The United Arab Emirates' non-oil private sector demonstrated continued expansion in March, reflecting the resilience of the nation's diversified economy. 

According to the latest S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), the sector recorded a score of 54.0, maintaining its position above the 50.0 threshold that signifies growth. 

However, this marked a slight decline from February's 55.0, indicating a moderation in the pace of expansion.

Key drivers of this growth included a steady increase in new orders and robust project pipelines, supported by ongoing national infrastructure developments. Businesses also ramped up input purchases at the fastest rate since July 2019 to address operational backlogs. 

Despite these positive indicators, challenges such as rising input costs and recruitment difficulties have tempered employment growth, which reached its slowest pace in nearly three years.

Dubai's non-oil private sector mirrored this trend, with its PMI falling to 53.2 in March from 54.3 in February. While new orders continued to rise, the rate of increase slowed, leading to a rare reduction in employment levels.