World Factbook

United Arab Emirates

Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah

Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)

Budget

note

note: 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.)

expenditures

$19.349 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports 2021

$425.156 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$521.897 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$558.402 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports 2021

$347.529 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$427.992 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$481.852 billion (2023 est.)

Industries

petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles

Labor force

7.09 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2017

19.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

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.)

Economic overview

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

Unemployment rate

note

note: % 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.)

Exports - partners

China 11%, India 11%, Japan 10%, Iraq 6%, Thailand 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Imports - partners

China 19%, India 7%, USA 6%, Turkey 4%, Japan 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Real GDP per capita

note

note: 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.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: 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.)

Agricultural products

dates, cucumbers/gherkins, camel milk, goat milk, tomatoes, chicken, goat meat, eggs, milk, camel meat (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - commodities

gold, broadcasting equipment, cars, refined petroleum, diamonds (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Taxes and other revenues

0.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

GDP (official exchange rate)

$537.079 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

household consumption

45.6% (2023 est.)

government consumption

12.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

27.1% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services

108.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-93.7% (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food

12.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco

0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

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.)

Industrial production growth rate

0.8% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: 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.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

male

4.1% (2024 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

6.4% (2024 est.)

female

12.1% (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: 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.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

industry

47.7% (2023 est.)

services

51.6% (2023 est.)

agriculture

0.7% (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

lowest 10%

2.8% (2018 est.)

highest 10%

20.5% (2018 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

26.4 (2018 est.)