United Arab Emirates: Government debt

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 United Arab Emirates

Government debt as percent of GDP

 Latest value 32.44
 Year 2023
 Measure percent
 Data availability 1999 - 2023
 Average 16.28
 Min - Max 2.69 - 41.29
 Source International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The latest value from 2023 is 32.44 percent, an increase from 32.06 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 63.28 percent, based on data from 123 countries. Historically, the average for the United Arab Emirates from 1999 to 2023 is 16.28 percent. The minimum value, 2.69 percent, was reached in 2001 while the maximum of 41.29 percent was recorded in 2020. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Recent data
United Arab Emirates - Government debt - Recent values chart

Historical series
United Arab Emirates - Government debt - historical chart - 1999-2023




The government debt in the United Arab Emirates and other countries is calculated as the total amount owed by the national government to domestic and international lenders. It is reported as percent of GDP so that we can evaluate its magnitude relative to the size of the economy.

Government debt of about 60 percent or less of GDP is not considered a problem. The government can make payments without strain and even has some room to borrow more. If debt levels reach 80-90 percent that may have negative effects on the economy. Debt above 120 percent of GDP is quite detrimental.
Definition: Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year.

Selected articles from our guide:

What factors determine the exchange rates

International lending and sovereign debt

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Government spending, percent of GDP 14.45 2020 percent
 Government spending, in dollars 50.50 2020 billion U.S. dollars
 Fiscal balance, percent of GDP 4.96 2023 percent
 Government debt 32.44 2023 percent
 Tax revenue 0.57 2022 percent
 Commercial tax rate 15.90 2019 percent
 Tax preparation time 158 2019 hours
 Number of taxes 5 2019 taxes
 Taxes on goods and services 15.43 2022 percent
 Taxes on international trade 0.01 2022 percent
 Foreign aid 5.36 2004 million U.S. dollars
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