Uae Economy
...economy continued to perform well with the economy recording high double
digit nominal growth rates since 2003. In 2006, UAE’s gross domestic product (GDP) at
nominal prices increased to AED599.2bn, recording a substantial increase of 23.4% over
AED485.5bn recorded in 2005. Early estimates from Ministry of Economy (MOE) indicate
that the nominal GDP increased by 16.5% to reach AED698.1bn in 2007. In terms of real
GDP, early estimates from MOE indicate that the UAE economy grew by 7.4% in 2007 to
reach AED420.2bn.
Oil prices continued to surge in 2007 with average oil prices increasing to US$69.1/b from
US$63.5/b recorded in 2006. However, there were production cuts from OPEC and heavy
maintenance work at the end of the year because of which oil production had come down
in 2007. As a result of the above, the total value contribution in absolute terms from this
sector is expected to have increased marginally by 9.4% to reach AED244.3bn in 2007 over
AED223.4bn recorded in 2006. However, non-oil sector recorded a higher growth and as
such the share of crude petroleum and natural gas in GDP came down to 35.0% in 2007
against 37.3% in 2006.
Private and government consumption is expected to have increased by 18.4% and 22.0%
respectively in 2007 compared with a growth of 17.9% and 12.4% respectively in 2006.
This is mainly due to the increase in income levels, rising population and higher prices with
their share in total GDP increasing to 46.7% and 10.6% respectively in 2007 from 45.9%
and 10.1% recorded in 2006. What is noteworthy is that the gross capital formation, which
is mainly the capital spending by the government and the private sector, increased by an
impressive 19.4% which inturn has come on the back of 29.0% growth achieved in 2006 and
stood at 20.7% of GDP in 2007 as compared to 20.2% in 2006.
UAE government posted second consecutive...
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