Share of global plastic waste imports in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Share of global plastic waste imports was 0.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in United Arab Emirates, 1999–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of global plastic waste imports in United Arab Emirates stood at 0.1%.
The figure is up 21.6% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in United Arab Emirates peaked at 0.2% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1999.
That places United Arab Emirates 59th out of 183 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.
Share of global plastic waste imports in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0.0% | — |
| 2005 | 0.1% | — |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +12.5% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | +30.3% |
| 2012 | 0.0% | -79.8% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | +73.3% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | +43.4% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -34.3% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | — |
| 2019 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2020 | 0.0% | — |
| 2021 | 0.0% | — |
| 2022 | 0.0% | +39.9% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | +21.6% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 0.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%, 3.1× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 0.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.0%, 1.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 8 |
| 2020s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 4 |
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 share of global plastic waste imports in United Arab Emirates?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in United Arab Emirates was 0.1% in 2023, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1999.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 59th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of global plastic waste imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of global plastic waste imports that a country accounts for.