United Arab Emirates and Sierra Leone
The United Arab Emirates and Sierra Leone signed a comprehensive economic partnership in February 2026. The agenda combines investment, energy, agriculture and logistics with climate and water cooperation and regional dialogue.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08History and institutional framework
Mohamed bin Zayed and Julius Maada Bio met on 2 February 2026 and witnessed CEPA's signing during the World Governments Summit.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
It highlights contacts between Global South Utilities and Sierra Leonean authorities to improve electricity reliability.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
It highlights contacts between Global South Utilities and Sierra Leonean authorities to improve electricity reliability.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: United Arab Emirates to Sierra Leone | ||
| Goods: Sierra Leone to United Arab Emirates | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: United Arab Emirates to Sierra Leone | ||
| Export share: Sierra Leone to United Arab Emirates | ||
| Investment stock: United Arab Emirates in Sierra Leone | ||
| Investment stock: Sierra Leone in United Arab Emirates |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
| Indicator | United Arab Emirates | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 552.32 billion USD2024 · WB | 7.46 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 50,273.51 USD2024 · WB | 846.3 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 3.99 %2024 · WB | 4.61 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 1.25 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 7.49 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | ||
| Unemployment | 2.17 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 3.15 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | 5.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -4.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 34.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 45.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 14.48 %2024 · WB | -14.12 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 10,986,4002024 · WB | 8,819,7942025 · WB |
| Area | 98,648 km²2023 · WB | |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sierra Leone: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sierra Leone: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)United Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sierra Leone: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)United Arab Emirates: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sierra Leone: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency stated
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionUnited Arab Emirates: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sierra Leone: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)United Arab Emirates: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Sierra Leone: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)United Arab Emirates: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Sierra Leone: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sierra Leone: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date. Preliminary.Sierra Leone: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceUnited Arab Emirates: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
United Arab Emirates to Sierra Leone
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Sierra Leone to United Arab Emirates
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
The statement published the following day identifies artificial intelligence, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, logistics and health, as well as defence opportunities. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from United Arab Emirates living in Sierra Leone | ||
| Residents from Sierra Leone living in United Arab Emirates | ||
| Study and training: United Arab Emirates in Sierra Leone | ||
| Study and training: Sierra Leone in United Arab Emirates | ||
| Academic stays: United Arab Emirates in Sierra Leone | ||
| Academic stays: Sierra Leone in United Arab Emirates | ||
| Travel: United Arab Emirates to Sierra Leone | ||
| Travel: Sierra Leone to United Arab Emirates |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
History and institutional framework
Mohamed bin Zayed and Julius Maada Bio met on 2 February 2026 and witnessed CEPA's signing during the World Governments Summit. The statement published the following day identifies artificial intelligence, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, logistics and health, as well as defence opportunities. [1]
The scale of both economies
The United Arab Emirates' nominal GDP is 552.3 billion USD (2024), compared with 7.5 for Sierra Leone (2025). The reference populations are 10.99 and 8.82 million, respectively. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [2] [3] [4] [5]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Cooperation and bilateral issues
It highlights contacts between Global South Utilities and Sierra Leonean authorities to improve electricity reliability. The Emirati AI for Development programme is presented as a continent-wide initiative worth one billion dollars, not an allocation entirely to Sierra Leone. The document establishes CEPA's signing without giving an entry-into-force date and proposes coordination on water and climate. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — ARE-SLE
United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08