Services Sector Contribution to GDP in United Arab Emirates (1990-2022)

The services sector's contribution to the UAE's GDP fluctuated significantly between 1990 and 2022. Initial growth in the early 1990s, reaching 57.8% in 1998, was driven by an expanding tourism sector and investments in real estate. However, a decline to 49.2% in 2000 reflects shifting priorities toward the oil sector. The sector then faced volatility, dipping in the mid-2000s but recovering with the help of infrastructure projects around 2009, influenced by Dubai’s rapid development and economic diversification. The services sector reached a peak of 58.2% in 2016, amid efforts to reduce reliance on oil. However, the pandemic-induced decline in tourism caused a slight contraction, dropping to 51.9% by 2021, with a gradual recovery following as tourism resumed.