Abu Dhabi’s economy is navigating a complex backdrop of oil-market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty by deepening its non-oil growth engines. The UAE’s central bank and IMF forecast ~4.6% GDP growth for 2025, fueled by reforms, infrastructure spending and diversification.
This reflects a conscious strategy: as one analysis notes, the UAE’s “non-oil sector is witnessing significant expansion” in financial services, transportation, construction and real estate . In short, Abu Dhabi is investing in new industries (from clean energy to logistics to tourism) to buffer global shocks. This resilience is already visible: the Abu Dhabi stock index is up ~5% in 2025.
Sectors Leading the Shift
Infrastructure and Logistics
Financial Services
Abu Dhabi’s financial ecosystem is expanding rapidly. By end‑2024, total UAE banking assets had grown 12% YoY to AED 4,560 billion, with loans up 9.5% and deposits up ~13%, supporting improved credit conditions and strong capitalization (CAR ~17.8%)****. In Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), assets under management grew 33% in Q1 2025, and licensed funds and firms surged (new licenses up 67%, total entities ~2,781). Reflecting global interest, ADGM saw a 245% AUM growth in 2024, and major financial institutions (e.g. BlackRock, Morgan Stanley) have established regional operations there—signaling rising international confidence in Abu Dhabi’s financial hub ambitions.