Home United Arab Emirates Government Budget Deficit

United Arab Emirates Budget Deficit

General government net lending/borrowing as % of GDP  GGXCNL_NGDP

5.09% −1.33% (-20.7%)
Year 2025 Rank #6 Global Peak 20.15% (2006) Source IMF WEO

United Arab Emirates Budget Deficit (1991–2025)

Overview

United Arab Emirates's budget deficit stood at 5.09% in 2025, a decline of +1.33% from 2024. The IMF projects 5.09% by 2025. United Arab Emirates ranked 6th globally.

Data & projection

Year Budget Deficit YoY change Rank
2030* IMF 4.53% - -
2029* IMF 4.60% - -
2028* IMF 4.68% - -
2027* IMF 4.71% - -
2026* IMF 4.76% - -
2025* IMF 5.09% - -
2025 5.09% −1.33% #6
2024 6.42% +0.60% #181
2023 5.82% −3.99% #179
2022 9.81% +5.84% #183
2021 3.96% +6.38% #183
2020 -2.42% −4.91% #160
2019 2.50% −1.16% #173
2018 3.65% +3.81% #176
2017 -0.16% +2.79% #149
2016 -2.95% +3.40% #82
2015 -6.35% −8.10% #36
2014 1.74% −6.25% #165
2013 8.00% −0.59% #182
2012 8.59% +3.54% #182
2011 5.05% +4.53% #176
Show all years (1991-2025)
* IMF World Economic Outlook projection

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +25.6% GDP growth 4.0% C/A balance 14.5%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

United Arab Emirates matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw budget deficit improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is United Arab Emirates's budget deficit?

United Arab Emirates's budget deficit was 5.09% in 2025. Ranked 6th globally. This represents a 20.7% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest budget deficit in United Arab Emirates?

United Arab Emirates's budget deficit peaked at 20.15% in 2006.

What was the lowest budget deficit in United Arab Emirates?

The lowest budget deficit in United Arab Emirates was -6.35% in 2015.

How does United Arab Emirates rank in budget deficit?

United Arab Emirates ranks 6th globally in budget deficit as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for budget deficit?

The World Bank indicator code is GGXCNL_NGDP. Data sourced from IMF WEO.

What is the projected budget deficit of United Arab Emirates in 2025?

United Arab Emirates's budget deficit is projected to reach 5.09% by 2025 based on IMF projection.

What is the budget deficit of United Arab Emirates in 2025?

The budget deficit of United Arab Emirates in 2025 was 5.09%. This ranks 6th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
United Arab Emirates Budget Deficit. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/united-arab-emirates/budget-deficit
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_united-arab-emirates_budget-deficit, title = {United Arab Emirates Budget Deficit}, url = {https://historysaid.com/united-arab-emirates/budget-deficit}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }