The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has reported a 4.9% increase in company memberships over the past year, taking the total to more than 158,000 firms, according to a statement issued on Friday. The figures highlight continued growth across key business sectors in the emirate.
Sector performance led by agriculture, ICT, and arts
The most notable expansion came from agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which grew by 21%. This was followed by a 13% rise in the arts and entertainment sector, and 10% growth in information and communication technologies and technical activities.
Other sectors showing upward trends included water and waste management (9%), real estate and administrative services (8%), education (7%), transport and storage (6%), and mining and quarrying (5%). Meanwhile, construction, manufacturing, and financial services posted steady gains of around 3%.
Business activity and advocacy
The Chamber hosted 69 events and 10 workshops over the past year, attracting more than 1,000 representatives from the private sector. Fifteen business advocacy groups worked on policy development, while 364 economic reports were issued to support evidence-based decision-making.
International outreach and partnerships
The Chamber enhanced its international presence by opening its first overseas office in Poland and signing 25 cooperation agreements. More than 18,900 enquiries were handled, with a customer satisfaction score of 90.23% on the TAMM government services platform.
Last month, the Chamber’s Al Ain branch introduced a new initiative to better engage small businesses in the retail, tourism, and agriculture sectors. The initiative includes field visits and consultations to uncover pressing challenges and shape support programmes accordingly.
Wider economic indicators
Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade grew by 9% in 2024, with exports rising 16% and re-exports up 11%. The emirate’s GDP for Q1 2025 stood at $79.2 billion, reflecting 3.4% growth year-on-year. Non-oil sectors—particularly manufacturing, construction, finance, technology, and transport—expanded by 6.1%, contributing 56.2% to overall GDP.
Despite ongoing regional challenges, the UAE’s non-oil private sector remained stable in June.
