Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates: the larger economy is Saudi Arabia ($1.24T vs $552.3B GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to United Arab Emirates ($35,122 vs $50,274). Life expectancy is higher in United Arab Emirates (79.0 vs 83.1 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates: side by side
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | United Arab Emirates | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $1.24T | $552.3B | Saudi Arabia |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $35,122 | $50,274 | United Arab Emirates |
| Population, total | 35,300,280 | 10,986,400 | Saudi Arabia |
| Population growth (annual %) | 4.6% | 4.7% | United Arab Emirates |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 2.0% | 4.0% | United Arab Emirates |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 1.7% | 1.7% | United Arab Emirates |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 3.0% | 2.2% | United Arab Emirates |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 79.0 | 83.1 | United Arab Emirates |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 100.0% | 100.0% | — |
| Urban population (% of total) | 84.5% | 85.8% | United Arab Emirates |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 18.48 | 18.26 | United Arab Emirates |
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0), retrieved June 2026. Values are each indicator's latest available year, which can differ between the two countries.
Who leads on what
- GDP (size of economy): Saudi Arabia
- GDP per capita (income): United Arab Emirates
- Life expectancy: United Arab Emirates
- Internet users: neither (tie or no data)
- Lower inflation: United Arab Emirates
- Lower unemployment: United Arab Emirates
Frequently asked questions
Is Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates richer?
United Arab Emirates is richer on GDP per capita — Saudi Arabia at $35,122 versus $50,274 for United Arab Emirates (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is Saudi Arabia ($1.24T vs $552.3B).
Which has a bigger economy, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates?
Saudi Arabia has the larger economy: Saudi Arabia's GDP is $1.24T and United Arab Emirates's is $552.3B in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates?
Saudi Arabia is more populous: Saudi Arabia has about 35.3 million people and United Arab Emirates about 11.0 million.
Where do people live longer, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates?
Life expectancy is higher in United Arab Emirates: 79.0 years in Saudi Arabia versus 83.1 in United Arab Emirates (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20