As of 2024, the top 1% in United Arab Emirates earned 16.19% of total national income, while the bottom 50% received just 12.91%. United Arab Emirates’s income inequality has decreased since 1980, when the top 1% share was 20.02%.
Key Income Distribution Metrics for United Arab Emirates in 2024
In 2024, income in United Arab Emirates was distributed as follows: the wealthiest 1% of the population captured 16.19% of total national income, which is roughly on par with the global average of 16.17%. Meanwhile, the bottom half of earners received 12.91% of income, slightly lower than the global average of 14.97%.
| Metric | United Arab Emirates | Global Average |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1% Income Share | 16.19% | 16.17% |
| Top 10% Income Share | 49.21% | 45.21% |
| Bottom 50% Income Share | 12.91% | 14.97% |
How Has Income Inequality Changed in United Arab Emirates?
Top 1% Income Share Trend (1980-2024)
The share of income going to United Arab Emirates’s top 1% has decreased over the past 44 years. In 1980, the top 1% captured 20.02% of national income. By 2024, this figure had fallen by 3.83 percentage points to 16.19%.
Top 10% vs Bottom 50% Income Gap Over Time
The income gap between the top 10% and bottom 50% in United Arab Emirates has narrowed over this period. In 1980, the top 10% earned 55.77% while the bottom 50% received 10.08%. By 2024, these figures shifted to 49.21% and 12.91% respectively.
| Year | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% | Gap (Top 10 – Bottom 50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 20.02% | 55.77% | 10.08% | 45.69 pp |
| 1986 | 20.02% | 55.77% | 10.08% | 45.69 pp |
| 1992 | 20.02% | 55.77% | 10.08% | 45.69 pp |
| 1998 | 20.02% | 55.77% | 10.08% | 45.69 pp |
| 2004 | 19.09% | 56.55% | 9.56% | 46.99 pp |
| 2010 | 17.68% | 55.49% | 9.52% | 45.97 pp |
| 2016 | 16.69% | 49.60% | 11.97% | 37.63 pp |
| 2022 | 16.19% | 49.21% | 12.91% | 36.30 pp |
How United Arab Emirates Compares Globally
United Arab Emirates vs Middle East Average
Compared to other countries in Middle East, United Arab Emirates’s top 1% income share of 16.19% is notably lower than the regional average of 21.66%. The bottom 50% in United Arab Emirates receives 12.91% of income, compared to the Middle East average of 11.98%.
Where United Arab Emirates Ranks Among All Countries
- Top 1% income concentration: United Arab Emirates ranks 79th out of 184 countries (higher rank = more concentrated wealth at the top)
- Bottom 50% income share: United Arab Emirates ranks 131st out of 184 countries (higher rank = larger share for the bottom half)
Countries with similar income inequality levels to United Arab Emirates include Bangladesh's wealth gap, Serbia's wealth gap, income distribution in Palestine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income share of the top 1% in United Arab Emirates?
As of 2024, the top 1% in United Arab Emirates earned 16.19% of total national income. This level of concentration is considered high by international standards.
Is income inequality increasing or decreasing in United Arab Emirates?
Income inequality in United Arab Emirates has decreased since 1980. The top 1% income share moved from 20.02% in 1980 to 16.19% in 2024.
What percentage of income goes to the bottom 50% in United Arab Emirates?
In 2024, the bottom 50% of earners in United Arab Emirates received 12.91% of total national income. This compares with the top 10% who captured 49.21%.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.