Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected was 12.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Arab Emirates, 2013–2025
Source: Protected Planet WDPA and WD-OECM data, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of territorial waters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Arab Emirates is 12.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Arab Emirates peaked at 12.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2016.
That places United Arab Emirates 44th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of territorial waters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 12.4% | — |
| 2014 | 12.4% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12.4% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -65.3% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 11.3% | +162.8% |
| 2019 | 11.3% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 11.5% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 11.5% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 11.5% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 11.5% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 12.0% | +4.3% |
| 2025 | 12.0% | +0.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 12.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.7%, 1.4× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 12.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.0%, 12.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 9.8% | 4.3% | 12.4% | 7 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 11.5% | 12.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More reference data data for United Arab Emirates
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0407 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4839 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.6291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.6291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1364 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0486 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0008 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Arab Emirates?
- Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Arab Emirates was 12.0% in 2025, according to Protected Planet WDPA and WD-OECM data, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 2013.
- What is the lowest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2016.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 44th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of marine territorial waters that are protected rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Protected Planet WDPA and WD-OECM data, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of marine territorial waters that are protected. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Marine protected areas are regions of intertidal or sub-tidal land and associated water, flora and fauna, and cultural and historical features that have been legally or effectively reserved for protection.