United Arab Emirates

Quick Facts

🇦🇪

Capital:: Abu Dhabi
Official Language(s):: Arabic
Currency:: United Arab Emirates dirham (د.إ)
Population:: 9,890,400

Overview

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal elective monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as its capital. It shares land borders with Oman to the east and northeast, and with Saudi Arabia to the southwest; as well as maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran, and with Oman in the Gulf of Oman. As of 2024, the UAE has an estimated population of over 10 million, of which 11% are Emiratis; Dubai is its most populous city and is an international hub. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language, while English is the most spoken language and the language of business.

Institutional Framework

The strength of a country's institutions directly impacts its economic development and stability. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty, protect property rights, and enable efficient markets through:

Rule of law and contract enforcement
Control of corruption
Government effectiveness and regulatory quality

* Indicators normalized to 0-100 scale

Economic Structure

The composition of an economy reveals its strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for growth. Understanding the balance between sectors (agriculture, industry, services) and their sophistication helps assess economic resilience and development opportunities.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic Scale & Power

An economy with $415,178,792,769.884B(2021) GDP, showing strong growth at 4.4%(2021). Advanced economy with high living standards.

GDP Growth: 4.4%(2021)
GDP PPP: $645,375,981,370.255

Economic Structure

Economic structure shows 51.9%(2021) in services, 47.1%(2021) in industry, and 0.9%(2021) in agriculture. Industry-driven economy.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic health indicators show 3.1%(2021) unemployment and 0.2%(2021) inflation. Trade profile with 102.4%(2021) exports and 83.7%(2021) imports as % of GDP.

Unemployment

3.1%(2021)

Inflation

0.2%(2021)

Exports/GDP

102.4%(2021)

Imports/GDP

83.7%(2021)

Innovation & Competitiveness

Innovation capacity determines a country's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy. Key indicators like R&D investment, patent applications, and high-tech exports reveal the potential for sustainable economic growth and value creation.

High-Tech Exports

9.0

% of manufactured exports

ICT Exports

8.4

% of total goods exports

Digital Adoption

100.0

% of population using internet

Mobile Connectivity

194.7

Subscriptions per 100 people

Manufacturing Value

10.0

% of GDP

International Position

A country's integration into global markets affects its economic opportunities and risks. Trade relationships, financial flows, and geographic advantages or constraints shape its development trajectory and resilience to external shocks.

Financial & Trade Geography

Trade Profile

Trade represents 186.11%(2021) of GDP, with a trade balance of 18.70%(2021).

FDI Inflows: 5.43%(2021)
FDI Outflows: 5.43%(2021)

Financial Security

External Debt

N/A

Foreign Reserves

$131.12B(2021)(N/A months of imports)

Supply Chain & Technology

Technology Trade

ICT Imports: 12.24%(2021)
High-Tech Exports: 8.96%(2021)

Economic Structure

Manufacturing: 10.00%(2021)
Services: 51.92%(2021)

Trade Agreements & Dependencies

Trade Agreements

No major trade agreements

Critical Dependencies

energy

Growth Trajectory

Understanding growth patterns helps predict future economic performance and development challenges. Key factors include productivity trends, investment levels, and structural transformation progress, which together determine long-term prosperity potential.

Growth Potential Indicators

Human Capital

Education and workforce development

59.4/100

Trade Position

International trade and competitiveness

39.6/100

Economic Structure

Sectoral balance and sophistication

37.9/100

Demographics & Human Capital

Demographics are fundamental to understanding a country's economic potential and challenges. The population structure influences everything from labor force availability to social security systems and public spending priorities.

Demographics

Population Overview

Total population of 9,575,152(2021) with 1.8%(2021) annual growth. Median age is N/A with fertility rate at 1.46 births/woman(2021).

Life Expectancy: 78.71 years(2021)
Birth Rate: 10.307 per 1,000(2021)

Age Structure

Working-age population (81.9%(2021)) with youth at 16.5%(2021) and elderly at 1.6%(2021). Total dependency ratio: 22.1%(2021).

Young Dependency: 20.2%(2021)
Old Dependency: 2.0%(2021)

Gender & Migration

Population is 35.8%(2021) female and 64.2%(2021) male, with sex ratio of 1.046 males/female(2021) at birth. Net migration: 421,663(2021).

Male Mortality: 70.961/1,000(2021)
Female Mortality: 48.276/1,000(2021)

Development Indicators

Urban population growing at 2.1%(2021) annually, with 12.7%(2021) in rural areas. Literacy rate: 98.0%(2021).

Urbanization: 87.3%(2021)
Infant Mortality: 4.5 per 1,000(2021)

Population Structure

The population pyramid visualizes the age and gender distribution, revealing crucial insights about economic sustainability. A balanced pyramid with a strong working-age population (typically ages 15-64) indicates greater economic potential, as this group supports both the younger and older generations through:

Labor force participation and productivity
Tax contributions to support social services
Innovation and economic growth

An aging population (top-heavy pyramid) or youth bulge (bottom-heavy) can create demographic pressures on social systems and economic stability.

Source: World Bank Development Indicators

Security Context

Security considerations fundamentally affect economic development and investment attractiveness. Both geographic factors and military capabilities influence a country's stability and its ability to protect economic interests and maintain sustainable growth.

Geographic & Resource Security

Food & Agriculture

Arable land comprises 0.7%(2021) of territory, with 5.5%(2021) total agricultural land. Cereal yield: 19,809.2 kg/hectare(2021).

Food Production Index: 126.83(2021)
Cereal Production: 23,474.84 MT(2021)

Energy Security

Net energy imports at N/A of consumption. Renewable energy makes up 100.0%(2021) of total. Electricity access: N/A.

Resource Rents: N/A

Water Resources

Fresh water resources of 78 m³/capita(2021) per person. Annual precipitation: 4.468 mm(2021).

Forest Area: N/A

Environmental Vulnerability

15.7%(2021) of population affected by climate disasters. Forest coverage at N/A providing natural buffer.

Annual Rainfall: 4.468 mm(2021)

Military & Security

Military Capabilities

Military expenditure at N/A of GDP. Armed forces personnel: 530,000,000(2021) ( 58000000.00%(2021) of labor force).

Arms Exports: 1,355 USD(2021)
Arms Imports: N/A

Strategic Status

Military Alliances

No major military alliances

Nuclear Status

Non-Nuclear State

Security Environment

Refugee population: 271,181(2021)Internally displaced: 284,798(2021)

Strategic Geography

Strategic Features

Borders 2 countries