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Trade & investment · Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · High income
United Arab Emirates: trade and investment
Exports is 106.8% (2023), 8th of 184 in the world and 3rd of 21 in the Middle East & North Africa. Imports is 92.2% (2023), 14th of 184 in the world and 3rd of 21 in the Middle East & North Africa. Trade openness is 199.0% (2023), 9th of 184 in the world and 3rd of 21 in the Middle East & North Africa.
12 indicators
Trade & investment: United Arab Emirates in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 106.8%2023 | 8/184 | 3/21 | 49.2%2001 | 77.4% | 98.1% | +11.1 ppsince 2013 | 41.1% | 31.7% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 92.2%2023 | 14/184 | 3/21 | 40.7%2001 | 58.0% | 83.2% | +30.6 ppsince 2013 | 38.4% | 30.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 199.0%2023 | 9/184 | 3/21 | 89.9%2001 | 135.5% | 181.3% | +41.6 ppsince 2013 | 57.2% | 60.5% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | 15.7%2024 | 11/185 | 2/20 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $707bn2025 | 9/206 | 1/22 | $49.8bn | $214bn | $335bn | +135%since 2015 | $1.8tn | $17.5tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 9.0%2023 | 73/170 | 4/19 | · | 3.8%2012 | 5.4% | +5.4 ppsince 2013 | 8.6% | 25.8% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 68.2%2023 | 14/172 | 7/20 | 93.8% | 50.0% | 71.4% | +12.4 ppsince 2013 | 68.5% | 10.4% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 2.9%2023 | 149/172 | 14/20 | 0.6% | 1.4% | 3.5% | +1.7 ppsince 2013 | 4.1% | 8.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 2.6%2021 | 114/184 | 16/20 | · | 3.9%2011 | 3.3% | −1.2 ppsince 2011 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 8.3%2024 | 25/197 | 2/21 | -0.5% | 2.9% | 5.6% | +5.7 ppsince 2014 | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 8.1m2020 | 26/196 | 3/18 | · | · | 8.1m | — | 153m | 1.5bn | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $24.6bn2020 | 6/177 | 1/20 | $1.1bn | $8.6bn | $24.6bn | +187%since 2010 | $145bn | $1.2tn | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
United Arab Emirates and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with United Arab Emirates. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | United Arab Emirates | Iran | Saudi Arabia | Oman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 106.8%2023 | 25.8%2025 | 29.7%2025 | 66.1%2024 |
| Imports | 92.2%2023 | 34.5%2025 | 28.2%2025 | 48.8%2024 |
| Trade openness | 199.0%2023 | 60.2%2025 | 57.9%2025 | 114.9%2024 |
| Current account | 15.7%2024 | — | -2.6%2025 | -1.1%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $707bn2025 | $113bn2025 | $311bn2025 | $55.3bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 9.0%2023 | 0.8%2022 | 0.5%2024 | 5.0%2023 |
| Fuel exports | 68.2%2023 | 68.0%2023 | 78.7%2025 | 72.4%2025 |
| Food exports | 2.9%2023 | 5.6%2023 | 2.2%2025 | 4.3%2025 |
| Average tariff | 2.6%2021 | 12.1%2020 | 5.4%2022 | 2.1%2022 |