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Energy & Power🇦🇪 UAE

UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production

- Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Production refers to the total volume of liquid hydrocarbons recovered from natural gas during production and processing within a given year.

UAE Natural Gas Liquids ProductionThousand Barrels Daily · 2015–2023

6756506256002015: 6142016: 6542017: 6302018: 600Trough2019: 6392020: 6082021: 6252022: 6562023: 671Peak20152017201920212023
Source: energyinst.orgLast updated: July 2026

What UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production shows

UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production was 671 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023, up 2.3% on 2022. The Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Production dataset of the UAE from 2015 to 2023 provides a clear and consistent view of the country's NGL production landscape, highlighting output trends, production levels, supply changes, industry performance, and annual market developments over the review period.

Trend

Rising to a series high

UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production moved from 614 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015 to 671 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 (+9.3%), an average of +1.1% a year. The series high was 671 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 and the low 600 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2018.

Volatility

A 10.6% peak-to-trough swing

The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2018) is 71.00 Thousand Barrels Daily. The sharpest single-year move was +6.5% in 2016.

Structure

Ranks 5 of 27 countries covered

Among the 27 countries in this dataset, UAE ranks 5 for 2023, behind U.S. (6,431 Thousand Barrels Daily) and Saudi Arabia (1,780 Thousand Barrels Daily). It accounts for 4.9% of the global total in 2023.

Full series

UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production by year

Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Barrels Daily.

Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.

UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production, 2015–2023, Thousand Barrels Daily.
YearThousand Barrels DailyChange vs prior year
2023Peak 671 +2.3%
2022 656 +5%
2021 625 +2.8%
2020 608 −4.9%
2019 639 +6.5%
2018 Trough600 −4.8%
2017 630 −3.7%
2016 654 +6.5%
2015 614 —

Regional context

How UAE compares in Middle East

Natural Gas Liquids Production by country, 2023, Thousand Barrels Daily. UAE is highlighted.

1Saudi Arabia
1,780
2Iran
722
3UAE
671
4Qatar
461
5Kuwait
318
6Iraq
84.00

Data definition

Inclusions and exclusions

Natural Gas Liquids Production — - Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Production refers to the total volume of liquid hydrocarbons recovered from natural gas during production and processing within a given year. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and includes hydrocarbons that are separated from natural gas streams because they condense into liquids under normal surface conditions. Major components include ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline (pentanes plus). This indicator reflects a country's capability to recover valuable liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas production and is widely used to assess upstream gas processing activity, hydrocarbon resource utilization, and supply of feedstocks for petrochemical, heating, and transportation applications.

Inclusions

The data includes the production of all major natural gas liquids recovered from natural gas processing plants and field separation facilities, including ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline (pentanes plus). It covers NGLs produced from both associated gas (produced alongside crude oil) and non-associated natural gas fields. Production from onshore and offshore operations is included, and the indicator reflects volumes recovered before further refining or fractionation into individual products. The data is compiled using standardized international energy reporting methodologies based on national production statistics and industry sources, enabling consistent comparison of NGL production across countries and over time.

Exclusions

The data excludes dry natural gas (methane) that remains in the gas stream after NGL extraction, as well as crude oil, lease condensate, refined petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) produced through refinery processing rather than direct natural gas recovery. It also excludes synthetic liquid fuels derived from coal, biomass, or gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies unless explicitly included in the reporting methodology. The indicator does not measure NGL consumption, reserves, imports, exports, storage, or petrochemical production. Minor differences may occur due to variations in national reporting standards, processing technologies, product classifications, and estimation methodologies across countries.

About this indicator

Natural Gas Liquids Production — - Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Production refers to the total volume of liquid hydrocarbons recovered from natural gas during production and processing within a given year. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and includes hydrocarbons that are separated from natural gas streams because they condense into liquids under normal surface conditions. Major components include ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline (pentanes plus). This indicator reflects a country's capability to recover valuable liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas production and is widely used to assess upstream gas processing activity, hydrocarbon resource utilization, and supply of feedstocks for petrochemical, heating, and transportation applications.

Measured in thousand barrels daily, the dataset reflects total NGL production and serves as an important indicator of natural gas processing activity, hydrocarbon resource development, investment trends, and the overall performance of the UAE's energy sector. The dataset supports analysis of production growth, processing capacity, domestic supply, and long-term developments within the country's natural gas industry.

The UAE produced 614 thousand barrels daily of NGLs in 2015 before increasing to 654 thousand in 2016. Production declined to 630 thousand in 2017 and 600 thousand in 2018 before recovering to 639 thousand in 2019. Output eased to 608 thousand barrels daily in 2020 amid changing market conditions before increasing to 625 thousand in 2021, 656 thousand in 2022, and 671 thousand barrels daily in 2023, the highest level during the review period. The overall increase reflects continued expansion of natural gas processing facilities, operational improvements, and sustained investment in upstream and midstream infrastructure.

Overall, the dataset demonstrates moderate production fluctuations while maintaining a clear long-term growth trend. The recovery during the final years highlights the resilience of the UAE's natural gas sector and its ability to expand processing capacity despite market volatility. Continued investment in gas development projects and modern processing technologies is expected to support future NGL production and strengthen the country's position within regional energy markets.

The dataset serves as a valuable resource for monitoring national NGL production performance, evaluating supply trends, assessing upstream investment, supporting market analysis, forecasting future production, and enabling policymakers, researchers, investors, and industry stakeholders to develop effective energy strategies and production planning.

Indicator
Natural Gas Liquids Production
Country
UAE
Region
Middle East
Unit
Thousand Barrels Daily
Coverage
2015–2023, annual
Category
Energy & Power
Last updated
July 2026
Source
energyinst.org

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Frequently asked questions

What is UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production?

Definition- Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Production refers to the total volume of liquid hydrocarbons recovered from natural gas during production and processing within a given year. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and includes hydrocarbons that are separated from natural gas streams because they condense into liquids under normal surface conditions. Major components include ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline (pentanes plus). This indicator reflects a country's capability to recover valuable liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas production and is widely used to assess upstream gas processing activity, hydrocarbon resource utilization, and supply of feedstocks for petrochemical, heating, and transportation applications.

What was UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production in 2023?

UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production was 671 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023, up 2.3% on 2022.

How has UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production changed between 2015 and 2023?

UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production moved from 614 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015 to 671 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 (+9.3%), an average of +1.1% a year. The series high was 671 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 and the low 600 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2018.

Which year had the highest and lowest UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production?

The highest value was 671 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 and the lowest was 600 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2018.

What does the UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production data include and exclude?

Included: The data includes the production of all major natural gas liquids recovered from natural gas processing plants and field separation facilities, including ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline (pentanes plus). It covers NGLs produced from both associated gas (produced alongside crude oil) and non-associated natural gas fields. Production from onshore and offshore operations is included, and the indicator reflects volumes recovered before further refining or fractionation into individual products. The data is compiled using standardized international energy reporting methodologies based on national production statistics and industry sources, enabling consistent comparison of NGL production across countries and over time. Excluded: The data excludes dry natural gas (methane) that remains in the gas stream after NGL extraction, as well as crude oil, lease condensate, refined petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) produced through refinery processing rather than direct natural gas recovery. It also excludes synthetic liquid fuels derived from coal, biomass, or gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies unless explicitly included in the reporting methodology. The indicator does not measure NGL consumption, reserves, imports, exports, storage, or petrochemical production. Minor differences may occur due to variations in national reporting standards, processing technologies, product classifications, and estimation methodologies across countries.

Where does the UAE Natural Gas Liquids Production data come from?

The series is sourced from energyinst.org (https://www.energyinst.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1542714/684_EI_Stat_Review_V16_DIGITAL.pdf). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Thousand Barrels Daily.

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