External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 14.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in United Arab Emirates, 2001–2023
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in United Arab Emirates stood at 14.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 20.2% on the previous year and down 57.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in United Arab Emirates peaked at 34.6% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 5.8%, in 2009.
United Arab Emirates ranks 16th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8.5% | — |
| 2002 | 5.9% | -29.8% |
| 2003 | 9.5% | +60.8% |
| 2004 | 10.5% | +10.1% |
| 2005 | 15.6% | +48.6% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | +13.9% |
| 2007 | 8.0% | -55.2% |
| 2008 | 9.2% | +15.7% |
| 2009 | 5.8% | -36.6% |
| 2010 | 19.4% | +232.0% |
| 2011 | 27.1% | +39.6% |
| 2012 | 34.6% | +27.6% |
| 2013 | 34.1% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 30.0% | -12.0% |
| 2015 | 23.4% | -22.0% |
| 2016 | 23.6% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 24.0% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 26.9% | +12.3% |
| 2019 | 22.8% | -15.4% |
| 2020 | 14.9% | -34.8% |
| 2021 | 18.4% | +23.7% |
| 2022 | 18.4% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 14.6% | -20.2% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 14.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%, 6.5× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 14.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -5.3%. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +232.0% | 5.8% | 19.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.1% | 5.8% | 17.8% | 9 |
| 2010s | 26.6% | 19.4% | 34.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.6% | 14.6% | 18.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More economy & growth data for United Arab Emirates
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.85 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.54 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 77.17 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1397 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 7,024 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 45.64 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 48.71 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0826 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4,154 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 22.86 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in United Arab Emirates?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in United Arab Emirates was 14.6% in 2023, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 34.6% in 2012.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.8% in 2009.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 16th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.