Research and development expenditure in United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates: Research and development expenditure was 1.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
1.5%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
28th
of 116 countries
All-time high
1.5%
in 2021
All-time low
0.5%
in 2011
Years of data
8
2011–2021

Research and development expenditure in United Arab Emirates, 2011–2021

0.50.7511.21.52011201620212011: 0.473 % of GDP2014: 0.675 % of GDP2015: 0.866 % of GDP2016: 0.932 % of GDP2018: 1.3 % of GDP2019: 1.3 % of GDP2020: 1.5 % of GDP2021: 1.5 % of GDP

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 in United Arab Emirates, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) in United Arab Emirates, 2011 to 2021.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 0.9% 0.5% 1.3% 6
2020s 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 2

Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates

  1. 25 Ireland 1.6% compare
  2. 26 Poland 1.6% compare
  3. 27 New Zealand 1.5% compare
  4. 29 Greece 1.5% compare
  5. 30 Spain 1.5% compare
  6. 31 Turkey 1.4% compare

See the full ranking of 147 places →

More science & technology data for United Arab Emirates

All data for United Arab Emirates →

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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Research and development expenditure in United Arab Emirates. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-percent-of-gdp/united-arab-emirates/

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About this data

Indicator
Research and development expenditure (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
147 places, 3,092 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

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.