ABU DHABI: UAE non-oil companies saw a surge in new business at the start of 2026, marking the highest rise in nearly two years. Output forecasts also climbed, resulting in a significant increase in purchasing. However, a reduction in margins contributed to the increase in demand.
The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), a composite of indicators designed to provide an accurate picture of operating conditions in the non-oil private sector, rose from 54.2 in December to 54.9 in January, the highest level in 11 months. The indicator showed that the sector’s health has improved significantly.
Business activity continued to rise in January, with the rate of growth remaining stable from December and noteworthy overall. Survey respondents generally stated that increased intakes of new business had boosted activity, while others pointed to an improvement in economic conditions, notably in areas like as real estate and technology.
However, there were also comments of a drop in output due to rising competitive pressures, changes in trading patterns, and higher expenses. Similarly, the volume of orders received by non-oil firms climbed significantly in January. The increase was the fastest in 22 months, indicating a significant turnaround in the rate of growth since the middle of last year.
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