Seven-indicator market comparison
Neighbouring Gulf economies differ in population and scale while both maintain strong links to global trade and investment.
At a glance
Each value keeps its source year because publication schedules differ by country and indicator.
| Indicator | Saudi Arabia | Year | United Arab Emirates | Year | Full series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDPcurrent US$ | $1.28T | 2025 | $552.32B | 2024 | Chart |
| GDP per capitacurrent US$ | $34,537 | 2025 | $50,274 | 2024 | Chart |
| GDP growthannual % | 4.50% | 2025 | 3.99% | 2024 | Chart |
| Populationpeople | 36,973,555 | 2025 | 11,513,149 | 2025 | Chart |
| Internet use% of population | 100.00% | 2024 | 100.00% | 2024 | Chart |
| Trade openness% of GDP | 57.92% | 2025 | 199.04% | 2023 | Chart |
| Life expectancy at birthyears | 78.98 | 2024 | 83.07 | 2024 | Chart |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Retrieved 2026-08-26.
Data-led reading
These observations describe the latest series and do not predict future performance.
Economic scale
Saudi Arabia reported GDP of $1.28T in 2025 and United Arab Emirates reported $552.32B in 2024. The larger current-dollar total was about 2.3 times the smaller; exchange rates affect this comparison.
Income per person
GDP per capita was $34,537 for Saudi Arabia and $50,274 for United Arab Emirates in their latest observations, a ratio of about 1.5 to one. This is output per person, not median household income.
Digital reach
Internet use was 100.00% in Saudi Arabia and 100.00% in United Arab Emirates, a gap of 0.0 percentage points. National access rates do not measure connection speed, affordability or frequency of use.
Momentum & exposure
Latest real GDP growth was 4.50% for Saudi Arabia and 3.99% for United Arab Emirates. Trade equaled 57.92% and 199.04% of GDP respectively. Always check the reported year before linking short-run momentum to economic openness.