Military spending in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Military spending was 24.89 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
24.89 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
19th
of 172 countries
All-time high
26.61 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2019
All-time low
139.01 million constant 2022 US$
in 1974
Years of data
49
1971–2020
Military spending in United Arab Emirates, 1971–2020
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in United Arab Emirates is 24.89 billion constant 2022 US$, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 6.5% on the previous year and up 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in United Arab Emirates peaked at 26.61 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 139.01 million constant 2022 US$, in 1974.
United Arab Emirates ranks 19th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 158.34 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1972 | 164.03 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 140.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.1% |
| 1974 | 139.01 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 183.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.9% |
| 1976 | 594.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +223.9% |
| 1977 | 1.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +229.1% |
| 1978 | 2.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | +21.3% |
| 1979 | 3.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | +48.9% |
| 1980 | 4.34 billion constant 2022 US$ | +22.8% |
| 1981 | 5.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.1% |
| 1982 | 5.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 4.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.0% |
| 1984 | 4.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1985 | 4.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 1986 | 3.82 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.9% |
| 1987 | 3.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.9% |
| 1988 | 3.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1989 | 3.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 4.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +28.1% |
| 1991 | 7.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +67.9% |
| 1992 | 4.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | -37.3% |
| 1993 | 3.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | -16.3% |
| 1994 | 3.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 3.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 3.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 4.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +27.6% |
| 1998 | 5.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.3% |
| 1999 | 5.76 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.0% |
| 2000 | 5.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 5.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.3% |
| 2002 | 4.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | -13.4% |
| 2003 | 4.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 5.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.4% |
| 2005 | 9.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +68.3% |
| 2006 | 11.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +21.8% |
| 2007 | 13.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.2% |
| 2008 | 14.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 13.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 16.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | +25.3% |
| 2011 | 15.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 18.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +23.2% |
| 2013 | 21.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.9% |
| 2014 | 24.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.5% |
| 2015 | 23.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 24.20 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 23.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 26.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.9% |
| 2020 | 24.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 24.89 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 3.8× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 24.89 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.51 billion constant 2022 US$, 4.5× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +229.1% | 594.01 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.95 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1976 | +223.9% | 183.41 million constant 2022 US$ | 594.01 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | 139.01 million constant 2022 US$ | 3.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | 14.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | 15.21 billion constant 2022 US$ | 26.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9 |
| 2020s | 24.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | 24.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | 24.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 16 Brazil 27.35 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 17 Poland 26.65 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 18 Spain 26.09 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 20 Taiwan 19.60 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 21 Netherlands 18.59 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 22 Turkey 17.27 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
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 military spending in United Arab Emirates?
- Military spending in United Arab Emirates was 24.89 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2020, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 26.61 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 139.01 million constant 2022 US$ in 1974.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for military spending?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 19th out of 172 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.