Dubai, Sep 7 - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) economy is expected to grow by at least three percent in 2009 despite the continuing global financial crisis, WAM news agency reported Monday quoting a senior minister.

Minister of Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Al-Qasimi said the country's business councils, and local, regional and multinational companies were playing a crucial role in this growth.

She added that the country's economic strength is reflected by the fact that it is at the seventh spot in the recent Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Survey.