IHS Markit Dubai PMI rises to 53.2 in July from 51 in June Job creation rises to 20-month high DUBAI: Job creation in Dubai’s non-oil economy rose to a 20-month high in July as businesses gradually recover from the impact of COVID-19, according to the latest IHS Markit Dubai Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report. The composite index rose from 51 in June to 53.2 in July, the second highest reading since November 2019, as increased consumer spending pushed businesses to hire more employees to match rising demand. The seasonally adjusted index covers non-oil sectors, including travel and tourism, wholesale and retail, as well as construction. Data showed travel and tourism firms recording the most improvement in output growth since June. “Growth in the Dubai non-oil economy re-accelerated in July, helped by a rise in customer numbers that boosted sales in the travel and tourism, and wholesale and retail sectors,” said David Owen, an economist at IHS Markit. “This was also a key driver of employment as firms frequently mentioned hiring sales staff, leading to the fastest rate of job creation since November 2019,” he said.