Washington, D.C. – October 14, 2025
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded its forecast for the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) real GDP growth to 4.8% for 2025, up from 4.0% projected earlier this year. This revision reflects the UAE’s continued economic momentum, driven by robust performance in non-oil sectors and resilient investor confidence.
Key Highlights
Growth Drivers: The IMF attributes the positive outlook to sustained diversification efforts, expanding exports, and a rebound in hydrocarbon output as OPEC+ production increases.
Regional Context: The Middle East and Central Asia region is projected to see accelerated growth, with forecasts of 3.5% in 2025 and 3.8% in 2026, up from 2.6% in 2024.
Global Comparison: In contrast, global growth is expected to slow from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026, with advanced economies growing around 1.5% and emerging markets just above 4%.
Outlook for 2026
The IMF maintains its 2026 growth forecast for the UAE at 5.0%, indicating sustained expansion and economic resilience.
Reference:
WAM – IMF Raises UAE Growth Forecast
