Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 2.19 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
2.19
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
169th
of 188 countries
All-time high
4.29
in 2020
All-time low
1.63
in 1991
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in United Arab Emirates, 1991–2027

012341991200920271991: 1.61992: 1.71993: 1.91994: 1.81995: 1.81996: 1.81997: 1.91998: 2.11999: 2.22000: 2.22001: 2.42002: 2.72003: 2.92004: 32005: 3.12006: 32007: 2.92008: 2.82009: 2.92010: 2.82011: 2.62012: 2.32013: 2.12014: 22015: 1.82016: 1.62017: 2.52018: 2.22019: 2.32020: 4.32021: 3.12022: 2.92023: 2.22024: 2.22025: 2.22026: 2.22027: 2.2

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2027, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in United Arab Emirates stood at 2.19.

That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 4.29 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.63, in 1991.

United Arab Emirates ranks 169th of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in United Arab Emirates, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in United Arab Emirates, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 1.63
1992 1.72 +5.3%
1993 1.9 +10.8%
1994 1.83 -3.5%
1995 1.8 -1.9%
1996 1.84 +2.0%
1997 1.91 +3.8%
1998 2.07 +8.5%
1999 2.19 +6.1%
2000 2.25 +2.5%
2001 2.44 +8.6%
2002 2.66 +8.8%
2003 2.9 +9.2%
2004 2.96 +2.1%
2005 3.12 +5.2%
2006 2.96 -5.0%
2007 2.93 -1.0%
2008 2.82 -4.0%
2009 2.93 +4.0%
2010 2.8 -4.6%
2011 2.59 -7.5%
2012 2.32 -10.2%
2013 2.12 -8.5%
2014 2 -5.9%
2015 1.79 -10.3%
2016 1.64 -8.5%
2017 2.46 +50.1%
2018 2.24 -9.2%
2019 2.33 +4.2%
2020 4.29 +84.2%
2021 3.1 -27.7%
2022 2.87 -7.5%
2023 2.15 -25.1%
2024 2.16 +0.4%
2025 2.17 +0.6%
2026 2.18 +0.4%
2027 2.19 +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.88 1.63 2.19 9
2000s 2.8 2.25 3.12 10
2010s 2.23 1.64 2.8 10
2020s 2.64 2.15 4.29 8

Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates

  1. 166 Japan 2.37 compare
  2. 167 Philippines 2.28 compare
  3. 168 Myanmar 2.22 compare
  4. 170 Kuwait 2.18 compare
  5. 171 Togo 2.09 compare
  6. 172 Tonga 2.07 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for United Arab Emirates

All data for United Arab Emirates →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in United Arab Emirates?
Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in United Arab Emirates was 2.19 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The highest recorded value was 4.29 in 2020.
What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The lowest recorded value was 1.63 in 1991.
How does United Arab Emirates rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
United Arab Emirates ranks 169th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in United Arab Emirates. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rate-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/united-arab-emirates/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,188 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.