UAE’s Non-Oil Economy Holds Steady in October, Showing Real Resilience.

The UAE’s non-oil economy showed solid momentum in October, keeping growth above the neutral mark despite a few global headwinds. According to S&P Global, the country’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stood at 53.8, signaling continued expansion in the private sector.

While it’s a slight dip from September’s 54.2, it’s still stronger than what we saw in the previous four months. Business activity picked up pace — supported by better sales, new projects, and a steady recovery in new orders after a quiet August.

Purchasing activity saw the biggest jump since June, helping stabilize inventories that had been falling through Q3. Costs also cooled down, with input prices rising at the slowest pace since June — a relief for companies trying to manage margins.

Employment, however, showed signs of slowing. Business confidence fell to a 34-month low, keeping hiring modest. Still, the fundamentals remain healthy — companies are expanding, orders are growing, and Dubai’s PMI even rose to 54.5, its highest in nine months.