Economy

As the largest and most populous of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, Abu Dhabi plays a central role in the federation’s economy. Following the roadmap laid out in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, its long-term economic development plan, the emirate has succeeded in nurturing new economic sectors and seems to be on track to meet its goals. The oil and gas sector accounted for 56.5% of Abu Dhabi’s GDP at current prices in 2012, followed by construction (9.6%), manufacturing (5.9%) and real estate (4.4%). According to the IMF, Abu Dhabi’s efforts to broaden its economic base will help drive annual growth of 4% in the non-oil economy over the coming years. This chapter contains interviews with Nasser Alsowaidi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO, Mubadala; Butti Ahmed Mohammed bin Butti Al Qubaisi, Director-General, Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi; Mahmood Ebraheem Al Mahmood, CEO and Chairman, ADS Holding; and Mohamed Thani Murshed Al Rumaithi, Chairman, ADCCI.