDP, apart from making a positive contribution of around 0.57 percentage points to overall economic growth, representing approximately 24% of total growth achieved during the period.