Non-oil private sector activity in the UAE continued to expand in December owing to new business orders and strengthening market conditions, even as companies felt pressure from rising prices.
The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers' Index stood at 54.2 in December, after hitting a nine-month high of 54.8 in November. The index was close to the long-term monthly average of 54.3, signalling a "robust improvement" in the health of the sector, the report said.
"The UAE non-oil sector concluded 2025 with a solid upturn, marking a year of robust but somewhat tempered growth in business conditions," said David Owen, senior economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Companies finished the year with two of the best months of activity growth in 2025, he added. Survey data suggested that sales were rising much faster compared with its low point in August.
"Firms took encouragement from signs of increased customer spending, rising tourism, greater technology adoption and supportive government policies," Mr Owen said.
In December, more than a quarter of surveyed companies reported month-on-month
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