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.
Find out more through related statistics on UAE’s industry sector share in GDP, Demographic totals in the UAE, United Arab Emirates’ annual GDP growth rate.
