Energy intensity in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Energy intensity was 1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
29th
of 166 countries
All-time high
9.37 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 1989
All-time low
0.138 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 1966
Years of data
56
1965–2022
Energy intensity in United Arab Emirates, 1965–2022
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per dollar.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar for energy intensity in 2022.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in United Arab Emirates peaked at 9.37 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0.138 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 1966.
United Arab Emirates ranks 29th of 166 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Energy intensity in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.1425 kilowatt-hours per dollar | — |
| 1966 | 0.138 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.2% |
| 1967 | 0.7422 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +437.9% |
| 1968 | 0.865 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +16.5% |
| 1969 | 0.7871 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.0% |
| 1970 | 0.9843 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +25.0% |
| 1971 | 1.28 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +30.5% |
| 1972 | 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -8.4% |
| 1973 | 1.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +11.1% |
| 1974 | 1.08 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -17.0% |
| 1975 | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 1.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +10.0% |
| 1977 | 1.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +40.0% |
| 1978 | 2.05 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +18.6% |
| 1979 | 1.93 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.9% |
| 1980 | 2.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +26.6% |
| 1981 | 2.77 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +13.3% |
| 1982 | 3.26 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +17.7% |
| 1983 | 3.3 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 3.94 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +19.4% |
| 1985 | 5 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +27.0% |
| 1986 | 7.7 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +53.9% |
| 1987 | 8.3 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +7.9% |
| 1988 | 9.2 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +10.8% |
| 1989 | 9.37 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 8.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.5% |
| 1993 | 7.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.5% |
| 1994 | 7.19 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.4% |
| 1995 | 6.44 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -10.3% |
| 1996 | 5.69 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -11.6% |
| 1997 | 4.97 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -12.7% |
| 1998 | 4.61 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.3% |
| 1999 | 4.1 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -11.1% |
| 2000 | 3.34 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -18.5% |
| 2001 | 3.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -8.5% |
| 2002 | 3.03 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 2.81 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.2% |
| 2004 | 2.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 2.69 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 2.41 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -10.2% |
| 2007 | 2.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.7% |
| 2008 | 2.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.2% |
| 2009 | 1.93 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 1.98 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 1.85 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.6% |
| 2012 | 1.86 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 1.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 1.8 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 1.81 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 1.78 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 1.69 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 1.56 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.8% |
| 2019 | 1.65 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 1.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.4% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.01 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 1.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Energy intensity in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | +437.9% | 0.138 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.7422 kilowatt-hours per dollar |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.535 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.138 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.865 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.39 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.9843 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.05 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.53 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 9.37 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.15 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 4.1 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 8.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 8 |
| 2000s | 2.62 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.93 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.34 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.78 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.56 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.98 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 26 South Korea 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 27 Jamaica 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 28 Kyrgyzstan 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 30 Bulgaria 1.63 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 31 Moldova 1.61 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 32 Kazakhstan 1.58 kilowatt-hours per dollar 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 1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 9.37 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1989.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.138 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1966.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for energy intensity?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 29th out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing 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
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.