Cropland area in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Cropland area was 91,704 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Cropland area in United Arab Emirates, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cropland area in United Arab Emirates is 91,704 hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland area in United Arab Emirates peaked at 266,000 hectares in 2002 and was at its lowest, 8,000 hectares, in 1961.
United Arab Emirates ranks 160th of 224 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cropland area in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 8,000 hectares | — |
| 1962 | 8,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 8,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 8,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 9,000 hectares | +12.5% |
| 1966 | 10,000 hectares | +11.1% |
| 1967 | 10,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 10,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 10,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 12,000 hectares | +20.0% |
| 1971 | 12,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 12,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 13,000 hectares | +8.3% |
| 1974 | 14,000 hectares | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 15,000 hectares | +7.1% |
| 1976 | 16,000 hectares | +6.7% |
| 1977 | 17,000 hectares | +6.2% |
| 1978 | 18,000 hectares | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 19,000 hectares | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 23,000 hectares | +21.1% |
| 1981 | 27,000 hectares | +17.4% |
| 1982 | 27,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 32,000 hectares | +18.5% |
| 1984 | 32,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 35,000 hectares | +9.4% |
| 1986 | 38,000 hectares | +8.6% |
| 1987 | 38,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 39,000 hectares | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 39,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 55,000 hectares | +41.0% |
| 1991 | 60,000 hectares | +9.1% |
| 1992 | 69,000 hectares | +15.0% |
| 1993 | 75,000 hectares | +8.7% |
| 1994 | 82,000 hectares | +9.3% |
| 1995 | 83,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 87,000 hectares | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 95,000 hectares | +9.2% |
| 1998 | 98,000 hectares | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 216,000 hectares | +120.4% |
| 2000 | 247,000 hectares | +14.4% |
| 2001 | 262,000 hectares | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 266,000 hectares | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 254,000 hectares | -4.5% |
| 2004 | 254,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 257,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 238,600 hectares | -7.2% |
| 2007 | 232,600 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 239,600 hectares | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 87,900 hectares | -63.3% |
| 2010 | 92,300 hectares | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 88,500 hectares | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 76,700 hectares | -13.3% |
| 2013 | 79,400 hectares | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 82,500 hectares | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 82,800 hectares | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 83,800 hectares | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 83,800 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 81,750 hectares | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 90,400 hectares | +10.6% |
| 2020 | 89,800 hectares | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 91,562 hectares | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 91,562 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 91,704 hectares | +0.2% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 91,704 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 303,040 hectares, 30% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 91,704 hectares is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.45 million hectares, 6% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cropland area in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +120.4% | 98,000 hectares | 216,000 hectares |
| 2009 | -63.3% | 239,600 hectares | 87,900 hectares |
| 1990 | +41.0% | 39,000 hectares | 55,000 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9,000 hectares | 8,000 hectares | 10,000 hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 14,800 hectares | 12,000 hectares | 19,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 33,000 hectares | 23,000 hectares | 39,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 92,000 hectares | 55,000 hectares | 216,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 233,870 hectares | 87,900 hectares | 266,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 84,195 hectares | 76,700 hectares | 92,300 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 91,157 hectares | 89,800 hectares | 91,704 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 157 Palestine 113,200 hectares compare
- 158 Solomon Islands 101,200 hectares compare
- 159 Equatorial Guinea 99,800 hectares compare
- 161 Mauritius 78,957 hectares compare
- 162 Puerto Rico 66,200 hectares compare
- 163 Luxembourg 62,878 hectares compare
More agriculture & rural data for United Arab Emirates
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 6.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0077 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 386.83 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1404 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.8% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.4% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland area in United Arab Emirates?
- Cropland area in United Arab Emirates was 91,704 hectares in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cropland area recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 266,000 hectares in 2002.
- What is the lowest cropland area recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,000 hectares in 1961.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for cropland area?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 160th out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cropland area rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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