United States and United Arab Emirates
Aviation, energy and advanced technologies connect both countries' businesses and institutions. The artificial intelligence agenda also raises technology security issues. Investment announcements are important for understanding priorities but must be distinguished from direct capital already recorded.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07Aircraft and business contracts
In May 2025, the White House announced commercial agreements including Boeing aircraft and GE engines for Etihad.
The ten-year investment framework
The US communication presents an Emirati framework of 1.4 trillion dollars over ten years, including AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, biotechnology and manufacturing.
Digital infrastructure on the 2026 agenda
The 2026 presidential economic report covers data center initiatives and collaboration with US companies within that technological relationship.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 39,116 M USD | 2025 · Census |
| Goods: United States to United Arab Emirates | 31,435.8 M USD | 2025 · Census |
| Goods: United Arab Emirates to United States | 7,680.2 M USD | 2025 · Census |
| Services trade | 16,300 M USDUSTR est. | 2025 · USTR |
| Export share: United States to United Arab Emirates | 1.44 % | 2025 · Census |
| Export share: United Arab Emirates to United States | ||
| Investment stock: United States in United Arab Emirates | 17,611 M USDBEA est. | 2025 · BEA |
| Investment stock: United Arab Emirates in United States | 14,720 M USDBEA est. | 2025 · BEA |
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.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · Goods, January–December 2025, United States reporter. Not services or affiliate production.
- Goods: United States to United Arab Emirates
- 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · Goods, January–December 2025, United States reporter. Not services or affiliate production.
- Goods: United Arab Emirates to United States
- 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · Goods, January–December 2025, United States reporter. Not services or affiliate production.
- Services trade
- 2025 · USTR · USTR estimate of services trade; not goods. Published total, not recalculated from rounded components.
- Export share: United States to United Arab Emirates
- 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · U.S. Census Bureau (other direction) · US goods exports to the partner / US goods exports to the world; same year and reporter.
- Investment stock: United States in United Arab Emirates
- 2025 · BEA · Direct investment position at historical cost; immediate counterparty. Not portfolio investment or announced commitments. Published negative values are retained.
- Investment stock: United Arab Emirates in United States
- 2025 · BEA · Direct investment position at historical cost; immediate counterparty. Not portfolio investment or announced commitments. Published negative values are retained.
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 States | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 30.77 trillion USD2025 · WB | 552.32 billion USD2024 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 90,026.52 USD2025 · WB | 50,273.51 USD2024 · WB |
| GDP growth | 2.16 %2025 · WB | 3.99 %2024 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 3.75–4 %2026-09-16 · Fed | |
| Inflation · annual average | 2.7 %IMF est.Annual average · 2025 · IMF | 1.25 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.4 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · BLS | |
| Unemployment | 4.2 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 2.17 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -6.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 5.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 123.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 34.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -3.63 %2025 · WB | 14.48 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 341,784,8572025 · WB | 10,986,4002024 · WB |
| Area | 9,831,510 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 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 States: 2025 · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personUnited States: 2025 · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)United States: 2025 · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)United States: 2026-09-16 · Federal funds target range · Federal Reserve
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)United States: 2025 · Average annual change in headline CPI (%) · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · WEO estimate; not the year-on-year change for December or August 2026. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07United Arab Emirates: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · 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 statedUnited States: 2026-08 · Headline CPI change relative to the same month of the previous year (%) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Published: 2026-09-11 · Headline year-on-year CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted; not monthly or core inflation.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionUnited States: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.United Arab Emirates: 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 States: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.United Arab Emirates: 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 States: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.United Arab Emirates: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPUnited States: 2025 · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleUnited States: 2025 · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date. Preliminary.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceUnited States: 2023 · Total area including inland waters; territorial coverage of the source · World Bank · FAOUnited 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 States to United Arab Emirates
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 5,079.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Land vehicles and components | 4,114.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 4,109 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 649.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 386.7 M USD2025 · Source |
United Arab Emirates to United States
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Mineral fuels and oils | 1,139.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 470.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 294.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Land vehicles and components | 42.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 2.8 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | United States to United Arab Emirates | United Arab Emirates to United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,306.8 | 17,051.1 | 6,255.7 |
| 2022 | 27,696.7 | 20,837.1 | 6,859.6 |
| 2023 | 31,417.7 | 24,797.9 | 6,619.8 |
| 2024 | 34,425.8 | 27,025.1 | 7,400.7 |
| 2025 | 39,116 | 31,435.8 | 7,680.2 |
Connections between people
Education, travel and professional activity accompany investments; financial commitments are not used to estimate mobility. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from United States living in United Arab Emirates | ||
| Residents from United Arab Emirates living in United States | ||
| Study and training: United States in United Arab Emirates | ||
| Study and training: United Arab Emirates in United StatesStudy and OPT training in the United States | 1,808 | 2024/25 · IIE / Open Doors |
| Academic stays: United States in United Arab EmiratesU.S. study-abroad stays carrying academic credit | 1,072 | 2023/24 · IIE / Open Doors |
| Academic stays: United Arab Emirates in United States | ||
| Travel: United States to United Arab Emirates | ||
| Travel: United Arab Emirates to United StatesCountry of residence; international arrivals in the United States | 95,628arrivals | 2025 · NTTO |
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.
- Study and training: United Arab Emirates in United States
- Open Doors: students by place of origin, including OPT practical training. Not visas or residents. 2024/25 · IIE / Open Doors
- Academic stays: United States in United Arab Emirates
- Mobility for academic credit reported by US institutions. Not the total number of residents or enrolment on a particular date. 2023/24 · IIE / Open Doors
- Travel: United Arab Emirates to United States
- Arrivals by country of residence; not nationality, unique travellers or permanent residence. NTTO series coverage. 2025 · NTTO
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
Aircraft and business contracts
In May 2025, the White House announced commercial agreements including Boeing aircraft and GE engines for Etihad. These are operations with ordering, production and delivery timelines, not a single customs movement on the announcement date. Annual trade and investment positions allow other dimensions of business activity to be observed. [1]
The ten-year investment framework
The US communication presents an Emirati framework of 1.4 trillion dollars over ten years, including AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, biotechnology and manufacturing. It is a commitment announced by the Administration, not BEA's direct investment stock. One program can include financing and projects from different periods; it is not converted entirely into investment implemented during 2025. [1]
AI and technology protection
The AI agreement announced in May incorporates digital infrastructure and commitments on security regulation and preventing diversion of US technology. These matters show why a trade relationship can also depend on technology controls. The cooperation described does not mean any advanced equipment is authorized unconditionally or all planned data centers are operating. [1]
The scale of the two economies
The United States recorded nominal GDP of 30,769.7 billion USD in 2025, compared with 552.3 in 2024 for the United Arab Emirates. The reference populations were 341.78 million (2025) and 10.99 million (2024), respectively. The figures contextualize market size; they do not in themselves describe well-being, individual wealth or political influence. IMF estimates or demographic extrapolations retain their markings in the table. A ratio is not calculated when the periods do not match. [7] [8] [9] [10]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Digital infrastructure on the 2026 agenda
The 2026 presidential economic report covers data center initiatives and collaboration with US companies within that technological relationship. Its mention documents a line of cooperation, not each project's final capacity. Economic tables keep announced commitments, investment positions and recorded goods separate, as they have their own measures and sources. [2]
Observed economic exchange
In 2025, recorded goods trade between the United States and the United Arab Emirates totaled 39,116 million USD. US shipments to the United Arab Emirates were USD 31,435.8 million; shipments in the opposite direction were USD 7680.2 million. US shipments to the partner represented 1.44% of its goods exports to the world, using the same year and reporter. A single customs declaration is used for both directions. This annual flow does not include all services activity or subsidiaries' local sales and is not added to accumulated investment capital. [3]
Cross-border services
USTR estimates 16,300 million USD in services trade in 2025. It is the total published by the source, not a reconstruction from rounded components. Financial and professional services and activities involving travel have coverage different from goods. Its value does not represent a traveler count or all local business by companies established in the partner country. [4]
Recorded direct investment capital, not announced investment
The US direct investment position in the United Arab Emirates was USD 17,611 million in 2025. The United Arab Emirates' direct investment position in the United States was 14,720 million USD in 2025. BEA uses historical cost and the immediate counterpart. The figure is capital recorded at period-end, not a purchase or promise made during the year. It may reflect subsidiary structures and financing; published negative values are not replaced with zero. It does not include all portfolio investment or allow each project to be valued individually. [5] [6]
Human connections with their own figures
In 2025, the source recorded 95,628 arrivals from the United Arab Emirates to the United States, with the coverage indicated in the table. [11]
In 2024/25, the source recorded 1808 students and OPT internship participants from the United Arab Emirates in the United States. [12]
In 2023/24, 1072 stays for academic credit were recorded from the United States to the United Arab Emirates. [12]
The counts describe different populations and periods: they are not added as a total of unique people. Open Doors includes OPT practical training; US study stays require academic credit. Arrivals by country of residence do not equate to nationality or permanent residence. The academic year retains its coverage and is not relabelled as a calendar year. [11] [12]
Milestones and consequences
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Each figure retains its period, unit, definition and source. Announcements, contracts and results are not interchangeable. Empty cells do not mean zero. Customs data for 2025 are not presented as activity observed during later crises.
- Commercial agreements and announced investments
White House · Institutional source · Document: 2025-05-15 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Economic Report of the President 2026
White House · Institutional source · Document: 2026-04 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- TOTAL rows 2021–2025; US reporter; goods; million USD
U.S. Census Bureau · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Services exports plus imports, estimate, full calendar year 2025
USTR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Position; country row; G=2025; million USD; historical cost; immediate counterparty
BEA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Position; country row; G=2025; million USD; historical cost; immediate counterparty
BEA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-09-17
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-06
- SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual; country-of-residence row; AC=2025; arrivals, not unique people
NTTO · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- International Student Totals: 2024/25 incl OPT; US study abroad 2023/24. Not visa issuance.
IIE / Open Doors · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 27; 2025; reporter 842; partners 804,616,380,528,752,579,208,792,818,784,634,400,586,360,704,608,764,702,554,710,566,404,170,152,32; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / USA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 30; 2025; reporter 842; partners 804,616,380,528,752,579,208,792,818,784,634,400,586,360,704,608,764,702,554,710,566,404,170,152,32; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / USA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 84; 2025; reporter 842; partners 804,616,380,528,752,579,208,792,818,784,634,400,586,360,704,608,764,702,554,710,566,404,170,152,32; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / USA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 85; 2025; reporter 842; partners 804,616,380,528,752,579,208,792,818,784,634,400,586,360,704,608,764,702,554,710,566,404,170,152,32; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / USA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 87; 2025; reporter 842; partners 804,616,380,528,752,579,208,792,818,784,634,400,586,360,704,608,764,702,554,710,566,404,170,152,32; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / USA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / USA
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 27; 2025; reporter 842; partners 804,616,380,528,752,579,208,792,818,784,634,400,586,360,704,608,764,702,554,710,566,404,170,152,32; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / USA
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 84; 2025; reporter 842; partners 804,616,380,528,752,579,208,792,818,784,634,400,586,360,704,608,764,702,554,710,566,404,170,152,32; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / USA
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 87; 2025; reporter 842; partners 804,616,380,528,752,579,208,792,818,784,634,400,586,360,704,608,764,702,554,710,566,404,170,152,32; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / USA
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 85; 2025; reporter 842; partners 804,616,380,528,752,579,208,792,818,784,634,400,586,360,704,608,764,702,554,710,566,404,170,152,32; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / USA
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 30; 2025; reporter 842; partners 804,616,380,528,752,579,208,792,818,784,634,400,586,360,704,608,764,702,554,710,566,404,170,152,32; X/M; annual goods.