Economic growth in the UAE is expected to be at eight per cent last year, up from 7.4 per cent in 2004, said the central bank governor.

Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidi said he could not forecast growth in 2006 but the economy was "robust and flexible", although still dependent to a certain extent on international crude oil prices, said a report.
He gave no estimates for inflation, but said they would vary depending on whether property and energy prices were included.
He said inflation in 2005 was high mainly due to rising real estate and energy prices but currency fluctuations had also contributed. Nearly half of the UAE's inflation was imported due to price increases in other countries.
The UAE does not have any official data on consumer price inflation, which includes housing and energy costs, and estimates of it vary widely from five to 20 per cent, the report added.
"If you take this (GDP) at constant prices, then it will be eight per cent, if you take it based on current prices it will be 20 per cent for 2005," Al Suwaidi said.
Abu Dhabi plans to announce an "innovative vision" for its energy sector soon, according to a senior government official.
The Abu Dhabi Energy Vision will be more on the innovative side, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chief operating officer of Mubadala Development Co and Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, was quoted as saying.
"This new vision is more on the R&D side," a report quoted him.
He said Mubadala was embarking on a $400 million investment to explore oil in Libya.
The company, along with its joint venture partners, won nine tenders out of the 15.