R&D expenditure (% of GDP) — all countries

R&D expenditure (% of GDP) — United Arab Emirates

R&D expenditure (% of GDP) in the United Arab Emirates in 2021 — 1.49%. Ranked 26 in the world out of 88. Since 2011, the indicator has risen by 1.02 pp.

2021 1.49% +0.01 pp vs 2020
World rank 26of 88
Period maximum 1.49%2021
Period minimum 0.47%2011

Trend over time

2011–2021 · % of GDP

R&D expenditure (% of GDP) — United Arab Emirates, 2011–202100.511.5201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212011: 0.47%2014: 0.68%2015: 0.87%2016: 0.93%2018: 1.26%2019: 1.31%2020: 1.49%2021: 1.49%
Change over the period: +1.02 pp Annual average: 0.1 pp

Comparison, 2021

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates 1.49%
World 2.52%
Western Asia computed 1.57%
R&D expenditure (% of GDP) — United Arab Emirates, by year United Arab Emirates All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2021 1.49 +0.01 pp
2020 1.49 +0.18 pp
2019 1.31 +0.05 pp
2018 1.26
2016 0.93 +0.07 pp
2015 0.87 +0.19 pp
2014 0.68
2011 0.47

About the indicator

Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) as a percentage of GDP — all current and capital spending by business, government, universities and nonprofit organizations on basic and applied research. The threshold of 3% of GDP is the target adopted in the EU; the leaders (Israel, South Korea) exceed 4.5%.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), license CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.