United Arab Emirates — GDP growth
GDP Growth (Annual %) for United Arab Emirates, 1971–2024.
GDP growth for United Arab Emirates was 3.99% in 2024, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 54 years, from 1971 to 2024. The highest recorded value was 76.62% in 1973. The lowest was -14.96% in 1986 (about -3.7× the latest value). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -4.10% per year.
United Arab Emirates ranks 79 of 212 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 37%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 2.93%, so United Arab Emirates sits above it. It peaked in 1973 and has fallen 95% since. Over the last decade (2014–2024) the figure moved down 14%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 7 of 23 economies; Malta (3.96%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 1416% in 1979. That is 43% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1971 level: doubled by 1973.
World ranking. Slipped: 1st of 142 in 1971 → 2nd of 152 in 1980 → 6th of 176 in 1990 → 10th of 199 in 2000 → 155th of 209 in 2010 → 160th of 209 in 2020 → 73rd of 200 in 2024.
Key figures
Full history — 1971 to 2024
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3.99% | -0.3 pp |
| 2023 | 4.3% | -3.2 pp |
| 2022 | 7.51% | +3.0 pp |
| 2021 | 4.55% | +13.2 pp |
| 2020 | -8.69% | -10.0 pp |
| 2019 | 1.27% | -0.3 pp |
| 2018 | 1.54% | +2.6 pp |
| 2017 | -1.06% | -6.7 pp |
| 2016 | 5.66% | -1.4 pp |
| 2015 | 7.09% | +2.5 pp |
| 2014 | 4.63% | -0.3 pp |
| 2013 | 4.92% | +0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 4.68% | -2.1 pp |
| 2011 | 6.74% | +5.1 pp |
| 2010 | 1.6% | +6.8 pp |
| 2009 | -5.24% | -8.4 pp |
| 2008 | 3.19% | +0.0 pp |
| 2007 | 3.18% | -6.7 pp |
| 2006 | 9.84% | +5.0 pp |
| 2005 | 4.86% | -4.7 pp |
| 2004 | 9.57% | +0.8 pp |
| 2003 | 8.8% | +6.4 pp |
| 2002 | 2.43% | +1.0 pp |
| 2001 | 1.4% | -9.5 pp |
| 2000 | 10.85% | +8.0 pp |
| 1999 | 2.9% | +2.6 pp |
| 1998 | 0.29% | -7.9 pp |
| 1997 | 8.19% | +2.4 pp |
| 1996 | 5.8% | -0.9 pp |
| 1995 | 6.69% | -0.2 pp |
| 1994 | 6.9% | +5.6 pp |
| 1993 | 1.26% | -2.1 pp |
| 1992 | 3.35% | +2.5 pp |
| 1991 | 0.86% | -17.5 pp |
| 1990 | 18.33% | +6.0 pp |
| 1989 | 12.34% | +15.0 pp |
| 1988 | -2.62% | -6.0 pp |
| 1987 | 3.38% | +18.3 pp |
| 1986 | -14.96% | -11.4 pp |
| 1985 | -3.59% | -7.6 pp |
| 1984 | 4.02% | +8.8 pp |
| 1983 | -4.75% | +2.0 pp |
| 1982 | -6.72% | -11.4 pp |
| 1981 | 4.66% | -19.2 pp |
| 1980 | 23.87% | +3.0 pp |
| 1979 | 20.92% | +22.5 pp |
| 1978 | -1.59% | -23.0 pp |
| 1977 | 21.44% | +4.9 pp |
| 1976 | 16.53% | +10.3 pp |
| 1975 | 6.23% | -8.3 pp |
| 1974 | 14.5% | -62.1 pp |
| 1973 | 76.62% | +37.5 pp |
| 1972 | 39.08% | +2.5 pp |
| 1971 | 36.61% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was United Arab Emirates’s GDP growth in 1972?
39.08% (1972). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in annual %, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is United Arab Emirates’s GDP growth growing or shrinking?
Between 1971 and 2024 the series was shrinking overall: -89.1% in total — about 4.1% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2024: 3.99%; 2023: 4.3%; 2022: 7.51%; 2021: 4.55%; 2020: -8.69%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG — GDP Growth (Annual %). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.