United Arab Emirates Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
United Arab Emirates's military spending was 5.64% in 2014, ranked 150th globally. This represents a 6.5% decrease from 2013. Data from World Bank, covering 1997–2014.
Overview
United Arab Emirates's military spending stood at 5.64% in 2014, a decline of +0.39% from 2013. United Arab Emirates ranked 150th globally.
The United Arab Emirates' military spending has fluctuated over the 18-year period, with the latest value in 2014 standing at 5.64, ranking 150th globally. This is significantly lower than its all-time peak of 8.63 in 1998, during a period of heightened regional tensions. In contrast, the country's military spending troughed at 3.23 in 2006. Compared to its peers, the UAE's military spending is closely aligned with Israel's 5.63, while countries like Oman have substantially higher spending at 8.86. The UAE's current military spending level is relatively stable, but factors such as regional conflicts and shifts in global power dynamics could alter this trajectory, potentially leading to increased military spending in the future.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5.64% | −0.39% | #150 |
| 2013 | 6.03% | +0.96% | #149 |
| 2012 | 5.08% | −0.39% | #146 |
| 2011 | 5.47% | −0.57% | #140 |
| 2010 | 6.04% | +0.58% | #146 |
| 2009 | 5.46% | +1.79% | #141 |
| 2008 | 3.67% | +0.39% | #138 |
| 2007 | 3.28% | +0.05% | #128 |
| 2006 | 3.23% | −0.43% | #125 |
| 2005 | 3.66% | −0.96% | #137 |
| 2004 | 4.61% | −0.08% | #140 |
| 2003 | 4.69% | −0.18% | #138 |
| 2002 | 4.88% | −0.74% | #133 |
| 2001 | 5.61% | −2.71% | #133 |
| 2000 | 8.32% | +0.65% | #139 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
United Arab Emirates matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
United Arab Emirates's military spending was 5.64% in 2014. Ranked 150th globally. This represents a 6.5% decrease from the previous year.
United Arab Emirates's military spending peaked at 8.63% in 1998.
The lowest military spending in United Arab Emirates was 3.23% in 2006.
United Arab Emirates ranks 150th globally in military spending as of 2014.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The military spending of United Arab Emirates in 2014 was 5.64%. This ranks 150th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_united-arab-emirates_military-spending,
title = {United Arab Emirates Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/united-arab-emirates/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}