UAE economic resilience and business continuity

Late June saw the UAE top the IMD World Competitiveness 2026 ranking, underpinned by strong macro indicators, low bureaucracy and adaptable policy, with forecasts of 4.4 % growth and a sovereign‑asset base exceeding twice GDP. Non‑oil activities now represent 77 % of GDP, while the Barakah nuclear plant and steady crude exports through Fujairah sustain energy supplies. The domestic market for business continuity management expanded, with consultants offering ISO 22301 and UAE‑specific NCEMA 7000 services.

By mid‑July, advisers urged firms to adopt formal BCM systems to mitigate heightened geopolitical, cyber and climate risks, citing gap analyses, risk assessments and recovery planning for ISO 22301 certification, with examples such as the Tawazun Council and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

At the end of July, UAE organisations increasingly engaged specialised BCM consultants to strengthen resilience against cyber threats, supply‑chain disruptions, natural events and geopolitical uncertainties. Consultants are conducting business impact analyses and aligning recovery plans with ISO 22301 and NCEMA 7000 standards. A GlobalData poll indicated that supply‑chain insurance has become the most sought‑after product (41.1 % of respondents), followed by cyber insurance, as firms react to bottlenecks in the Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz, ongoing regional conflicts and U.S. economic‑nationalism‑driven tariff and sanction risks. Insurers face capacity constraints, with only those possessing high risk appetite adapting underwriting terms and employing real‑time geospatial tracking to assess exposures.