United Arab Emirates vs Qatar

Every indicator for United Arab Emirates and Qatar side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

Indicator comparison
IndicatorUnited Arab EmiratesQatarDifference
Population (2025) (people)11,513,1492,972,215+287.4%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)552216+155.6%
GDP per capita ($)50,27472,525−30.7%
Life expectancy (years)83.182.5—
Area (km²)98,64811,490+758.6%
Population density (people/km²)117259−54.9%
Median age (years)———
Internet usage (%)100.098.1—
Unemployment rate (%)2.20.1—
Inflation (%)1.31.3—
Urban population (%)86.099.4—
Military expenditure (2022) (million $)—15,412—
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)—6.50—
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)—26.88—
Military expenditure per capita ($)—5,185—
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)63,00022,000+186.4%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)5.57.4−26.1%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)1.021.07−4.7%

The difference column shows the percentage gap of United Arab Emirates relative to Qatar; a positive value favors United Arab Emirates. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.

At a glance

Neither side dominates: United Arab Emirates is higher on 4 of 8 indicators, Qatar on 4. The widest separation is in area (about 8.6×); they are closest on armed forces as a share of the labor force.

Key differences

  • United Arab Emirates's area (98,648) is about 8.6 times Qatar's (11,490).
  • United Arab Emirates's population (2025) (11,513,149) is about 3.9 times Qatar's (2,972,215).
  • United Arab Emirates's armed forces personnel (2020) (63,000) is about 2.9 times Qatar's (22,000).
  • United Arab Emirates's gdp (nominal) (552) is about 2.6 times Qatar's (216).
  • Qatar's population density (259) is about 2.2 times United Arab Emirates's (117).

Frequently asked questions

Where do United Arab Emirates and Qatar differ most?
In area. United Arab Emirates records 98,648 against Qatar's 11,490 — a ratio of roughly 8.6 to one.
Where are United Arab Emirates and Qatar most alike?
In armed forces as a share of the labor force, at 1.07 and 1.02 — a gap of only %4.9.
On how many indicators is United Arab Emirates ahead of Qatar?
United Arab Emirates is higher on 4 of the 8 ratio-scale indicators and Qatar on 4. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
United Arab Emirates and Qatar — core indicators
05 M10 M15 MPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — United Arab Emirates: 11,513,149GDP (nominal) — United Arab Emirates: 552GDP per capita — United Arab Emirates: 50,274Area — United Arab Emirates: 98,648Population (2025) — Qatar: 2,972,215GDP (nominal) — Qatar: 216GDP per capita — Qatar: 72,525Area — Qatar: 11,490
United Arab EmiratesQatar

The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.

Other comparisons involving United Arab Emirates or Qatar.

Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI