Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) was 4.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Fuel imports in United Arab Emirates, 1978–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 4.5% for fuel imports in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 70.1% on the previous year and up 382.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fuel imports in United Arab Emirates peaked at 19.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2003.
That places United Arab Emirates 179th out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 3.8% | — |
| 1979 | 9.9% | +160.3% |
| 1980 | 10.8% | +8.7% |
| 1981 | 11.3% | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 6.0% | -46.5% |
| 1983 | 7.0% | +15.3% |
| 1991 | 5.8% | -16.7% |
| 1992 | 4.2% | -28.2% |
| 1993 | 4.1% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | -77.5% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -17.1% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -6.1% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -27.6% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | +9.3% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | +16.8% |
| 2006 | 0.8% | +29.9% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | +16.3% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | +10.9% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 1.3% | +22.7% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | +142.5% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | -71.2% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | -30.0% |
| 2016 | 1.1% | +66.0% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | +222.6% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | +73.4% |
| 2019 | 19.3% | +206.7% |
| 2020 | 17.2% | -11.0% |
| 2021 | 10.6% | -38.4% |
| 2022 | 15.0% | +41.7% |
| 2023 | 4.5% | -70.1% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 4.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.0%, 50% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 4.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10.9%, 41% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +222.6% | 1.1% | 3.6% |
| 2019 | +206.7% | 6.3% | 19.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.9% | 3.8% | 9.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 8.8% | 6.0% | 11.3% | 4 |
| 1990s | 3.7% | 0.9% | 5.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 0.7% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.8% | 4.5% | 17.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 176 Ireland 5.2% compare
- 177 Tajikistan 5.1% compare
- 178 Saudi Arabia 4.5% compare
- 180 Kazakhstan 4.4% compare
- 181 Argentina 4.0% compare
- 182 Macao 3.8% compare
More energy & mining data for United Arab Emirates
- Ores and metals imports 2.2% (2023)
- Fuel exports 68.2% (2023)
- Ores and metals exports 3.4% (2023)
- Gas production 586.29 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 51,674 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 586.29 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 51,674 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fuel imports in United Arab Emirates?
- Fuel imports in United Arab Emirates was 4.5% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest fuel imports recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest fuel imports recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2003.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for fuel imports?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 179th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fuel imports rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 382.5%. 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 Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fuels comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) section 3 (mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a 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.