Land use in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Land use was 91,704 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
91,704 hectares
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
160th
of 224 countries
All-time high
266,000 hectares
in 2002
All-time low
8,000 hectares
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Land use in United Arab Emirates, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 91,704 hectares for land use in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use in United Arab Emirates peaked at 266,000 hectares in 2002 and was at its lowest, 8,000 hectares, in 1961.
That places United Arab Emirates 160th out of 224 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land use in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 8,000 hectares | — |
| 1962 | 8,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 8,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 8,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 9,000 hectares | +12.5% |
| 1966 | 10,000 hectares | +11.1% |
| 1967 | 10,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 10,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 10,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 12,000 hectares | +20.0% |
| 1971 | 12,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 12,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 13,000 hectares | +8.3% |
| 1974 | 14,000 hectares | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 15,000 hectares | +7.1% |
| 1976 | 16,000 hectares | +6.7% |
| 1977 | 17,000 hectares | +6.2% |
| 1978 | 18,000 hectares | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 19,000 hectares | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 23,000 hectares | +21.1% |
| 1981 | 27,000 hectares | +17.4% |
| 1982 | 27,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 32,000 hectares | +18.5% |
| 1984 | 32,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 35,000 hectares | +9.4% |
| 1986 | 38,000 hectares | +8.6% |
| 1987 | 38,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 39,000 hectares | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 39,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 55,000 hectares | +41.0% |
| 1991 | 60,000 hectares | +9.1% |
| 1992 | 69,000 hectares | +15.0% |
| 1993 | 75,000 hectares | +8.7% |
| 1994 | 82,000 hectares | +9.3% |
| 1995 | 83,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 87,000 hectares | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 95,000 hectares | +9.2% |
| 1998 | 98,000 hectares | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 216,000 hectares | +120.4% |
| 2000 | 247,000 hectares | +14.4% |
| 2001 | 262,000 hectares | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 266,000 hectares | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 254,000 hectares | -4.5% |
| 2004 | 254,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 257,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 238,600 hectares | -7.2% |
| 2007 | 232,600 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 239,600 hectares | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 87,900 hectares | -63.3% |
| 2010 | 92,300 hectares | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 88,500 hectares | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 76,700 hectares | -13.3% |
| 2013 | 79,400 hectares | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 82,500 hectares | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 82,800 hectares | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 83,800 hectares | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 83,800 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 81,750 hectares | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 90,400 hectares | +10.6% |
| 2020 | 89,800 hectares | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 91,562 hectares | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 91,562 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 91,704 hectares | +0.2% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 91,704 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 303,040 hectares, 30% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 91,704 hectares is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.45 million hectares, 6% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land use 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +120.4% | 98,000 hectares | 216,000 hectares |
| 2009 | -63.3% | 239,600 hectares | 87,900 hectares |
| 1990 | +41.0% | 39,000 hectares | 55,000 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9,000 hectares | 8,000 hectares | 10,000 hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 14,800 hectares | 12,000 hectares | 19,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 33,000 hectares | 23,000 hectares | 39,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 92,000 hectares | 55,000 hectares | 216,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 233,870 hectares | 87,900 hectares | 266,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 84,195 hectares | 76,700 hectares | 92,300 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 91,157 hectares | 89,800 hectares | 91,704 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 157 Palestine 113,200 hectares compare
- 158 Solomon Islands 101,200 hectares compare
- 159 Equatorial Guinea 99,800 hectares compare
- 161 Mauritius 78,957 hectares compare
- 162 Puerto Rico 66,200 hectares compare
- 163 Luxembourg 62,878 hectares 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)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land use in United Arab Emirates?
- Land use in United Arab Emirates was 91,704 hectares in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land use recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 266,000 hectares in 2002.
- What is the lowest land use recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,000 hectares in 1961.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for land use?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 160th out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is land use rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Land use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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