Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — United Arab Emirates

Protected areas in the United Arab Emirates in 2025 — 16.1%. Ranked 79 in the world out of 213. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 0.2 pp.

2025 16.1% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank 79of 213
Period maximum 16.1%2024
Period minimum 9.2%2016

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — United Arab Emirates, 2013–20258101214161820132015201720192021202320252013: 15.9%2014: 15.9%2015: 15.9%2016: 9.2%2017: 11.6%2018: 15%2019: 15%2020: 15.9%2021: 15.9%2022: 15.9%2023: 15.9%2024: 16.1%2025: 16.1%
Change over the period: +0.2 pp Annual average: 0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

United Arab Emirates 16.1%
World 16.98%
Protected areas — United Arab Emirates, by year United Arab Emirates All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 16.1 +0 pp
2024 16.1 +0.2 pp
2023 15.9 +0 pp
2022 15.9 +0 pp
2021 15.9 +0 pp
2020 15.9 +0.9 pp
2019 15 +0 pp
2018 15 +3.4 pp
2017 11.6 +2.4 pp
2016 9.2 −6.7 pp
2015 15.9 +0 pp
2014 15.9 +0 pp
2013 15.9

About the indicator

The share of terrestrial and marine protected areas in the total area of a country: national parks, nature reserves, natural monuments, sanctuaries and other IUCN categories. The target set by the Kunming-Montreal framework is 30 percent of land and sea under protection by 2030.

Important: The aggregate is weighted by total area rather than land area: protected areas include marine waters as well.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.