The Dubai economy has maintained its steady growth, in 2016, with the emirate's real GDP growth standing, at 2.9 percent, according to the Emirate's Economic Report - 2017, recently, signed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Heir Apparent and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, WAM, the Emirates official news agency reported. The report compares the economic performance of the emirate to countries that possess similar economies for evaluating the development of Dubai's economy, and future prospects of this development. It helps raise awareness of decision-makers in the public and private sectors to set policies and sound plans that will help contribute to the growth rate of Dubai's economy in particular, and the UAE economy in general. The report, issued by the Dubai Economic Department, highlights Dubai's economic development in 2016 and reviews the growth of the emirate's economy in 2017, based on the latest official data and economic indicators. According to the report, primary economic sectors accounted for 77.2 percent of the emirate's Growth Domestic Product of AED376 billion, according to the fixed prices of 2016, with all economic platforms, except for the construction sector, posting positive growth results. The retail and wholesale trade sector was the top contributor to the GDP at 27.6 percent, employing 22.4 percent of the total manpower in the emirate. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently predicted a 3.4 per cent economic growth for the United Arab Emirates in 2018 with Dubai's and Abu Dhabi's non-oil sectors to be major boosters. The improved outlook for the UAE follows a predicted 1.3 per cent growth in 2017 as low oil prices continued to impact all regional economies. The new forecast shows a steady growth of Emirati economy in comparison to this year predictions estimated at 1.3 per cent.
