UAE's non-oil economy expands at strongest pace in five months.

Business activity in the UAE's non-oil private sector expanded at the strongest pace in five months, as new orders increased and employment in the Arab world's second-largest economy in March grew at the fastest rate since 2016.

The seasonally adjusted SandP Global Purchasing Managers' Index climbed to 55.9 in March from 54.3 in February, well above the neutral 50 mark that separates growth from contraction.

The latest reading signalled a 'sharp and quicker improvement' in the health of the sector.

The increase in the index was the largest month-on-month uplift since October 2021, with all five sub-components providing a 'positive directional influence', according to the survey.

'The latest PMI reading ... reflected concerted efforts by non-oil companies to boost their capacity levels in the...