Middle East: PMI surveys and private-sector activity

This dossier follows monthly PMI surveys in Middle Eastern economies, comparing their indications for non-oil or non-energy private activity without equating them with national accounts.

Last updated : 4 November 20262 key moments

UAE flag, public-domain illustration; it does not depict surveyed businesses. — Wikimedia Commons — domaine public, géométrie simple ; rendu PNG du drapeau.

Where things stand

On 4 November 2026, October's UAE PMI was reported at 54.8, down from 55.3 in September. Selling prices rose at the fastest pace since the survey began in 2009.

4 November 2026Reported information

UAE PMI holds at 54.8 as selling-price increases reach record pace

October's UAE PMI, released on 4 November, eased to 54.8 from 55.3 in September but remained above 50. Firms raised selling prices at the fastest pace since tracking began in August 2009.

Flag of the United Arab Emirates. — UAE flag, public-domain illustration; it does not depict surveyed businesses. — Wikimedia Commons — domaine public, géométrie simple ; rendu PNG du drapeau.

The S&P Global survey reports the fastest input-cost inflation since June 2022. New-order growth accelerated while employment fell slightly.

The PMI tracks changes in non-oil private-sector business conditions. A reading above 50 signals improvement from the previous month; it is neither a GDP growth rate nor a measure of household inflation.

Sources 3

3 November 2026Reported information

October PMIs show contrasting activity across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Qatar

PMI surveys released on 3 November 2026 indicate that Saudi and Kuwaiti non-oil private-sector business conditions remained in expansion in October, while Egypt and Qatar’s non-energy private sector remained in contraction, according to S&P Global.

Flag of Saudi Arabia; illustration. — Saudi flag, geographic illustration. NLLI17 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; PNG rendering. Illustration of the Saudi component. — NLLI17 / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ; rendu PNG du SVG, sans autre modification.

Saudi Arabia’s index fell from 55.3 to 54, despite faster output growth reported by firms. Kuwait’s rose from 52.4 to 52.9 as orders and production increased.

Egypt’s PMI held at 47.2, while Qatar’s dropped from 47.3 to 46.3. The 50 threshold separates improving from deteriorating business conditions compared with the preceding month. These survey indices describe the sectors covered; they do not directly measure GDP growth.

Sources 6