United Arab Emirates - AE - ARE - UAE - Middle East

Last updated: May 06, 2025

United Arab Emirates Images

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. This largest mosque in the country was constructed between 1996 and 2007 and contains design elements borrowed from other Islamic countries, including Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, and Egypt. Constructed between 1996 and 2007, the Grand Mosque contains design elements borrowed from other Islamic countries, including Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, and Egypt. Its main axis is rotated about 11° south of true west, aligning it in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Natural materials, such as marble, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals, and ceramics were used in construction due to their long-lasting qualities.
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. A planned city, Abu Dhabi has become a thriving metropolis.
The Burj-al-Arab Hotel in Dubai, UAE, is one of the world's tallest hotels. Its distinctive shape is meant to mimic an Arab dhow (sailing vessel).
The Emirates Palace is a luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Built between 2001 and 2005, the hotel displays a mix of Islamic architectural elements complemented by modern design and construction.
South and west of Abu Dhabi, UAE, sand dunes merge into the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter), a sand desert encompassing the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula (including southern Saudi Arabia, and areas of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen). The desert covers about 650,000 sq km (250,000 sq mi).
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. This largest mosque in the country was constructed between 1996 and 2007 and contains design elements borrowed from other Islamic countries, including Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, and Egypt. Constructed between 1996 and 2007, the Grand Mosque contains design elements borrowed from other Islamic countries, including Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, and Egypt. Its main axis is rotated about 11° south of true west, aligning it in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Natural materials, such as marble, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals, and ceramics were used in construction due to their long-lasting qualities.
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. A planned city, Abu Dhabi has become a thriving metropolis.

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United Arab Emirates Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Martina A. STRONG (since 4 October 2023)

embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi

mailing address: 6010 Abu Dhabi Place, Washington DC 20521-6010

telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200

FAX: [971] (2) 414-2241

email address and website:
abudhabiacs@state.gov

https://ae.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Dubai

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.4% (male 842,577/female 802,302)

15-64 years: 81.4% (male 5,812,470/female 2,353,750)

65 years and over: 2.2% (2024 est.) (male 169,084/female 52,030)

This is the population pyramid for United Arab Emirates. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

24 00 N, 54 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 2.47 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 3.25 male(s)/female

total population: 2.13 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Natural hazards

frequent sand and dust storms

Area - comparative

slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine

slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for compulsory national service for men (compulsory service initiated in 2014); 18-40 for voluntary service; 36-month service obligation for men without a secondary education and 11 months for secondary school graduates; women may volunteer for national service (11-month service obligation regardless of education) (2025)

note 1: compulsory service may be completed in the uniformed military, the Ministry of Interior, or other security institutions designated by the military leadership

note 2: the UAE military employs a considerable number of foreign personnel on contracted service

Background

The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th-century treaties. In 1971, six of these states -- Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn -- merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ra's al Khaymah joined in 1972.

The UAE's per-capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates for political reform.

The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel -- brokered by the US -- in Washington, D.C. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.

Environment - current issues

air pollution; rapid population growth and high energy demand contribute to water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Military expenditures

4% of GDP (2023 est.)
4% of GDP (2022 est.)
5% of GDP (2021 est.)
5.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
5.4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% (2018 est.)

highest 10%: 20.5% (2018 est.)

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

Exports - commodities

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

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

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

Administrative divisions

7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

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

Military and security forces

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (includes special operations forces), National Guard (includes Coast Guard) (2024)

note: each emirate maintains a local police force called a general directorate, which is officially a branch of the federal Ministry of Interior; all emirate-level general directorates of police enforce their respective emirate’s laws autonomously; they also enforce federal laws within their emirate in coordination with one another under the federal ministry; the State Security Directorate (SSD) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai State Security (DSS) have primary responsibility for counterterrorism law enforcement efforts; local, emirate-level police forces, especially the Abu Dhabi Police and Dubai Police, are the first responders in such cases and provide technical assistance to SSD and DSS

Budget

revenues: $20.165 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $19.483 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Capital

name: Abu Dhabi

geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E

time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: in Arabic, abu means "father," and dhabi refers to a personal name, Dhabi or Zabi, that comes from the word zab, or "gazelle"

Imports - commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Coastline

1,318 km

Constitution

history: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996

amendment process: proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council president

Exchange rates

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
3.673 (2023 est.)
3.673 (2022 est.)
3.673 (2021 est.)
3.673 (2020 est.)
3.673 (2019 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: President MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al Nuhayyan (since 14 May 2022)

head of government: Prime Minister and Co-Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al Maktum (since 5 January 2006)

cabinet: Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president

elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council - composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates - for a 5-year term (no term limits); unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, following the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (next election expected in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: 2022: MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al-Nuhayyan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote - NA

note: the Federal Supreme Council (FSC) is composed of the 7 emirate rulers and is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; the FSC establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification

Illicit drugs

major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

Independence

2 December 1971 (from the UK)

Industries

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases)

judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president after approval from the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiration of their appointment terms

subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws); the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system

note: the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts, the country’s two largest financial free zones, adjudicate civil and commercial disputes

Land boundaries

total: 1,066 km

border countries (2): Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km

Land use

agricultural land: 5.5% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0.7% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.6% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 4.2% (2022 est.)

forest: 4.5% (2022 est.)

other: 90% (2022 est.)

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law

Legislative branch

legislature name: Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihadi)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 40 (20 indirectly elected; 20 appointed)

electoral system: other systems

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 10/7/2023

percentage of women in chamber: 50%

expected date of next election: October 2027

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.1%

male: 98.8%

female: 97.2% (2021)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday

Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)

Nationality

noun: Emirati(s)

adjective: Emirati

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas

Geography - note

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) together account for over 90% of the area of the country and two-thirds of the population

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

Political parties

none; political parties are banned; all candidates run as independents

Suffrage

limited; note - rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: the UAE has a strong mobile market; while the 5G penetration rate is the second highest globally after China; this has underpinned growth in the mobile broadband sector, and has enabled the strong development in the take-up of rich content and applications, as well as m-commerce; to help increase the capacity of 5G networks in coming years, and so keep up with data demand, the government has allowed for the GSM networks to be closed down and for spectrum and other assets to be re-purposed for 5G by the end of 2022; the fixed-broadband network in the UAE is dominated by fiber, with DSL having a minor and declining presence; this focus on a fully fiber infrastructure has also facilitated growth in e-commerce, and has supported the government’s long-term aim of transitioning the economy from its dependence on oil to being knowledge-based and supported by digital services; the country stands to benefit from having signed the Abraham Accord Declaration with Israel, which aims to normalize relations between the two countries; such benefits can be seen in the agreement to enable local ISPs to access Bezeq International’s submarine cable infrastructure, and so improve direct connectivity to Europe, South East Asia, and Africa; the UAE’s ISPs can also access Bezeq International’s data center in Tel Aviv, improving internet services (2022)

domestic: fixed-line is 24 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 190 per 100 (2021)

international: country code - 971; landing points for the FLAG, SEA-ME-WE-3 ,-4 & -5, Qater UAE Submarine Cable System, FALCON, FOG, Tat TGN-Gulf, OMRAN/EPEG Cable System, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FEA, GBICS/MENA, IMEWE, Orient Express, TEAMS, TW1 and the UAE-Iran submarine cables, linking to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2020)

Terrain

flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east

Government type

federation of monarchies

Country name

conventional long form: United Arab Emirates

conventional short form: none

local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah

local short form: none

former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States

abbreviation: UAE

etymology: self-descriptive country name; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Egyptians, who referred to the region as "Ar Rabi;" "emirates" derives from amir, the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince;" the former name, Trucial States, refers to a maritime truce from 1820 between the British and the Arab sheikhdoms

Location

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Irrigated land

940 sq km (2022)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Yousif AL OTAIBA (since 28 July 2008)

chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400

FAX: [1] (202) 243-2408

email address and website:
info@uaeembassy-usa.org

https://www.uae-embassy.org/

consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Internet users

percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)

Internet country code

.ae

GDP (official exchange rate)

$514.13 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: AA- (2020)

Moody's rating: Aa2 (2007)

Standard & Poors rating: AA (2007)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Broadcast media

except for the many organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts; restrictions since June 2017 on some satellite channels and websites originating from or otherwise linked to Qatar, but in early 2023 Abu Dhabi unblocked several sites, including Al Jazeera (2022)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)

lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia

This is an audio of the National Anthem for United Arab Emirates. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

3.008 million Dubai, 1.831 million Sharjah, 1.567 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2023)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Physician density

2.99 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)

National symbol(s)

golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 45.6% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 12.4% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 27.1% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 108.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -93.7% (2023 est.)

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

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 22.9 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 20.1 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 2.7 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 36.9 (2024 est.)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years

Population distribution

population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Filipino 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.)

note: data represent the total population; as of 2019, immigrants make up about 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data

Religions

Muslim 74.5% (official) (Sunni 63.3%, Shia 6.7%, other 4.4%), Christian 12.9%, Hindu 6.2%, Buddhist 3.2%, agnostic 1.3%, other 1.9% (2020 est.)

note: data represent the total population; as of 2020, immigrants make up about 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian

major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Arabic audio sample

Imports - partners

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 5 (mid-year 2021)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years

male: 15 years

female: 17 years (2020)

Elevation

highest point: Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

mean elevation: 149 m

Current health expenditure

5.3% of GDP (2021)

Military - note

the UAE Armed Forces (UAEAF) are responsible for external defense and supporting the UAE’s foreign policy objectives; the military’s primary concerns include terrorism, regional instability, particularly in Somalia, Yemen, and Iran, including a territorial dispute over three islands in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian support to proxy forces in the region; in recent years, the UAE has undertaken a large military modernization program to go along with an assertive security policy which has included military involvements in Libya, Syria, and Yemen, as well as peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Somalia; the UAEAF has organized, trained, and equipped tens of thousands of militia forces in Yemen and offered training and equipment to several countries in Africa; the UAE also hosts the region’s first military school for women, which has trained female peacekeepers for deployment in Africa and Asia

the UAE has close security ties to France and the US; it hosts a multi-service French military base, which includes the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and hosts thousands of US military troops, mostly air and naval personnel; it also has defense ties with a variety of other countries, including Australia, China, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea, and the UK, as well as NATO and fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, particularly Saudi Arabia

the UAEAF traces its origins to the establishment of the Trucial Oman Scouts in 1951, a joint UK-Abu Dhabi organization modeled after Jordan’s Arab Legion, which became the Abu Dhabi Defense Force in 1965; the modern UAEAF were formed in 1976 and are considered to be one of the best-trained and most capable forces in the Persian Gulf region (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 65,000 active personnel (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is comprised of a wide variety of mostly modern imported weapons and equipment, and a small, but expanding amount of domestically-produced items; major foreign suppliers have included China, France, Italy, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and the US; the UAE has a growing domestic defense industry which produces or co-produces such items as armored vehicles, naval vessels, precision munitions, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones (2024)

Military deployments

continues to maintain a small force in Yemen; also maintains some troops at military bases in Eritrea and Somalia (Somaliland) (2023)

note: in 2015, UAE intervened militarily in Yemen as part of the Saudi-led coalition in support of the Republic of Yemen Government with an estimated 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 2.63 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 69 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 2.32 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,413,453 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,082,691 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2015 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 12.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 41.75 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 206.32 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 56.55 megatons (2020 est.)

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas)

Coal

consumption: 5.411 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 5.512 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 75.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear: 19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 4.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 55.8 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 67.734 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 6.863 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 18.938 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 6.091 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 4.146 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 846,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.78 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

72.4% (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 5.35GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 19.7% (2023 est.)

Space program overview

has an ambitious and growing space program and is recognized as one of the leading programs in the region; focused on satellite development, including communications, remote sensing, and navigational; also placing emphasis on building expertise, infrastructure, ground stations, technology, and research and development capabilities to support its space program domestically; rather than building its own launch capabilities, has elected to utilize foreign partners to launch payloads from spaceports abroad; has looked to invest heavily in foreign commercial space companies and encourage global partnerships; has a foreign-assisted astronaut training program; seeking to establish UAE as an international hub for space education; has signed more than 25 cooperation agreements or memorandums of understanding with major global and regional players in the space sector, including the Arab Space Cooperation Group, China, the European Space Agency (ESA), France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and the US; sees the development of its commercial space industry as a key pillar for diversifying and developing the country’s non-oil economy; dozens of space companies and entities operate in the UAE, including international and start-ups, plus several space science research centers (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Space agency/agencies

UAE Space Agency (created in 2014); Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC; established 2006); in 2015, MBRSC combined with the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST; established 2006) (2024)

Ports

total ports: 20 (2024)

large: 1

medium: 4

small: 9

very small: 6

ports with oil terminals: 17

key ports: Abu Zaby, Jabal Az Zannah/Ruways, Khawr Fakkan, Mina Jabal Ali, Zirkuh

Labor force

7.248 million (2023 est.)

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

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 10.7% (2023 est.)

male: 6.7% (2023 est.)

female: 22.9% (2023 est.)

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

Net migration rate

-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 35.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 38.1 years

female: 29.8 years

Maternal mortality ratio

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$189.491 billion (2023 est.)
$138.433 billion (2022 est.)
$131.117 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Public debt

19.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.61 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.71% (2023 est.)
2.87% (2022 est.)
3.11% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 10,032,213 (2024 est.)

male: 6,824,131

female: 3,208,082

Carbon dioxide emissions

271.703 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 12.788 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 126.038 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 132.876 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Area

total : 83,600 sq km

land: 83,600 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

0.58% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$718.95 billion (2023 est.)
$693.842 billion (2022 est.)
$645.376 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Airports

42 (2025)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 21.2 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 212 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

26.4 (2018 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.63% (2023 est.)
5.29% (2022 est.)
0.18% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

$26.47 billion (2017 est.)
$13.23 billion (2016 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$68,600 (2023 est.)
$68,900 (2022 est.)
$67,400 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 3.95 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

31.7% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

450.432 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Death rate

1.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

10.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 44.462 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 157.974 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 613 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 501.067 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 7.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 655 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 2, container ship 3, general cargo 122, oil tanker 16, other 512

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Imports

$246.886 billion (2020 est.)
$295.6 billion (2019 est.)
$281.536 billion (2018 est.)

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

Exports

$335.238 billion (2020 est.)
$404.046 billion (2019 est.)
$392.863 billion (2018 est.)

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

Heliports

204 (2025)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2.259 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 2.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 78.6 years

female: 81.4 years

Real GDP growth rate

3.62% (2023 est.)
7.51% (2022 est.)
4.35% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

0.8% (2023 est.)

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.7% (2023 est.)

industry: 47.7% (2023 est.)

services: 51.6% (2023 est.)

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

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.6% (2024 est.)

Sources: