Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals was 1.1% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United Arab Emirates, 1980–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total freshwater withdrawal.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 1.1% for industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 51.2% on the previous year and up 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United Arab Emirates peaked at 9.5% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2018.
United Arab Emirates ranks 158th of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 9.0% | — |
| 1981 | 9.1% | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 9.1% | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 9.2% | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 9.2% | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 9.3% | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 9.3% | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 9.3% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 9.4% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 9.4% | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 9.4% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 9.4% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 9.4% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 9.5% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 9.5% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 9.5% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 8.0% | -15.3% |
| 1997 | 6.8% | -15.7% |
| 1998 | 5.7% | -16.3% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | -17.2% |
| 2000 | 3.8% | -18.5% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | -20.3% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | -23.0% |
| 2003 | 1.7% | -27.0% |
| 2004 | 1.7% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 1.2% | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -7.3% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -7.5% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | -7.8% |
| 2014 | 0.9% | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -9.0% |
| 2017 | 0.7% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 1.1% | +51.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.2% | 9.0% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.2% | 4.7% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | 1.3% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 155 Albania 1.4% compare
- 156 Madagascar 1.2% compare
- 157 Iran, Islamic Republic of 1.2% compare
- 159 Bhutan 0.9% compare
- 160 Afghanistan 0.8% compare
- 161 Pakistan 0.8% compare
More environment data for United Arab Emirates
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -80.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -85.4 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.331 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.5 °C (2025)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Production, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Production, per capita 0 m3 per person (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Import quantity, annual growth rate 8.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Import quantity, per capita 0.0159 m3 per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United Arab Emirates?
- Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in United Arab Emirates was 1.1% in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 1995.
- What is the lowest industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2018.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 158th out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Industrial water withdrawals as a percentage of total water withdrawals (which is the sum of water used for agriculture, industry, and municipal purposes).