Overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest incomes per capita outside the OECD nations. This wealth is based on oil and gas, and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, when petroleum prices shot up, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, crude oil reserves should last for over 100 years.

GDP: $27.3 billion, per capita $12,100; real growth rate 10% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3-4% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate: NEGL (1988)

Budget: revenues $3.8 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)

Exports: $15.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--crude oil 65%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates; partners--US, EC, Japan

Imports: $9.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--food, consumer and capital goods; partners--EC, Japan, US

External debt: $11.0 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 9.3% (1986)

Electricity: 5,773,000 kW capacity; 15,400 million kWh produced, 6,830 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling

Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GNP and 5% of labor force; cash crop--dates; food products--vegetables, watermelons, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish; only 25% self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: donor--pledged $9.1 billion in bilateral aid to less developed countries (1979-89)

Currency: Emirian dirham (plural--dirhams); 1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils

Exchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1--3.6710 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: calendar year

NOTE: The information regarding United Arab Emirates on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of United Arab Emirates Economy 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about United Arab Emirates Economy 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.