Tax revenue as share of GDP in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Tax revenue as share of GDP was 20.0% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Tax revenue as share of GDP in United Arab Emirates, 2011–2022
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tax revenue as share of gdp in United Arab Emirates is 20.0%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 43.8% on the previous year and down 21.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue as share of gdp in United Arab Emirates peaked at 25.3% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 2016.
United Arab Emirates ranks 92nd of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Tax revenue as share of GDP in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 0.3% | — |
| 2012 | 25.3% | +8071.4% |
| 2013 | 25.2% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 21.9% | -13.1% |
| 2015 | 15.1% | -31.0% |
| 2016 | 8.9% | -40.8% |
| 2017 | 11.9% | +33.6% |
| 2018 | 15.6% | +31.1% |
| 2019 | 15.2% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 12.8% | -15.7% |
| 2021 | 13.9% | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 20.0% | +43.8% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 20.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 29.8%, 67% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 20.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7.7%, 2.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 15.5% | 0.3% | 25.3% | 9 |
| 2020s | 15.6% | 12.8% | 20.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 89 Kazakhstan 20.5% compare
- 90 Naoero 20.3% compare
- 91 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 20.2%
- 93 Trinidad and Tobago 19.9% compare
- 94 Tajikistan 19.7% compare
- 95 Eritrea 19.5%
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 tax revenue as share of gdp in United Arab Emirates?
- Tax revenue as share of gdp in United Arab Emirates was 20.0% in 2022, according to UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 25.3% in 2012.
- What is the lowest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 2016.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for tax revenue as share of gdp?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 92nd out of 192 countries with data for 2022.
- Is tax revenue as share of gdp rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tax revenue as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Direct and indirect taxes as well as social contributions included.