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| The UAE Vice President stressed that 'we do not wait for perfect conditions to continue delivering' following his chairing of the UAE Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan.Sheikh Mohammed, the Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, delivered three key messages to government teams centered on a single, clear message: 'the UAE does not stop, and it will not stop.' |
He emphasized that 'our projects are moving, our economy is growing, our markets are operating at full capacity, and our events are welcoming the world.' This sentiment reflects the UAE's ongoing commitment to progress despite the regional conflict.
This is not the first time UAE officials have underscored the country's determination to move forward in the face of regional tensions.
Since the start of the regional war on February 28, the UAE has detected or engaged with at least 582 Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles, including two ballistic missiles on August 18.It has also dealt with 2,265 drones and UAVs during the same period.
UAE diplomat and President's adviser, Dr Anwar Gargash, previously explained how the nation has handled attacks with 'complete efficiency and superiority.' In this context, the UAE's government media office stated last month that the impact of the war was limited to a small number of economic activities and did not impede overall economic growth.
Sheikh Mohammed noted, 'The trust the UAE has built over decades is the currency we rely on.
It was built by developing systems and policies, by investing heavily in the finest infrastructure in the world, by a reputation earned, and by international relationships carefully formed.'
Dr Gargash also framed the regional conflict as a test of reliability.
He remarked, 'There are countries we did not expect to take these positions, yet they reached out to us to provide actual support, even if we did not need it.In contrast, there are countries we expected better positions from that offered nothing in the early stages of the crisis, but they offered help at a very late stage.'
This trust ensures the continuity of our journey today, and it is the duty of every one of us to strengthen, protect, and build on it.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai
The UAE's growth in 2026, so far
This resilience is also evident in the UAE's economy.
The non-oil sector contributed almost 80 per cent of the national economy during the first quarter of 2026 as real gross domestic product grew by 3 per cent to Dh485 billion, according to the country’s Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.Non-oil GDP increased by 4.8 per cent, raising its contribution to 79.4 per cent of the overall economy, up from 78 per cent during the same period last year.
Earlier, Sheikh Mohammed announced that the country’s non-oil exports reached a record Dh452.8 billion during the first half of 2026, a 23.4 per cent rise year-on-year.
