UAE economy grew by 2.2% in first quarter of 2019

By DG Staff

ABU DHABI 24 June 2019: The non-oil sector grew 1.6 per cent in Q1-2019 on year, with economic growth hitting an annual growth rate of 2.2 per cent, according to Central Bank of UAE’s Quarterly Review.

The real Gross Domestic Product is projected to grow by 2 per cent over the coming period, catalysed by an expected growth of 2.7 per cent and 1.8 per cent at the oil and non-oil sectors respectively. Economic performance is forecast to gain momentum on the back of rising general expenditure at the federal and local levels of every emirate as well as the increasing investments related directly to Expo 2020 Dubai, according to the review.

Inflation declined in Q1-2019, with recruitments by the private sector recovering by 1.2 per cent during the same period, said Wam.

Private sector deposits continued to rally as well during the same period, with the CBUAE’s general budget growing as a result of an increase in FDI inflows and the concomitant rise in liquidity.