Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP was 26.01 in 2031. ◆ Volatile
Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP in United Arab Emirates, 1999–2031
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross debt, general government, percent of gdp in United Arab Emirates is 26.01, measured in 2031.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross debt, general government, percent of gdp in United Arab Emirates peaked at 35.67 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.69, in 2001.
United Arab Emirates ranks 24th of 26 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 4.73 | — |
| 2000 | 3.12 | -34.0% |
| 2001 | 2.69 | -13.8% |
| 2002 | 3.43 | +27.4% |
| 2003 | 3.33 | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 4.08 | +22.5% |
| 2005 | 4.48 | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 5.05 | +12.7% |
| 2007 | 8.89 | +76.0% |
| 2008 | 8.95 | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 21.14 | +136.2% |
| 2010 | 18.34 | -13.2% |
| 2011 | 20.41 | +11.3% |
| 2012 | 20.23 | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 15.25 | -24.6% |
| 2014 | 13.47 | -11.7% |
| 2015 | 15.61 | +15.9% |
| 2016 | 18.64 | +19.4% |
| 2017 | 21.17 | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 20.68 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 25.82 | +24.9% |
| 2020 | 30.12 | +16.7% |
| 2021 | 35.67 | +18.4% |
| 2022 | 31.51 | -11.6% |
| 2023 | 31.91 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 34.94 | +9.5% |
| 2025 | 34.33 | -1.8% |
| 2026 | 31.36 | -8.6% |
| 2027 | 30.12 | -4.0% |
| 2028 | 28.77 | -4.5% |
| 2029 | 27.24 | -5.3% |
| 2030 | 26.7 | -2.0% |
| 2031 | 26.01 | -2.6% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 26.01 is below the median for high income countries, which is 53.49, 49% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +136.2% | 8.95 | 21.14 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.73 | 4.73 | 4.73 | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.52 | 2.69 | 21.14 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.96 | 13.47 | 25.82 | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.6 | 27.24 | 35.67 | 10 |
| 2030s | 26.35 | 26.01 | 26.7 | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 21 Nigeria 30.11 compare
- 22 Chinese Taipei 27.56 compare
- 23 Türkiye 27.49 compare
- 25 Hong Kong, China 19.83 compare
- 26 Brunei Darussalam 1.23 compare
More external debt data for United Arab Emirates
- Liabilities, International Liquidity, Liabilities to Nonresidents 342.29 billion (2025)
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government, Percent of 4.53 (2030)
- Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government 5.11 (2030)
- Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP 18.08 (2015)
- Liabilities, International Liquidity, Liabilities to Nonresidents 29.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP 26.63 (2030)
- Liabilities, International Liquidity, Liabilities to Nonresidents 29,731 units per person (2025)
- Liabilities, International Liquidity, Liabilities to Nonresidents 0.4776 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Liabilities, International Liquidity, Liabilities to Nonresidents 3.07 billion (2025)
- Inward Direct investment, Assets (gross), Debt instruments, All 68.88 billion (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross debt, general government, percent of gdp in United Arab Emirates?
- Gross debt, general government, percent of gdp in United Arab Emirates was 26.01 in 2031, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross debt, general government, percent of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 35.67 in 2021.
- What is the lowest gross debt, general government, percent of gdp recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.69 in 2001.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for gross debt, general government, percent of gdp?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 24th out of 26 countries with data for 2031.
- Is gross debt, general government, percent of gdp rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP (9/26/2025). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The World Economic Outlook (WEO) database is created during the biannual WEO exercise, which begins in January and June of each year and results in the April and September/October WEO publication. Selected series from the publication are available in a database format.