The UAE has just locked in its spending plan for the next three years, and the number is big. A total of AED 292.5 billion has been approved for 2027 to 2029. That’s even 8.3% higher than the previous three-year period. Curious to know what plans they have to spend all this money? HH Sheikh Mohammed said the priorities remain education, health, housing, social services, quality of life and the stability of citizens and residents. Keep reading to find out where this budget is getting allocated across the country.
Fast Forward To 2027
The three-year total is the overall range, but each year gets its own budget too. For 2027 the approved budget is AED 90.1 billion.
Where Will The Money Go?
Here’s how the 2027 federal budget will be split:
- AED 34.6 billion (38.4%): Social development and pensions
- AED 29.1 billion (32.3%): Government affairs
- AED 17.8 billion (19.7%): Federal expenses
- AED 5.6 billion (6.2%): Financial assets and investments
- AED 3 billion (3.4%): Infrastructure and economic resources
Social development and pensions take the biggest slice, at a little over a third of the whole budget. Government affairs comes next at just under a third.
What About Dubai’s Own Budget?
It’s worth remembering that the federal budget is separate from Dubai’s own government budget. Last year, Sheikh Mohammed approved Dubai’s largest cycle ever, covering 2026 to 2028. It lists total spending of AEDD 302.7 billion and total revenues of AED 329.2 billion. Dubai’s Department of Finance expects an operating surplus of up to 5% of the emirate’s projected GDP for 2026.
