The United Arab Emirates’ private sector expansion moderated in October 2026, as the S&P Global Composite PMI edged down to 54.8 from 55.3 in September 2026. The latest reading, updated on 4 November 2026, still signals solid growth in business activity, but points to a slight cooling in the pace of expansion.
Despite the softening, the index remains comfortably above the 50.0 threshold that separates growth from contraction, indicating that both manufacturing and services continue to expand. The marginal dip suggests that while demand and output are still on an upward trajectory, the acceleration seen earlier in the year has tapered off.
Investors and policymakers are likely to monitor upcoming PMI releases closely to gauge whether October’s move marks the start of a broader deceleration or simply a temporary pause in the UAE’s recent growth momentum.
