Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) was 1.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Research and development expenditure in United Arab Emirates, 2011–2021
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2021, research and development expenditure in United Arab Emirates stood at 1.5%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 216.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research and development expenditure in United Arab Emirates peaked at 1.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2011.
That places United Arab Emirates 28th out of 116 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 0.5% | — |
| 2014 | 0.7% | +42.9% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | +28.2% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | +35.6% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | +13.6% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | +0.4% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 1.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.5%, 1.0× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 1.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.6%, 2.3× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 6 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More science & technology data for United Arab Emirates
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 203.21 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 2.04 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 22.41 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 298.83 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.58 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 3,320 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 3,320 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research and development expenditure in United Arab Emirates?
- Research and development expenditure in United Arab Emirates was 1.5% in 2021, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest research and development expenditure recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 1.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest research and development expenditure recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2011.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for research and development expenditure?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 28th out of 116 countries with data for 2021.
- Is research and development expenditure rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 216.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Research and development expenditure (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D), expressed as a percent of GDP. They include both capital and current expenditures in the four main sectors: Business enterprise, Government, Higher education and Private non-profit. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development.