Higher over the period
UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 0.0541 Percentage in 2015 to 0.648 Percentage in 2024 (+1096.2%), an average of +31.8% a year. The series high was 0.937 Percentage in 2019 and the low 0.0407 Percentage in 2016.
What UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP shows
UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 0.648 Percentage in 2024, up 5% on 2023. The Tax Revenue as a Percentage of GDP dataset for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provides a comprehensive assessment of the country's tax collection performance relative to the size of its economy, offering valuable insights into fiscal diversification, government revenue generation, and public finance trends.
A 95.7% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2019) and low (2016) is 0.896 Percentage. The sharpest single-year move was +1547.6% in 2019.
Ranks 27 of 27 countries covered
Among the 27 countries in this dataset, UAE ranks 27 for 2024, behind Denmark (33.36 Percentage) and Sweden (27.23 Percentage). It accounts for 4.7% of the global total in 2024.
Full series
UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP by year
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Percentage.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Percentage | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0.648 | +5% |
| 2023 | 0.617 | +8.4% |
| 2022 | 0.569 | +8.1% |
| 2021 | 0.526 | −21.2% |
| 2020 | 0.667 | −28.7% |
| 2019Peak | 0.937 | +1,547.6% |
| 2018 | 0.0568 | −10.5% |
| 2017 | 0.0635 | +56.2% |
| 2016 Trough | 0.0407 | −24.8% |
| 2015 | 0.0541 | — |
Regional context
How UAE compares in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP by country, 2024, Percentage. UAE is highlighted.
1Israel23.24
2Saudi Arabia8.09
3UAE0.648
Data definition
Inclusions and exclusions
Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP — – Tax Revenue (% of GDP) refers to the total tax revenue collected by the central government, expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Tax revenue consists of compulsory, unrequited payments made by individuals and businesses to the government for public purposes. The indicator measures the relative size of tax collections compared with the overall economy and is widely used to assess a government's revenue-generating capacity, fiscal performance, and tax effort.
The data includes compulsory tax payments collected by the central government, such as taxes on income, profits and capital gains, payroll taxes, property taxes, taxes on goods and services (including VAT, GST, and excise duties), taxes on international trade, customs duties, and other taxes recorded under the IMF Government Finance Statistics (GFS) framework. The indicator is expressed as a percentage of GDP using standardized national accounts and government finance statistics.
The data excludes non-tax government revenue such as grants, fees, licenses, administrative charges, dividends from state-owned enterprises, and income from government assets. It also excludes fines, penalties, most social security contributions, refunds treated as negative revenue, and informal or unrecorded tax collections not captured in official government finance statistics. For many countries, the indicator reflects central government tax revenue only and may not include taxes collected by state, provincial, or local governments.
About this indicator
Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP — – Tax Revenue (% of GDP) refers to the total tax revenue collected by the central government, expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Tax revenue consists of compulsory, unrequited payments made by individuals and businesses to the government for public purposes. The indicator measures the relative size of tax collections compared with the overall economy and is widely used to assess a government's revenue-generating capacity, fiscal performance, and tax effort.
Measured as a Percentage, the dataset covers 2015–2024 and highlights the UAE's transition toward a broader non-oil revenue base. Tax revenue remained minimal at 0.05% of GDP in 2015, fluctuating between 0.04% and 0.06% through 2018, before increasing sharply to 0.94% in 2019, reflecting the impact of major tax reforms. The ratio subsequently moderated to 0.67% in 2020, 0.53% in 2021, and recovered gradually to 0.65% in 2024.
The year-wise trend reflects the UAE's fiscal transformation through the introduction and expansion of indirect taxation, including value-added tax (VAT), as part of its long-term economic diversification strategy. Although the tax-to-GDP ratio remains comparatively low by international standards, the steady improvement demonstrates the country's efforts to strengthen non-oil government revenue while maintaining an attractive business environment and supporting sustainable fiscal management.
This dataset is an important resource for policymakers, economists, financial institutions, investors, researchers, and international organizations evaluating fiscal sustainability, taxation efficiency, and revenue diversification. It supports benchmarking the UAE against regional and global economies, assessing the impact of fiscal reforms, monitoring long-term tax revenue trends, forecasting government income, and analyzing the relationship between taxation, economic diversification, and public expenditure. The data also contributes to research on public finance, macroeconomic stability, investment attractiveness, and sustainable economic development.
Overall, the 2015–2024 dataset highlights the UAE's gradual strengthening of tax revenue relative to GDP through ongoing fiscal reforms. It provides a reliable foundation for fiscal analysis, policy evaluation, investment planning, and long-term economic forecasting while reflecting the country's transition toward a more diversified and resilient economy.
- Indicator
- Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP
- Country
- UAE
- Region
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Unit
- Percentage
- Coverage
- 2015–2024, annual
- Category
- BFSI
- Last updated
- July 2026
- Source
- data.worldbank.org
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Frequently asked questions
What is UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP?
Definition – Tax Revenue (% of GDP) refers to the total tax revenue collected by the central government, expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Tax revenue consists of compulsory, unrequited payments made by individuals and businesses to the government for public purposes. The indicator measures the relative size of tax collections compared with the overall economy and is widely used to assess a government's revenue-generating capacity, fiscal performance, and tax effort.
What was UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP in 2024?
UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP was 0.648 Percentage in 2024, up 5% on 2023.
How has UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP changed between 2015 and 2024?
UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP moved from 0.0541 Percentage in 2015 to 0.648 Percentage in 2024 (+1096.2%), an average of +31.8% a year. The series high was 0.937 Percentage in 2019 and the low 0.0407 Percentage in 2016.
Which year had the highest and lowest UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP?
The highest value was 0.937 Percentage in 2019 and the lowest was 0.0407 Percentage in 2016.
What does the UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP data include and exclude?
Included: The data includes compulsory tax payments collected by the central government, such as taxes on income, profits and capital gains, payroll taxes, property taxes, taxes on goods and services (including VAT, GST, and excise duties), taxes on international trade, customs duties, and other taxes recorded under the IMF Government Finance Statistics (GFS) framework. The indicator is expressed as a percentage of GDP using standardized national accounts and government finance statistics. Excluded: The data excludes non-tax government revenue such as grants, fees, licenses, administrative charges, dividends from state-owned enterprises, and income from government assets. It also excludes fines, penalties, most social security contributions, refunds treated as negative revenue, and informal or unrecorded tax collections not captured in official government finance statistics. For many countries, the indicator reflects central government tax revenue only and may not include taxes collected by state, provincial, or local governments.
Where does the UAE Tax Revenue as Percentage of GDP data come from?
The series is sourced from data.worldbank.org (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Percentage.
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