Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars: $81.5B in Saudi Arabia in 2025 and $27.8B in United Arab Emirates in 2014, by SIPRI estimates. In 2014 the value was higher in Saudi Arabia, by $67.3B, or 3.42 times that in United Arab Emirates.
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Saudi Arabia has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1997.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | Saudi Arabia | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $81.5B | – |
| 2024 | $80.3B | – |
| 2023 | $79.1B | – |
| 2022 | $73.8B | – |
| 2021 | $67.4B | – |
| 2020 | $71B | – |
| 2019 | $74.3B | – |
| 2018 | $83.8B | – |
| 2017 | $81B | – |
| 2016 | $72.6B | – |
| 2015 | $102B | – |
| 2014 | $95.2B | $27.8B |
| 2013 | $80.7B | $29.5B |
| 2012 | $70.5B | $24.1B |
| 2011 | $62.3B | $24.4B |
| 2010 | $61.4B | $22.5B |
| 2009 | $59B | $17.9B |
| 2008 | $57.4B | $15.2B |
| 2007 | $58.5B | $12.5B |
| 2006 | $50.8B | $11.8B |
| 2005 | $44.6B | $11.9B |
| 2004 | $36.9B | $13B |
| 2003 | $33.3B | $11.7B |
| 2002 | $33B | $11.1B |
| 2001 | $37.6B | $12.3B |
| 2000 | $35.3B | $12.8B |
| 1999 | $32.1B | $9.37B |
| 1998 | $36B | $9.06B |
| 1997 | $31.2B | $7.68B |
| 1996 | $23B | – |
| 1995 | $23B | – |
| 1994 | $26.1B | – |
| 1993 | $30.2B | – |
| 1992 | $28.5B | – |
| 1991 | $30.4B | – |
| 1990 | $31.8B | – |
| 1989 | $25.3B | – |
| 1988 | $26.8B | – |
| 1987 | $29.3B | – |
| 1985 | $32.9B | – |
| 1984 | $39.9B | – |
| 1983 | $37.1B | – |
| 1982 | $45.7B | – |
| 1981 | $41B | – |
| 1980 | $35.2B | – |
| 1979 | $31.5B | – |
| 1978 | $24.5B | – |
| 1977 | $21.6B | – |
| 1973 | $7.36B | – |
| 1972 | $5.7B | – |
| 1971 | $4.06B | – |
| 1970 | $3.42B | – |
| 1969 | $3.12B | – |
| 1968 | $2.55B | – |
| 1967 | $2.57B | – |
| 1966 | $2.34B | – |
| 1965 | $1.41B | – |
| 1964 | $982M | – |
| 1963 | $929M | – |
- Estimate
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence, in constant 2024 US dollars so that years compare, by SIPRI’s count.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Marked points are SIPRI’s own: a dot where it gives the figure as its estimate, a ring where it calls the figure highly uncertain.
- Ranks count the 151 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates
Health
- Life expectancySaudi Arabia: 78.7 years in 2023United Arab Emirates: 82.9 years in 2023
- Child mortalitySaudi Arabia: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024United Arab Emirates: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySaudi Arabia: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Arab Emirates: 4.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSaudi Arabia: 3.54% in 2017United Arab Emirates: 2.88% in 2017
- Suicide rateSaudi Arabia: 2.9 per 100,000 people in 2017United Arab Emirates: 5.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSaudi Arabia: 33.3 million people in 2023United Arab Emirates: 10.6 million people in 2023
- Population growthSaudi Arabia: 2.39% a year in 2023United Arab Emirates: 3.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSaudi Arabia: 2.28 births per woman in 2023United Arab Emirates: 1.2 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSaudi Arabia: 84.6% in 2025United Arab Emirates: 86% in 2025
- Median ageSaudi Arabia: 29.3 years in 2023United Arab Emirates: 31.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSaudi Arabia: 2.8% in 2023United Arab Emirates: 1.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateSaudi Arabia: 9.8 per 1,000 people in 2023United Arab Emirates: 28.2 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personSaudi Arabia: $25,070 in 2025United Arab Emirates: $41,610 in 2024
- GDP growthSaudi Arabia: 4.6% a year in 2025United Arab Emirates: 6.2% a year in 2025
- InflationSaudi Arabia: 2% a year in 2025United Arab Emirates: 1.3% a year in 2025
- Government debtSaudi Arabia: 31.8% of GDP in 2025United Arab Emirates: 33.9% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSaudi Arabia: 6.48% of GDP in 2025United Arab Emirates: 5.64% of GDP in 2014
- Military spending per personSaudi Arabia: $2,428 in 2025United Arab Emirates: $2,840 in 2014
- Military share of state spendingSaudi Arabia: 23.5% of government spending in 2025United Arab Emirates: 17% of government spending in 2014
- Armed forces personnelSaudi Arabia: 282,000 people in 2020United Arab Emirates: 63,000 people in 2020
- National powerSaudi Arabia: 1.34% of world capability in 2022United Arab Emirates: 0.47% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSaudi Arabia: 1.92% of the labour force in 2020United Arab Emirates: 1.02% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSaudi Arabia: 3.04 billion TIV in 2025United Arab Emirates: 868 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSaudi Arabia: 3 million TIV in 2023United Arab Emirates: 33 million TIV in 2025
Climate
Technology and environment
- CO₂ per personSaudi Arabia: 18.48 tonnes in 2024United Arab Emirates: 18.26 tonnes in 2024
- Internet usersSaudi Arabia: 100% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024
- Access to electricitySaudi Arabia: 100% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024
- Forest areaSaudi Arabia: 1.3% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 4.6% in 2024