Food exports in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Food exports was 2.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in United Arab Emirates, 1978–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 2.9% for food exports in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and up 135.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in United Arab Emirates peaked at 7.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2000.
United Arab Emirates ranks 171st of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food exports in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 1.2% | — |
| 1979 | 1.9% | +54.4% |
| 1983 | 5.9% | +213.1% |
| 1991 | 1.9% | -66.9% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | +89.1% |
| 1993 | 7.6% | +105.8% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | -88.3% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | -35.4% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | +42.1% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | -20.9% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | +30.9% |
| 2004 | 0.9% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | +27.9% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | -18.9% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 0.8% | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | +39.4% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | +21.8% |
| 2011 | 1.3% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | +11.8% |
| 2013 | 1.2% | -17.1% |
| 2014 | 1.5% | +20.0% |
| 2015 | 1.9% | +29.4% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | +17.5% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | +107.1% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | -28.6% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | +16.9% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | -10.7% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | -3.3% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 2.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.5%, 25% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 2.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.7%, 30% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.9% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.5% | 0.9% | 7.6% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.2% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More private sector data for United Arab Emirates
- Merchandise trade 208.2% (2024)
- Food imports 5.0% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 54.9% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 618.88 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 8.8% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 706.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 61,380 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 1.1 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 16.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 53,754 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in United Arab Emirates?
- Food exports in United Arab Emirates was 2.9% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 7.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2000.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for food exports?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 171st out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is food exports rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 135.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.