UAE tourism performance in 2021 was stronger than initially envisaged with strong pent-up demand being unlocked in both leisure and commercial tourism after the crippling headwinds of 2020. Hotel occupancy rates were trending steadily upwards with the Dubai Expo (2021-2022) supporting momentum in tandem with relaxing of overseas travel advisories

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• The UAE will increasingly ramp up collaboration efforts to enhance clinical research and improve the quality of healthcare provision, driving health sector growth.
• The post-pandemic revival of the medical tourism sector will be a priority for the UAE’s government, offering attractive prospects for multinational drugmakers.
• The

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• Solar and nuclear power will grow considerably within the UAE's power mix over the coming decade, making up more than two thirds of total net growth in capacity between 2021 and 2030.
• The completion of new nuclear reactors will, in combination with new solar and thermal capacity, push growth in the UAE's power capacity beyond that of

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• At Fitch Solutions, we forecast the UAE’s current account surplus to increase from 5.8% of GDP in 2020 to 7.7% of GDP in 2021 and 7.9% of GDP in 2022.
• Our forecast is based on our expectation for a gradual recovery in services and goods exports, as Expo 2020 Dubai drives a revival in the tourism sector, the recovery in the global

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• At Fitch Solutions, we have revised down our 2021 growth forecast for the UAE from 4.1% to 3.7%, as the highly transmissible delta variant looks poised to dampen the pace of economic recovery.
• Still, our forecast reflects a sharp rebound following the 6.1% contraction in 2020, supported largely by increasing visitor arrivals and

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• The launch of the UAE’s Public Health Management platform will improve public healthcare provision.
• Digital health partnerships will become increasingly prevalent, supported by a growing private sector contribution.
• Expanding digital health capabilities will offer growing commercial opportunities for pharmaceutical firms.

The

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• Over 2020, the UAE has adopted more relaxed regulations regarding alcoholic drinks consumption.
• As a result of the loosening of alcohol restrictions, we revised up our forecasts for alcoholic drink consumption in the UAE. While we previously projected alcoholic drinks consumption to contract by a compound annual growth rate of -0.3%

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• The UAE government will increasingly promote the uptake of generic drugs.
• Progressive reforms will increase drugmaker access in the long term.
• Generic drugs will outperform patented drugs over our forecast period.

The UAE government will increasingly promote the uptake generic drugs. As is the case with many Middle Eastern

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• At Fitch Solutions, we forecast that Dubai real GDP will expand by 4.9% in 2021. This is faster than our 4.1% growth forecast for the UAE and our 3.2% growth forecast for Abu Dhabi.
• Leading indicators are pointing to a brighter growth outlook for the emirate in Q221 compared to previous quarters.
• We believe that the UAE’s swift