UAE Economy in Numbers: The Key Indicators
The United Arab Emirates produced a GDP of $552 billion in 2024 according to World Bank Open Data, making it one of the largest Arab economies. Each figure below names its reference year, because macro statistics publish with a lag: a "current" GDP number is always the latest completed year, not this calendar year.
United Arab Emirates: Latest World Bank Indicators
The table lists six United Arab Emirates indicators from World Bank Open Data (GDP, GDP per capita, real growth, CPI inflation, population, and foreign direct investment), each with the reference year the World Bank assigns to the figure.
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $552 billion | 2024 |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $50,274 | 2024 |
| Real GDP growth | 3.99% | 2024 |
| Inflation (CPI, annual) | 1.25% | 2025 |
| Population | 11,513,149 | 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, net inflows | $46 billion | 2024 |
Source: World Bank Open Data, country ARE, retrieved 2026-08-30. Values refresh automatically when the World Bank revises them.
What These Numbers Mean for a Business Entering the UAE
Three practical readings of the table: first, the dirham peg (3.6725 per USD, unchanged since 1997) plus historically low CPI inflation gives contracts in AED predictable real value. Second, sustained foreign direct investment inflows are the macro backdrop for the licensing reforms covered on this site, including 100% foreign ownership on the mainland and the golden visa expansion. Third, non-oil sectors now drive most UAE growth, which is why free zones report record company registrations, such as DMCC passing 26,000 members in 2025.
Where to Verify UAE Statistics Yourself
Three official sources publish the underlying UAE statistics used on this page: World Bank Open Data, the UAE Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, and the Central Bank of the UAE.
- World Bank Open Data, United Arab Emirates: the source used on this page, with full history per indicator.
- UAE Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre: official national statistics.
- Central Bank of the UAE: monetary statistics and the dirham peg.