UAE: Gov’t Expenditures Total $25.1 Bln in Q1

The Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
The Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
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UAE: Gov’t Expenditures Total $25.1 Bln in Q1

The Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
The Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. (WAM)

The preliminary results of the UAE Government Finance Statistics Report for the first quarter of 2023, published by the Ministry of Finance, revealed that the government’s revenues amounted to AED115.6 billion ($31.4 billion), and its expenditures totaled AED92.5 billion ($25.1 billion).

Total revenues included AED63.5 billion ($17.2 billion) of tax revenues, AED3.9 billion ($1 billion) of revenues from social contributions, and AED48.2 billion ($13.1 billion) of other revenues from property income, sales of goods and services, fines and penalties, and transfers not elsewhere classified.

According to the Ministry of Finance’s data, the value of total expenditures amounted to AED92.5 billion ($25.1 billion) consisting of net investment in nonfinancial assets and current expenses, including employees’ wages, use of goods and services, consumption of fixed capital, paid interest, subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other transfers.

The results of financial transactions during the first quarter of 2023 show the value of net lending/net borrowing amounted to AED23.2 billion ($6.3 billion). The net lending/net borrowing value is a summary measure of a governments’ ability to lend or their need to borrow, and an indicator of the financial impact of government activity on other sectors of the economy.

Younis Haji Al Khouri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, said: “These results reflect the efficiency of government expenditure and effective utilization of financial resources in directing them to priority strategic sectors. It also showcases the advancement of the government’s financial framework and its success in developing new and diversified sources of government revenue away from oil and adopting effective financial policies to manage and develop the government’s financial resources.”

“The government’s financial performance enhances the UAE’s competitiveness and its move towards sustainable socio-economic development. The World Bank projects that the UAE’s non-oil sector is expected to achieve strong growth by the end of 2023, driven by robust domestic demand, particularly in tourism, real estate, construction, transportation, and manufacturing sectors,” he added.

Publishing the preliminary results of the UAE Government Finance Statistics Report for the first quarter of 2023 is in line with the open data policy followed by the UAE and based on the standards of the Government Finance Statistics Manual issued by the International Monetary Fund.

Government Finance Statistics (GFS) show the total volume of government operations in the country and measure the financial activities of the government in an economy, and the government’s allocation of resources.



Abu Dhabi's MAIR Group to List in Abu Dhabi Next Month

Abu Dhabi's MAIR Group to List in Abu Dhabi Next Month
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Abu Dhabi's MAIR Group to List in Abu Dhabi Next Month

Abu Dhabi's MAIR Group to List in Abu Dhabi Next Month

Abu Dhabi-based MAIR Group, an investment firm active in sectors including food retail and commercial real estate, said on Thursday it would list on the local bourse next month.

The company, which operates over 100 stores in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the ADCOOP and SPAR brands, said in a statement the listing on the Abu Dhabi securities exchange (ADX) would take place on Dec. 9.

It did not disclose the amount of stock shareholders and employees plan to sell through the so-called direct listing, which takes place when a company offers shares to the public without going through a bank-backed initial public offering, Reuters reported.

As MAIR prepares to list "we are ready to amplify our impact, strengthen our foundations, and invite stakeholders to join our journey," Managing Director and CEO Nehayan Al Ameri said.

MAIR, which also manages more than 12 shopping centers through its commercial real estate division, booked revenues of 1.2 billion dirhams ($326.7 million) in the first half of 2024.

Last year, it distributed 135 million dirhams in dividends, equal to 12.11% of the share capital, to its over 12,000 shareholders.