Spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of GDP in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of GDP was 8.2% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of GDP in United Arab Emirates, 1995–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates stood at 8.2%.
The figure is up 18.3% on the previous year and up 226.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates peaked at 8.9% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1995.
That places United Arab Emirates 49th out of 191 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of GDP in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1.0% | — |
| 1996 | 1.0% | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | +9.9% |
| 1999 | 1.1% | -6.8% |
| 2000 | 1.0% | -3.7% |
| 2001 | 1.2% | +14.0% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | -4.7% |
| 2004 | 1.1% | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | +65.3% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | +25.6% |
| 2007 | 2.4% | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 2.3% | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | +27.7% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | -10.5% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | +11.5% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | +18.4% |
| 2015 | 6.7% | +87.0% |
| 2016 | 7.5% | +12.1% |
| 2017 | 7.4% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 7.9% | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 8.9% | +12.7% |
| 2020 | 6.9% | -22.1% |
| 2021 | 8.2% | +18.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | 1.0% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 2.5% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.5% | 6.9% | 8.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 46 Thailand 8.8% compare
- 47 Cambodia 8.5% compare
- 48 Morocco 8.3% compare
- 50 Luxembourg 7.2% compare
- 51 Kyrgyzstan 6.8% compare
- 52 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.8% compare
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 spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates?
- Spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of gdp in United Arab Emirates was 8.2% in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025); 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 spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 8.9% in 2019.
- What is the lowest spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1995.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of gdp?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 49th out of 191 countries with data for 2021.
- Is spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of gdp rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 226.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025); 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 Spending by international visitors while visiting a country as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Money received by the destination country from foreign visitors, including spending on accommodation, food, transport, entertainment, shopping, and fares paid to the country’s own airlines, as a share of, as a share of GDP.