RIYADH: The UAE aims to double its economy to 3 trillion dirhams over the next 10 years, said the Minister of Economy, Abdulla Bin Touq Al-Marri.

He said the focus for governments including the UAE would be on balancing health and economy, in an interview with Asharq Business.

The minister said that free zones remain an important source of growth for the UAE economy, contributing about a third of commercial traffic and imports last year and more than half of all re-exports.

About 80 percent of the first phase of the plan to support economic sectors has been completed, he said. The plan focused on supporting small and medium-sized companies through financing packages provided by the state worth $100 billion, he said.