Spending by international visitors while visiting a country in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Spending by international visitors while visiting a country was 34.44 billion current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Spending by international visitors while visiting a country in United Arab Emirates, 1995–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 34.44 billion current US$ for spending by international visitors while visiting a country in 2021.
The figure is up 39.9% on the previous year and up 274.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, spending by international visitors while visiting a country in United Arab Emirates peaked at 38.41 billion current US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 632.00 million current US$, in 1995.
That places United Arab Emirates 17th out of 203 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Spending by international visitors while visiting a country in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 632.00 million current US$ | — |
| 1996 | 743.00 million current US$ | +17.6% |
| 1997 | 814.00 million current US$ | +9.6% |
| 1998 | 859.00 million current US$ | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 893.00 million current US$ | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 1.06 billion current US$ | +19.0% |
| 2001 | 1.20 billion current US$ | +12.9% |
| 2002 | 1.33 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2003 | 1.44 billion current US$ | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 1.59 billion current US$ | +10.8% |
| 2005 | 3.22 billion current US$ | +102.0% |
| 2006 | 4.97 billion current US$ | +54.5% |
| 2007 | 6.07 billion current US$ | +22.1% |
| 2008 | 7.16 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2009 | 7.35 billion current US$ | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 8.58 billion current US$ | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 9.20 billion current US$ | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 10.92 billion current US$ | +18.7% |
| 2013 | 12.39 billion current US$ | +13.4% |
| 2014 | 15.22 billion current US$ | +22.9% |
| 2015 | 25.59 billion current US$ | +68.1% |
| 2016 | 28.66 billion current US$ | +12.0% |
| 2017 | 29.71 billion current US$ | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 34.61 billion current US$ | +16.5% |
| 2019 | 38.41 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2020 | 24.62 billion current US$ | -35.9% |
| 2021 | 34.44 billion current US$ | +39.9% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 34.44 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.08 billion current US$, 5.7× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 34.44 billion current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.70 billion current US$, 9.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Spending by international visitors while visiting a country in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +102.0% | 1.59 billion current US$ | 3.22 billion current US$ |
| 2015 | +68.1% | 15.22 billion current US$ | 25.59 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 788.20 million current US$ | 632.00 million current US$ | 893.00 million current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 3.54 billion current US$ | 1.06 billion current US$ | 7.35 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.33 billion current US$ | 8.58 billion current US$ | 38.41 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.53 billion current US$ | 24.62 billion current US$ | 34.44 billion current US$ | 2 |
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 spending by international visitors while visiting a country in United Arab Emirates?
- Spending by international visitors while visiting a country in United Arab Emirates was 34.44 billion current US$ in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest spending by international visitors while visiting a country recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 38.41 billion current US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest spending by international visitors while visiting a country recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 632.00 million current US$ in 1995.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for spending by international visitors while visiting a country?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 17th out of 203 countries with data for 2021.
- Is spending by international visitors while visiting a country rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 274.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Spending by international visitors while visiting a country. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Money received by the destination country from foreign visitors, including spending on accommodation, food, local transport, entertainment, shopping, and fares paid to the country’s own airlines. The data is expressed in current US dollars and is not adjusted for inflation or differences in living costs between countries.