UAE's GDP Grew by 3.6% in First Half of 2024

The value of the UAE's real GDP in the first half of 2024  recorded a notable increase of 3.6 percent
The value of the UAE's real GDP in the first half of 2024 recorded a notable increase of 3.6 percent
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UAE's GDP Grew by 3.6% in First Half of 2024

The value of the UAE's real GDP in the first half of 2024  recorded a notable increase of 3.6 percent
The value of the UAE's real GDP in the first half of 2024 recorded a notable increase of 3.6 percent

Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri has said that the preliminary estimates of the UAE's GDP in the first half of 2024, issued by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, reflect remarkable economic growth and competitiveness, solidifying the country's position as a leading economic power for business and investment.

He explained that the value of the UAE's real GDP (at constant prices) reached AED879.6 billion in the first half of 2024, recording a notable increase of 3.6 percent. Meanwhile, the value of the non-oil GDP during the same period was approximately AED660 billion, with a growth of 4.4 percent, compared to the same period last year. With this, the contribution of non-oil sectors to the country's GDP has reached 75 percent.

The estimates also indicated that the UAE's nominal GDP (at current prices) during the first half of 2024 reached approximately AED981 billion, registering a growth rate of 5.6 percent. Meanwhile, the value of non-oil GDP at current prices during the same period rose to about AED749 billion, with a growth rate reaching 6.8 percent, compared to the first half of 2023.

"The UAE has successfully laid the foundation for a sustainable, diversified economy driven by innovation and knowledge, aligning with global trends while maintaining its position as a premier economic hub regionally and internationally,” Bin Touq said.

"This progress paves the way for achieving the economic goals outlined in 'We the UAE 2031' vision, including raising the UAE's GDP to AED3 trillion within the next decade."



Egypt Approves $91 Billion Budget for 2025/26

 The sun rises in Cairo, Egypt March 25, 2025. (Reuters)
The sun rises in Cairo, Egypt March 25, 2025. (Reuters)
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Egypt Approves $91 Billion Budget for 2025/26

 The sun rises in Cairo, Egypt March 25, 2025. (Reuters)
The sun rises in Cairo, Egypt March 25, 2025. (Reuters)

Egypt's cabinet approved a 4.6 trillion Egyptian pound ($91 billion) draft state budget for the financial year that will begin in July, a government statement said on Wednesday, as it continues to tighten its finances under an IMF program.

Expenditures will rise by 18% and revenue by 19% over the current 2024/25 budget. Revenue is expected to hit 3.1 trillion pounds, working out to a deficit of about 1.5 trillion pounds ($30 billion).

The increased expenditure partly reflects elevated headline inflation, which was running at an annual 12.8% in February.

Financial reforms under an $8 billion financial reform program signed in March 2024 with the International Monetary Fund have helped Egypt bring inflation down from a peak of 38% in September 2023.

The IMF this month approved the disbursement of $1.2 billion to Egypt after its fourth review of the program.

The new budget targets a primary surplus of 795 billion pounds, equal to 4% of GDP, up from the 3.5% primary surplus originally targeted in the 2024/25 budget.

The IMF granted the government a waiver in the fourth review after the surplus came in 0.5% of GDP lower than Egypt's earlier commitment.

In its third review in June, the IMF praised Egypt for its "strict control of spending".

The new budget also lowers public debt to 82.9% of GDP from an expected 92% in 2024/25, the cabinet statement said.

The cabinet said 732.6 billion pounds in spending in the new budget would be allocated for subsidies, grants and social benefits, an increase of 15.2%.

The budget increases commodities and bread subsidies by 20% to 160 billion pounds. It will also include 75 billion pounds to subsidize petroleum products, 75 billion pounds to subsidize electricity and 3.5 billion pounds to subsidize natural gas deliveries to households, the statement added.