Countries United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

Middle East GEC: AE ISO: AE

Key Economic Indicators

GDP (PPP)
$870.44 billion
GDP Per Capita
$79,229
GDP Growth Rate
3.99%
Inflation Rate
1.66%
Unemployment
2.17%
GDP (Nominal)
$537.079 billion (2024 est.)
Public Debt
<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP
Current Account
$79.97 billion

Economic Overview

<p>high-income, oil-driven Middle Eastern economy; fastest GDP growth of Gulf states; diversification through tourism, construction, and services; strong foreign direct investment orientation; continued government investment and business-friendly reforms</p>

All Economic Data

Agricultural products
dates, cucumbers/gherkins, camel milk, goat milk, tomatoes, chicken, goat meat, eggs, milk, camel meat (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Average household expenditures
On alcohol and tobacco: 0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On food: 12.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Budget
Expenditures: $19.349 billion (2023 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $23.248 billion (2023 est.)
Currency
code: AED
name: United Arab Emirates dirham (AED) [د.إ]
Current account balance
$79.97 billion
Exchange rates
Currency: Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 3.672 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 3.672 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 3.672 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 3.672 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 3.672 (2024 est.)
Exports
$558.4 billion
Exports 2021: $425.156 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $521.897 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $558.402 billion (2023 est.)
Note: <strong>note: </strong>GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
China 11%, India 11%, Japan 10%, Iraq 6%, Thailand 4% (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Foreign direct investment
net inflows: $45.64 billion
GDP - composition, by end use
Exports of goods and services: 108.6% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Household consumption: 45.6% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -93.7% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Industry: 47.7% (2023 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 51.6% (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$537.079 billion (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP per capita (nominal)
$50,274
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
26 (2018)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 26.4 (2018 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
GNI (gross national income)
$568.34 billion
GNI per capita
$51,550
Gross domestic investment
27 % of GDP
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10%: 20.5% (2018 est.)
Lowest 10%: 2.8% (2018 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports
$481.85 billion
Imports 2021: $347.529 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $427.992 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $481.852 billion (2023 est.)
Note: <strong>note: </strong>GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
gold, broadcasting equipment, cars, refined petroleum, diamonds (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
China 19%, India 7%, USA 6%, Turkey 4%, Japan 4% (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
0.8% (2023 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.66%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
7.09 million (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 7.42 million persons
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 1.44%
industry: 30.59%
services: 67.97%
Public debt
Note: <b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2017: 19.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$870.44 billion
Note: <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $693.842 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $718.95 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $745.994 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
3.99%
Note: <b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$79,229
Note: <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $68,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $68,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $68,600 (2024 est.)
Remittances
$1.8 billion
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$237.93 billion
Note: <b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $138.433 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $189.491 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $237.931 billion (2024 est.)
Revenue (excl grants)
3 % of GDP
Tax revenue
1 % of GDP
Taxes and other revenues
0.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
2.17%
Note: <b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
Female: 12.1% (2024 est.)
Male: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 6.4% (2024 est.)

World Bank Indicators

Currency
United Arab Emirates dirham (AED) . (2025)
Gini Index
26.00 (2018)
Languages
Arabic (2025)
Map of United Arab Emirates

Economic Rankings

Reserves #14
GDP per Capita #15
Imports #18
Exports #19
GDP (Nominal) #28
GDP (PPP) #37
GDP Growth Rate #39
Unemployment Rate #155
Inflation Rate #155
Gini Index #168

Quick Facts

Industries
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles
Agricultural products
dates, cucumbers/gherkins, camel milk, goat milk, tomatoes, chicken, goat meat, eggs, milk, camel meat (2023)
Labor force
7.09 million (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 11%, India 11%, Japan 10%, Iraq 6%, Thailand 4% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 19%, India 7%, USA 6%, Turkey 4%, Japan 4% (2023)
Exchange rates
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -

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