REUTERS, Dubai

The United Arab Emirates’ non-oil private sector maintained solid growth in April but inflationary pressures loomed, a survey showed on Monday.

The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slipped marginally to 54.6 in April from 54.8 in March, remaining above the series average of 54.1 and above the 50.0 mark that separates expansion from contraction.

The output sub-index rose to 61.5 from 60.5, which survey respondents largely attributed to rising orders, ongoing projects and increased marketing. It was the sharpest growth recorded in 2022.

“Cost pressures remained at their highest level for more than three years, driven by rising fuel and material prices, forcing businesses to raise their selling charges for the first time since July last year. The increase will spur greater concern of an inflationary-led dip in demand, particularly as the positive efforts from the pandemic recovery and Expo 2020 fade,” wrote David Owen, economist at survey compiler S&P Global, referring to the Expo world fair hosted by Dubai from October 2021 to March 2022.