Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP was 79.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
79.5%
Change on year
up 6.1%
World rank
14th
of 201 countries
All-time high
79.5%
in 2024
All-time low
13.2%
in 1974
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in United Arab Emirates, 1970–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates stood at 79.5%. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 81.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates peaked at 79.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 13.2%, in 1974.
United Arab Emirates ranks 14th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 36.2% | — |
| 1971 | 30.0% | -17.1% |
| 1972 | 32.0% | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 17.9% | -44.1% |
| 1974 | 13.2% | -26.1% |
| 1975 | 16.2% | +22.2% |
| 1976 | 16.2% | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 18.5% | +14.1% |
| 1978 | 19.4% | +4.7% |
| 1979 | 20.1% | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 17.3% | -14.3% |
| 1981 | 16.5% | -4.4% |
| 1982 | 16.9% | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 17.7% | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 15.4% | -13.1% |
| 1985 | 14.5% | -5.9% |
| 1986 | 17.0% | +17.3% |
| 1987 | 17.0% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 20.5% | +21.0% |
| 1989 | 21.0% | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 21.5% | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 25.1% | +16.9% |
| 1992 | 30.8% | +22.4% |
| 1993 | 32.9% | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 34.5% | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 31.1% | -9.8% |
| 1996 | 30.0% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 28.8% | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 32.2% | +11.8% |
| 1999 | 41.8% | +29.7% |
| 2000 | 24.3% | -41.9% |
| 2001 | 28.6% | +17.8% |
| 2002 | 27.5% | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 30.8% | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 37.2% | +20.6% |
| 2005 | 37.0% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 35.4% | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 40.5% | +14.2% |
| 2008 | 48.3% | +19.4% |
| 2009 | 47.4% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 42.3% | -10.8% |
| 2011 | 43.5% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 62.3% | +43.1% |
| 2013 | 44.9% | -28.0% |
| 2014 | 43.9% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 47.4% | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 48.7% | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 63.9% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | 55.5% | -13.1% |
| 2019 | 57.4% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 59.8% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 63.9% | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 64.7% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 75.0% | +15.8% |
| 2024 | 79.5% | +6.1% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 79.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.7%, 2.6× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 79.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 24.2%, 3.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.0% | 13.2% | 36.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.4% | 14.5% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.9% | 21.5% | 41.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.7% | 24.3% | 48.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.0% | 42.3% | 63.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.6% | 59.8% | 79.5% | 5 |
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 value of imported goods as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates was 79.5% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 79.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.2% in 1974.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 14th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of a country’s total goods imports, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).