The UAE’s business heart beat a little faster in November, as the country’s non-oil private sector surged with its strongest momentum in nearly a year. The latest PMI reading — a crisp 54.8 — sketched a picture of firms hustling, customers spending, and order books thickening like winter fog over the Gulf.
Companies across the Emirates found themselves riding a wave of fresh demand and lively sales pipelines, prompting them to crank up output and pull more chairs up to the payroll table. New business rolled in at the fastest clip since January, helped along by a market hungry for innovation and diversification.
But the boom wasn’t without its bite. The cost side of the ledger tensed up, with input expenses climbing at their sharpest rate in over a year. Rising living costs and wage pressures nudged firms to pay more to keep talent anchored. Hiring still leapt to an 18-month high — but so did salary demands, tightening the squeeze on margins and hinting at inflationary clouds on the near horizon.
Even so, the mood among businesses tilted upward. Expectations for future activity improved, buoyed by strong sales pipelines and a climate that felt more tailwind than turbulence.
Dubai’s Pulse
The city’s own PMI held its line at 54.5, reflecting sturdy sales and smoother operating conditions. Hiring in Dubai picked up speed midway through the quarter, marking its fastest rise in 18 months — a sign that the city is keeping pace with the broader national surge.
In short, November wasn’t just warm on the thermometer — the UAE’s non-oil economy was running hot too.
