UAE approves programme to modernise GDP measurement

The UAE has approved the National Programme for Developing the Statistics System to modernize its official economic data and better reflect the rapid shift toward non-oil sectors, including the digital economy and AI. The programme sets 2024 as a unified base year and reconstructs the GDP time series from 2010 to 2026 to provide a more accurate picture of the economy’s size, diversity, and momentum. It aims to align statistics with the UN System of National Accounts, improving reliability and international comparability to support policy decisions and investor confidence. The initiative responds to structural changes in the economy, notably the growth of services, technology, and investment activities, and makes use of modern administrative data sources such as corporate tax and VAT data. By enhancing data coverage and accuracy, the plan seeks to bolster economic policymaking, public planning, and the UAE’s standing as a leading global economy. The programme is presented as a strategic step to ensure that official statistics keep pace with ongoing transformations and reflect the true size and diversity of the UAE economy.