GULF CONSULT Advisory on October 18, 2026

UAE Vision 2031 and What It Means for Business Owners: Opportunities in the Non-Oil Economy

"We the UAE 2031" aims to double GDP to AED 3 trillion. The targets, the progress so far, and where the opportunities are for business owners.

2 min read

The UAE launched "We the UAE 2031" in November 2022: a ten-year plan to roughly double the size of the economy and make it far less dependent on oil. For business owners, its targets are a guide to where government spending, investment and demand are heading.

The Headline Targets

The plan sets measurable economic goals for 2031:

GDP of AED 3 trillion, from about AED 1.49 trillion when the plan was set
Non-oil exports of AED 800 billion
Non-oil foreign trade of AED 4 trillion
Tourism contributing AED 450 billion to GDP, with about 40 million tourists a year

Progress So Far

According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, real GDP grew 6.2% in 2025 to about AED 1.9 trillion, and non-oil GDP grew 6.8% to about AED 1.5 trillion. Non-oil activity now makes up roughly three-quarters of the economy.

Where the Opportunities Are

The fastest-growing sectors in 2025 point to where demand is building:

Construction, up 11.1%, and real estate, up 7.9%
Financial services and insurance, up 10.4%
Transport and logistics, up 7.8%
Trade, still the largest non-oil sector at around 17% of non-oil GDP
Manufacturing, at about 12.8% of non-oil GDP and backed by industrial programmes

What Business Owners Should Do

Match your expansion plans to sectors with policy support, check whether a free zone or mainland structure suits the customers you are targeting, and build the tax and compliance cost of growth into your plan from the start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is "We the UAE 2031"?

A national plan launched in November 2022 that sets social, economic and diplomatic goals for 2031, including doubling GDP to AED 3 trillion.

How fast is the UAE non-oil economy growing?

Real non-oil GDP grew 6.8% in 2025 to about AED 1.5 trillion, according to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.

Which UAE sectors are growing fastest?

In 2025, construction (11.1%), financial services and insurance (10.4%), real estate (7.9%) and transport and storage (7.8%).

Sources

This article is general information, not advice for your situation. Rules change; check the current position or speak to an advisor before acting.

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