Dubai's real gross domestic product (GDP), which surged to a record Dh198 billion in 2007, is predicted to sustain an average growth rate of 11 per cent for the next eight years.
The main driver of this remarkable growth - outpacing the average growth rate forecast for the GCC - will be the non-oil sector, growing at a spectacular pace.

The hospitality industry is expecting a real boom with its target of 100,000 rooms for 15 million visitors by the year 2015. Currently, there are 324 hotels, 33,731 rooms with occupancy rate of more than 85% throughout the year as a total of seven million people used Dubai hotels in 2007 compared to 1.9m in 1996. Geared up for the air traffic boom is Dubai International Airport, which handled an average of 725 flights per day compared to 650 flights in 2006, reflecting a 10 per cent growth during 2007. Connected to 205 destinations through a network of 120 international airlines, the airport serviced 34 million passengers in 2007 thus recording a 19 per cent rise and is expecting 40 million passengers this year.

In 2007, Dubai's non-oil exports surged a record 43 per cent in 2007 to Dh167.9 billion from Dh117.4 billion on the back of a remarkable increase in trade with Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The jump in total exports, including re-exports, underscored the buoyant economic growth of the emirate. Dubai's exports have been growing by an average of more than 28 per cent annually during the past five years. In 2006, Dubai's non-oil foreign trade grew 9.15 per cent to Dh523.5 billion compared with Dh479.6 billion in 2005 - the highest non-oil trade in the Arabian Gulf. Dubai's non-oil foreign trade represents about 80 per cent of the UAE's total trade. Dubai's imports have also increased by 15.5 per cent, from Dh190.4 billion in 2005 to Dh219.8 billion in 2006. Source: UAE Interact

Key Facts & Figures

Real Estate and Construction (22%), Trade (31%) and the Financial Services (11%) are the biggest contributors to Dubai's GDP.
Property market boom has seen a remarkable growth in hotels constructions @ 13% annually.
Dubai's top re-exporting countries include Iran (US$ 790 million), India (US$ 204 million) and Saudi Arabia (US$ 194 million).
The emirate's top importing countries are Japan (US$ 1.5 billion), China (US$ 1.4 billion) and the United States (US$ 1.4 billion). It is expected that by 2010, there will be nearly 15 million visitors to Dubai and the figure may touch 40 million mark by 2015
• The currency of Dubai is Emirati Dirham (AED) which has an exchange rate of 3.67Dirhams to 1 US Dollar. Source: Wikipedia

Dubai Strategic Plan

http://egov.dubai.ae/opt/CMSContent/Active/CORP/en/Documents/DSPE.pdf

Dubai Statistics Centre

http://www.dsc.gov.ae/en/Pages/Home.aspx
Dubai Statistics Center is the official source responsible for providing statistical data in the Emirate of Dubai. The Center undertakes statistical activities, carrying out the general census of population, and the count of housing and establishments. It conducts economic and social statistical surveys and publishes statistical books and bulletins for the Emirate of Dubai as a whole.

The Center has created a modern and comprehensive statistical system ensuring that it has become the only official source for the collection, analysis and publication of statistical information and data for Dubai. It uses methodological international standards for the collection, analysis and dissemination of data.

The Center manages and develops information systems and statistical databases to meet the requirements of planning and comprehensive development processes which help support the decision makers at all levels.