Dubai: The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 54.8 in November, up from 53.8 in October, marking a nine-month high and signalling solid expansion across the non-oil economy.

New business volumes recorded their strongest rise since January, fuelled by a favourable market climate, increased product innovation and continued diversification efforts. Reflecting this momentum, the new orders sub-index strengthened to 57.4, compared with 56.0 in the previous month.

Recruitment also picked up, but the improved hiring outlook came with challenges. Companies reported rising pressure on wages, citing cost-of-living increases and skill shortages, contributing to the sharpest jump in input costs in 14 months. Despite these headwinds, firms signalled a modest improvement in sentiment, with expectations for future activity recovering from October’s dip.

In Dubai, the nation’s commercial and tourism powerhouse, the headline PMI held steady at 54.5, supported by strong output and resilient demand. However, the emirate also saw input prices rise at their fastest pace in six months, prompting businesses to increase selling prices to manage rising costs.