Economy of the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a high-income developing market economy. The UAE's economy is the 3rd largest in the Middle East (after Turkey and Saudi Arabia), with a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$415 billion (AED 1.83 trillion) in 2021-2023.

Economy of the United Arab Emirates
Dubai, the financial center of the United Arab Emirates
CurrencyEmirati dirham (AED, د.إ)
US$1 = 3.6725 AED
Calendar year
Trade organisations
OPEC, WTO, GCC, BRICS
Country group
Statistics
Population 9,970,529 (2021)
GDP
  • $509.18 billion (nominal; 2023 est.)
  • $895.17 billion (PPP; 2023 est.)
GDP rank
  • 32nd (nominal; 2023)
  • 34th (PPP; 2023)
GDP growth
  • 4.36% (2021)
  • 7.85% (2022)
  • 3.38% (2023)
GDP per capita
  • $50,602 (nominal; 2023 est.)
  • $88,962 (PPP; 2023 est.)
GDP per capita rank
  • 20th (nominal; 2023)
  • 6th (PPP; 2023)
GDP by sector
  • Agriculture: 0.9%
  • Industry: 49.8%
  • Services: 49.2%
  • (2017 est.)
3.12% (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line
N/A
26.0 low (2018)
  • 0.911 very high (2021) (26th)
  • N/A IHDI (2021)
Labour force
  • 6,579,221 (2022)
  • 78.3% employment rate (2019)
  • expatriates account for about 85% of the workforce
Labour force by occupation
  • Agriculture: 7%
  • Industry: 15%
  • Services: 78%
  • (2000 est.)
Unemployment 3.36% (2021)
Main industries
External
Exports $306.41 billion (2020 est.)
Export goods
Crude oil, refined petroleum, gold, reexports, telecommunications equipment, diamonds, petroleum gas, jewellery, aluminium (2021)
Main export partners
Imports $229.2 billion (2017 est.)
Import goods
Gold, food, machinery, transport vehicles and parts, refined petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, jewellery, refined copper (2021)
Main import partners
FDI stock
  • $129.9 billion (2017 est.)
  • Abroad: $124.4 billion (2017 est.)
$26.47 billion (2017 est.)
$237.6 billion (2017 est.)
Public finances
Government debt
38.33% of GDP (2020 est.)
−0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Revenues15.79 billion (2021 est.)
Expenses16.6 billion (2021 est.)
Credit rating
Standard & Poor's: AA
Outlook: Stable
Moody's: Aa2
Outlook: Stable
Fitch: AA
Outlook: Stable
$95.37 billion (2017 est.)
Main data source: CIA World Fact Book
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

The UAE economy is heavily reliant on revenues from petroleum and natural gas, especially in Abu Dhabi. In 2009, more than 85% of the UAE's economy was based on the oil exports. In 2011, oil exports accounted for 77% of the UAE's state budget. In recent years, there has been some economic diversification, particularly in Dubai. Abu Dhabi and other UAE emirates have remained relatively conservative in their approach to diversification. Dubai has far smaller oil reserves than its counterparts.

Tourism is one of the biggest non-oil sources of revenue in the UAE. A massive construction boom, an expanding manufacturing base, and a thriving services sector are helping the country to diversify its economy. Nationwide, there is currently US$350 billion worth of active construction projects.

The UAE is a member of the World Trade Organization and OPEC.

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