United Arab Emirates vs Saudi Arabia
Every indicator for United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United Arab Emirates | Saudi Arabia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 11,513,149 | 36,973,555 | −68.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 552 | 1,277 | −56.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 50,274 | 34,537 | +45.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.1 | 79.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 98,648 | 2,149,690 | −95.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 117 | 17 | +578.6% |
| Median age (years) | — | 30.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 100.0 | 100.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.2 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 1.3 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 86.0 | 84.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | — | 80,331 | — |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | — | 7.30 | — |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | — | 22.31 | — |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | — | 2,173 | — |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 63,000 | 282,000 | −77.7% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 5.5 | 7.6 | −28.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.02 | 1.92 | −46.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United Arab Emirates relative to Saudi Arabia; a positive value favors United Arab Emirates. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Saudi Arabia is higher on 6 of the 8 indicators, while United Arab Emirates leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in area, about 22 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Saudi Arabia stands at 2,149,690 against United Arab Emirates's 98,648 — roughly 22 times as much.
- United Arab Emirates's population density (117) is about 6.8 times Saudi Arabia's (17).
- Saudi Arabia's armed forces personnel (2020) (282,000) is about 4.5 times United Arab Emirates's (63,000).
- Saudi Arabia's population (2025) (36,973,555) is about 3.2 times United Arab Emirates's (11,513,149).
- Saudi Arabia's gdp (nominal) (1,277) is about 2.3 times United Arab Emirates's (552).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia differ most?
Where are United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia most alike?
On how many indicators is United Arab Emirates ahead of Saudi Arabia?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia.
United Arab Emirates profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Saudi Arabia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.