Imports of goods and services in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Imports of goods and services was 92.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in United Arab Emirates, 2001–2023
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, imports of goods and services in United Arab Emirates stood at 92.2%. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is up 10.2% on the previous year and up 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in United Arab Emirates peaked at 92.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 40.7%, in 2001.
United Arab Emirates ranks 15th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 40.7% | — |
| 2002 | 43.6% | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 46.4% | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 53.1% | +14.4% |
| 2005 | 52.0% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 50.8% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 64.4% | +26.7% |
| 2008 | 69.6% | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 73.8% | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 58.0% | -21.4% |
| 2011 | 58.5% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 61.0% | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 61.6% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 64.7% | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 70.4% | +8.8% |
| 2016 | 70.9% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 70.7% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 63.9% | -9.7% |
| 2019 | 70.5% | +10.4% |
| 2020 | 83.2% | +18.0% |
| 2021 | 82.3% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 83.7% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 92.2% | +10.2% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 92.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 51.2%, 1.8× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 92.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 48.8%, 1.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.9% | 40.7% | 73.8% | 9 |
| 2010s | 65.1% | 58.0% | 70.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.3% | 82.3% | 92.2% | 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 imports of goods and services in United Arab Emirates?
- Imports of goods and services in United Arab Emirates was 92.2% in 2023, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 92.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.7% in 2001.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for imports of goods and services?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 15th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.