The United Arab Emirates’ non-oil economy shrank 6.2% last year on lower oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic, the first contraction since 2011 at least, according to preliminary government data.
Overall gross domestic product in the Arab world’s second-largest economy is estimated to have contracted 6.1% in 2020, according to data cited in a statement by the Ministry of Economy.
That’s slightly more than initial projections of a 6% contraction. Non-oil GDP is seen rebounding to grow 3.6% this year.
“The UAE economy performed better than expected in 2020 despite the current global challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, the country’s economy minister.
The Ministry of Economy and other government entities are working to double the economy over the next decade, to 3 trillion dirhams ($816.8 billion) from about 1.4 trillion dirhams now, he said.