Energy intensity in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Energy intensity was 5.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▲ Rising
Energy intensity in United Arab Emirates, 2000–2021
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
The most recent figure for energy intensity in United Arab Emirates is 5.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in United Arab Emirates peaked at 5.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2016 and was at its lowest, 4.13 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2000.
That places United Arab Emirates 59th out of 201 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Energy intensity in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.13 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 5.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +37.3% |
| 2002 | 5.47 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 4.95 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.5% |
| 2004 | 4.46 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.9% |
| 2005 | 4.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 4.29 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 4.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 5.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +14.6% |
| 2009 | 5.84 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.0% |
| 2010 | 5.36 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.2% |
| 2011 | 4.99 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 5.13 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 5.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 5.64 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.1% |
| 2015 | 5.82 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 5.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 4.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -17.0% |
| 2018 | 4.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 5.24 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 5.29 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 5.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.13 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.84 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.38 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.29 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 56 Nepal 5.63 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 57 Algeria 5.61 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 58 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5.53 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 60 Burkina Faso 5.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 60 Samoa 5.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 62 Sierra Leone 5.29 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for United Arab Emirates
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 3.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 4.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in United Arab Emirates?
- Energy intensity in United Arab Emirates was 5.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 5.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2016.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.13 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for energy intensity?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 59th out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.