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.
Dubai, the financial center of the United Arab Emirates | |
Currency | Emirati dirham (AED, د.إ) |
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US$1 = 3.6725 AED | |
Calendar year | |
Trade organisations | OPEC, WTO, GCC, BRICS |
Country group |
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Statistics | |
Population | 9,970,529 (2021) |
GDP |
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GDP rank |
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GDP growth |
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GDP per capita |
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GDP per capita rank |
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GDP by sector |
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3.12% (2023 est.) | |
Population below poverty line | N/A |
26.0 low (2018) | |
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Labour force |
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Labour force by occupation |
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Unemployment | 3.36% (2021) |
Main industries |
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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 |
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$26.47 billion (2017 est.) | |
Gross external debt | $237.6 billion (2017 est.) |
Public finances | |
Government debt | 38.33% of GDP (2020 est.) |
−0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | |
Revenues | 15.79 billion (2021 est.) |
Expenses | 16.6 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.) | |
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.