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United Arab Emirates · Environment

Forests, air quality, land, water and protected areas.

10 indicators · 10 with data

Land

Forest cover

% of land area

181st of 213 · 7th in MENA+
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Forest coverUnited Arab Emirates's forest cover rose from 3.8 % in 1994 to 4.5 % in 2023.1995200020052010201520204%4%4%4%4%5%4.5 %

United Arab Emirates's forest cover rose from 3.8 % in 1994 to 4.5 % in 2023.

Forest area

km²

149th of 213 · 11th in MENA+
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Forest areaUnited Arab Emirates's forest area rose from 2,708 km in 1994 to 3,173 km in 2023.1995200020052010201520202,6002,8003,0003,2003,173 km

United Arab Emirates's forest area rose from 2,708 km in 1994 to 3,173 km in 2023.

Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area)

% of land area

92nd of 213 · 4th in MENA+
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Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area)United Arab Emirates's terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) rose from 18.6 % in 2013 to 19.2 % in 2025.20142016201820202022202412%14%16%18%20%19.2 %

United Arab Emirates's terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) rose from 18.6 % in 2013 to 19.2 % in 2025.

Agricultural land (% of land area)

% of land area

193rd of 209 · 21st in MENA+
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Agricultural land (% of land area)United Arab Emirates's agricultural land (% of land area) rose from 5.2 % in 1994 to 5.5 % in 2023.1995200020052010201520205%6%7%8%5.5 %

United Arab Emirates's agricultural land (% of land area) rose from 5.2 % in 1994 to 5.5 % in 2023.

Arable land (% of land area)

% of land area

193rd of 206 · 20th in MENA+
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Arable land (% of land area)United Arab Emirates's arable land (% of land area) rose from 0.6 % in 1994 to 0.7 % in 2023.1995200020052010201520200%0.2%0.4%0.6%0.8%1%1%0.7 %

United Arab Emirates's arable land (% of land area) rose from 0.6 % in 1994 to 0.7 % in 2023.

Air

Air pollution (PM2.5)

micrograms per m³

193rd of 200 · 19th in MENA+
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Air pollution (PM2.5)United Arab Emirates's air pollution (pm2.5) rose from 56.3 in 1994 to 57.2 in 2023.19952000200520102015202045505560657057.2

United Arab Emirates's air pollution (pm2.5) rose from 56.3 in 1994 to 57.2 in 2023.

Water

Water stress

% of internal resources

172nd of 175 · 18th in MENA+
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Water stressUnited Arab Emirates's water stress rose from 1,100.5 % in 1993 to 1,509.9 % in 2022.1995200020052010201520201,000%1,200%1,400%1,600%1,800%2,000%1,509.9 %

United Arab Emirates's water stress rose from 1,100.5 % in 1993 to 1,509.9 % in 2022.

Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita

cubic metres per person

178th of 181 · 18th in MENA+
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Renewable internal freshwater resources per capitaUnited Arab Emirates's renewable internal freshwater resources per capita fell from 67.5 in 1993 to 14.9 in 2022.199520002005201020152020020406014.9

United Arab Emirates's renewable internal freshwater resources per capita fell from 67.5 in 1993 to 14.9 in 2022.

Access

Safe drinking water

% of population

36th of 148 · 5th in MENA+
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Safe drinking waterUnited Arab Emirates's safe drinking water rose from 98.2 % in 2000 to 98.6 % in 2024.2000200520102015202098%98%99%98.6 %

United Arab Emirates's safe drinking water rose from 98.2 % in 2000 to 98.6 % in 2024.

Safe sanitation

% of population

12th of 141 · 4th in MENA+
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Safe sanitationUnited Arab Emirates's safe sanitation rose from 98.4 % in 2000 to 98.4 % in 2024.2000200520102015202098%98%98%98%98.4 %

United Arab Emirates's safe sanitation rose from 98.4 % in 2000 to 98.4 % in 2024.

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