Emissions of air pollutants in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Emissions of air pollutants was 2.06 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
2.06 million tonnes
Change on year
up 7.3%
World rank
10th
of 220 countries
All-time high
2.06 million tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
6.58 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in United Arab Emirates, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, emissions of air pollutants in United Arab Emirates stood at 2.06 million tonnes. That is the highest value across all 273 years on record.
The figure is up 7.3% on the previous year and up 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in United Arab Emirates peaked at 2.06 million tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 6.58 tonnes, in 1750.
United Arab Emirates ranks 10th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 6.58 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 6.61 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1752 | 6.64 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1753 | 6.67 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1754 | 6.7 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1755 | 6.74 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1756 | 6.77 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1757 | 6.8 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1758 | 6.83 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1759 | 6.87 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1760 | 6.9 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1761 | 6.93 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1762 | 6.97 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1763 | 7 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1764 | 7.03 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1765 | 7.07 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1766 | 7.1 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1767 | 7.13 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1768 | 7.17 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1769 | 7.2 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1770 | 7.24 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1771 | 7.27 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1772 | 7.31 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1773 | 7.34 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1774 | 7.38 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1775 | 7.41 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1776 | 7.45 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1777 | 7.48 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1778 | 7.52 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1779 | 7.55 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1780 | 7.59 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1781 | 7.63 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1782 | 7.66 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1783 | 7.7 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1784 | 7.74 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1785 | 7.78 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1786 | 7.81 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1787 | 7.85 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1788 | 7.89 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1789 | 7.92 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1790 | 7.96 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1791 | 8 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1792 | 8.04 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1793 | 8.08 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1794 | 8.12 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1795 | 8.15 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1796 | 8.19 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1797 | 8.23 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1798 | 8.27 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1799 | 8.31 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1800 | 8.35 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1801 | 8.42 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1802 | 8.48 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1803 | 8.55 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1804 | 8.62 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1805 | 8.69 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1806 | 8.76 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1807 | 8.83 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1808 | 8.9 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1809 | 8.97 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1810 | 9.04 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1811 | 9.11 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1812 | 9.18 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1813 | 9.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1814 | 9.33 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1815 | 9.41 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1816 | 9.48 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1817 | 9.56 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1818 | 9.63 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1819 | 9.71 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1820 | 9.78 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 9.86 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1822 | 9.94 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1823 | 10.02 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1824 | 10.1 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1825 | 10.18 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1826 | 10.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 10.34 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1828 | 10.42 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 10.5 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1830 | 10.58 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1831 | 10.66 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1832 | 10.75 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1833 | 10.83 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1834 | 10.92 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1835 | 11 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1836 | 11.09 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1837 | 11.17 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1838 | 11.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1839 | 11.35 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1840 | 11.43 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1841 | 11.52 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1842 | 11.61 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1843 | 11.7 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1844 | 11.79 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1845 | 11.88 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1846 | 11.98 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1847 | 12.07 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1848 | 12.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1849 | 12.25 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1850 | 12.34 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1851 | 12.44 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1852 | 12.54 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1853 | 12.63 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1854 | 12.73 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1855 | 12.82 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1856 | 12.92 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1857 | 13.02 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1858 | 13.12 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1859 | 13.22 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1860 | 13.32 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1861 | 13.42 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1862 | 13.51 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1863 | 13.61 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1864 | 13.72 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1865 | 13.82 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1866 | 13.92 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 14.02 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1868 | 14.12 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 14.22 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 14.32 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 14.42 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1872 | 14.52 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1873 | 14.62 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1874 | 14.73 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1875 | 14.83 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1876 | 14.93 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1877 | 15.03 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1878 | 15.14 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1879 | 15.24 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 15.34 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1881 | 15.44 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1882 | 15.55 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1883 | 15.65 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1884 | 15.75 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 15.86 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1886 | 15.96 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1887 | 16.07 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1888 | 16.17 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1889 | 16.28 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 16.38 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 16.49 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1892 | 16.59 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1893 | 16.7 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1894 | 16.81 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1895 | 16.91 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1896 | 17.02 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1897 | 17.13 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1898 | 17.23 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1899 | 17.34 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1900 | 17.45 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1901 | 17.64 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1902 | 17.83 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1903 | 18.01 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1904 | 18.19 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1905 | 18.36 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1906 | 18.52 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1907 | 18.68 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1908 | 18.84 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1909 | 18.99 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1910 | 19.13 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1911 | 19.4 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1912 | 19.67 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1913 | 19.93 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1914 | 20.19 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1915 | 20.44 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1916 | 20.69 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1917 | 20.94 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1918 | 21.18 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1919 | 21.42 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1920 | 21.66 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1921 | 21.82 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1922 | 21.98 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1923 | 22.07 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1924 | 22.18 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1925 | 22.97 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1926 | 23.57 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1927 | 23.88 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1928 | 24.07 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1929 | 24.1 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1930 | 24.06 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1931 | 24.17 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1932 | 24.16 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1933 | 24.05 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1934 | 23.9 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1935 | 23.74 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1936 | 23.84 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1937 | 23.87 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1938 | 23.82 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1939 | 23.7 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1940 | 23.63 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1941 | 23.64 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 23.57 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1943 | 23.55 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1944 | 23.6 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1945 | 23.7 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1946 | 24.06 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1947 | 24.54 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1948 | 25.09 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1949 | 25.88 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1950 | 26.56 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1951 | 26.24 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1952 | 27.12 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1953 | 28.6 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1954 | 29.93 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1955 | 30.75 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 31.36 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1957 | 31.98 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1958 | 32.94 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1959 | 109.39 tonnes | +232.1% |
| 1960 | 109.98 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 111.3 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1962 | 499.76 tonnes | +349.0% |
| 1963 | 1,215 tonnes | +143.2% |
| 1964 | 4,021 tonnes | +230.9% |
| 1965 | 5,937 tonnes | +47.6% |
| 1966 | 7,552 tonnes | +27.2% |
| 1967 | 11,096 tonnes | +46.9% |
| 1968 | 14,737 tonnes | +32.8% |
| 1969 | 17,574 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1970 | 20,173 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1971 | 30,366 tonnes | +50.5% |
| 1972 | 34,466 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1973 | 44,975 tonnes | +30.5% |
| 1974 | 50,364 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1975 | 59,992 tonnes | +19.1% |
| 1976 | 73,971 tonnes | +23.3% |
| 1977 | 84,770 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1978 | 80,535 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1979 | 90,555 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1980 | 301,587 tonnes | +233.0% |
| 1981 | 295,395 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 303,751 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 291,207 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1984 | 319,861 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1985 | 492,029 tonnes | +53.8% |
| 1986 | 628,311 tonnes | +27.7% |
| 1987 | 671,980 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 826,617 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1989 | 875,038 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 874,936 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 1.26 million tonnes | +43.5% |
| 1992 | 1.25 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 1.26 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 1.39 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1995 | 1.40 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 1.42 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 1.45 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 1.45 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.38 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 1.30 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 1.25 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 1.17 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 1.30 million tonnes | +10.7% |
| 2004 | 1.44 million tonnes | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 1.53 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 1.61 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 1.72 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 1.82 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2009 | 1.60 million tonnes | -11.9% |
| 2010 | 1.69 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 1.74 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 1.76 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 1.80 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 1.82 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.92 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 2.02 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 1.97 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 1.89 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 1.90 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 1.83 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 1.92 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 2.06 million tonnes | +7.3% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 2.06 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 22.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 2.06 million tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 251,040 tonnes, 8.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | +349.0% | 111.3 tonnes | 499.76 tonnes |
| 1980 | +233.0% | 90,555 tonnes | 301,587 tonnes |
| 1959 | +232.1% | 32.94 tonnes | 109.39 tonnes |
| 1964 | +230.9% | 1,215 tonnes | 4,021 tonnes |
| 1963 | +143.2% | 499.76 tonnes | 1,215 tonnes |
| 1985 | +53.8% | 319,861 tonnes | 492,029 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 6.72 tonnes | 6.58 tonnes | 6.87 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 7.05 tonnes | 6.9 tonnes | 7.2 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 7.4 tonnes | 7.24 tonnes | 7.55 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 7.76 tonnes | 7.59 tonnes | 7.92 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 8.14 tonnes | 7.96 tonnes | 8.31 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 8.66 tonnes | 8.35 tonnes | 8.97 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 9.37 tonnes | 9.04 tonnes | 9.71 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 10.14 tonnes | 9.78 tonnes | 10.5 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 10.96 tonnes | 10.58 tonnes | 11.35 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 11.84 tonnes | 11.43 tonnes | 12.25 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 12.78 tonnes | 12.34 tonnes | 13.22 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 13.77 tonnes | 13.32 tonnes | 14.22 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 14.78 tonnes | 14.32 tonnes | 15.24 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 15.81 tonnes | 15.34 tonnes | 16.28 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 16.86 tonnes | 16.38 tonnes | 17.34 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 18.25 tonnes | 17.45 tonnes | 18.99 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 20.3 tonnes | 19.13 tonnes | 21.42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 22.83 tonnes | 21.66 tonnes | 24.1 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 23.93 tonnes | 23.7 tonnes | 24.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 24.13 tonnes | 23.55 tonnes | 25.88 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 37.49 tonnes | 26.24 tonnes | 109.39 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 6,285 tonnes | 109.98 tonnes | 17,574 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 57,017 tonnes | 20,173 tonnes | 90,555 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 500,578 tonnes | 291,207 tonnes | 875,038 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.31 million tonnes | 874,936 tonnes | 1.45 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.47 million tonnes | 1.17 million tonnes | 1.82 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.85 million tonnes | 1.69 million tonnes | 2.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.94 million tonnes | 1.83 million tonnes | 2.06 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
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 emissions of air pollutants in United Arab Emirates?
- Emissions of air pollutants in United Arab Emirates was 2.06 million tonnes in 2022, according to Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest emissions of air pollutants recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 2.06 million tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.58 tonnes in 1750.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 10th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Emissions of air pollutants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) are gases that are mainly formed during the burning of fossil fuels. Exposure to NOₓ gases can have negative impacts on respiratory health. NOₓ gases can also lead to the formation of ozone – another air pollutant.