Dubai: The non-oil sector has experienced positive growth during the first quarter of 2015, wrote Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in a note on the UAE economy.

The UAE will also adhere to its long-term strategy to diversify its national economy, as the non-oil sector has achieved strong growth rates in GDP [at current prices] of 8.1 per cent in 2014,” he said in the note released on Saturday, adding that the contribution of the non-oil sector to the national economy has reached 68.6 per cent of constant-price GDP. “We have put in place all the necessary plans to take that contribution to as high as 80 per cent in 2021 through intensive investment in the industrial and tourism sectors, air and maritime transport, import and re-export, as well as supporting a range of projects and initiatives based on the knowledge economy.

Shaikh Mohammad wrote that by “developing new sectors, such as the Islamic Economy, and investing in innovation, content development and other such activities, our aim is to build towards economic diversity in 2021 in order to strengthen the economic and financial stability of the UAE and fortify ourselves against the inherent fluctuations and instabilities of world markets.” “The strategic plans I have launched since I assumed the role of Prime Minister in 2006 have achieved many of their goals and objectives, as national production has risen from Dh1.3 trillion in 2006 to Dh2.5 trillion in 2014,” he wrote.

"The total manpower in the national labour market in 2014 reached 275,000 citizens, and we are aiming to take that number to 460,000 citizens by 2021.”