Military spending as a share of GDP in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Military spending as a share of GDP was 5.6% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Military spending as a share of GDP in United Arab Emirates, 1997–2014
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2014, military spending as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates stood at 5.6%.
That represents a change of down 6.5% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates peaked at 8.6% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2006.
United Arab Emirates ranks 12th of 166 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Military spending as a share of GDP in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 6.8% | — |
| 1998 | 8.6% | +27.7% |
| 1999 | 7.7% | -11.1% |
| 2000 | 8.3% | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 5.6% | -32.6% |
| 2002 | 4.9% | -13.1% |
| 2003 | 4.7% | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | -20.7% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | -11.8% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | +11.8% |
| 2009 | 5.5% | +48.8% |
| 2010 | 6.0% | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 5.5% | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 5.1% | -7.1% |
| 2013 | 6.0% | +18.9% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.7% | 6.8% | 8.6% | 3 |
| 2000s | 4.7% | 3.2% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.7% | 5.1% | 6.0% | 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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 21.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4195 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 24,481 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.421 % change on previous year (2023)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1222 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 6,090 current US$ per person (2023)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 0.421 % change on previous year (2023)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 0.4487 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates was 5.6% in 2014, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 8.6% in 1998.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2006.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 12th out of 166 countries with data for 2014.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.