Exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 34.75 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▲ Rising
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Arab Emirates, 1998–2024
Source: Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
The most recent figure for exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Arab Emirates is 34.75 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and up 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Arab Emirates peaked at 35.85 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023 and was at its lowest, 23.21 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2004.
That places United Arab Emirates 15th out of 240 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.21 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 27.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter | 35.85 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 12 Nepal 37.47 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 13 Uganda 36.27 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 14 Kuwait 35.89 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 16 Bahrain 34.51 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 17 Iraq 34.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 18 Equatorial Guinea 32.97 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for United Arab Emirates
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 264.15 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 24.04 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 1.63 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0064 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 27.47 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0509 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 37.08 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.1113 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.1261 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 7.67 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Arab Emirates?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Arab Emirates was 34.75 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024, according to Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 35.85 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.21 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 15th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Exposure to air pollution from human sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual population-weighted average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air, measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, which can pose significant health risks. This data excludes natural sources of PM2.5, such as dust and sea salt, to focus on human-caused pollution.