Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 13 of 18 · Country Index 2026
United Arab Emirates: Food & Agriculture
What does a country grow, and what does it take to grow it?
United Arab Emirates is placed joint 37th of 184 countries on food & agriculture in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) 2.67 (2024); Cereal Yield 23,307 (2023).
Share
Food & Agriculture
joint37th
of 184 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 2.67Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), 2024Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators
- 23,307Cereal Yield, 2023Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
- —Dietary Energy Supply, 2024No reading for this country
- 1.22Agriculture Orientation Index, 2024Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place United Arab Emirates on food & agriculture — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
2.67
Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators
Higher is better
United Arab Emirates: 2.67. Across the 186 countries in this edition, values run from 1.67 (Tuvalu) to 4.57 (Italy); the world median is 3.14.
- World median
- 3.14
- Best in Western Asia
- 4.29 Lebanon
- Land neighbours
- Oman 2.83 · Saudi Arabia 2.17
Key 2 of 4
Cereal Yield
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 4.0
23,307
Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
Higher is better
United Arab Emirates: 23,307. Across the 179 countries in this edition, values run from 23 (Cabo Verde) to 29,147 (Oman); the world median is 3,072.
- World median
- 3,072
- Best in Western Asia
- 29,147 Oman
- Land neighbours
- Oman 29,147 · Saudi Arabia 5,122
Key 3 of 4
Dietary Energy Supply
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day)
Higher is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for United Arab Emirates, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 155 countries in this edition, values run from 1,757 (Somalia) to 3,962 (United States); the world median is 2,982.
- World median
- 2,982
- Best in Western Asia
- 3,774 Israel
- Land neighbours
- Oman 3,008 · Saudi Arabia 3,646
Key 4 of 4
Agriculture Orientation Index
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
1.22
Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
Higher is better
United Arab Emirates: 1.22. Across the 132 countries in this edition, values run from 0.03 (Ghana) to 5.38 (Singapore); the world median is 0.305.
- World median
- 0.305
- Best in Western Asia
- 1.25 Cyprus
- Land neighbours
- Oman 0.3 · Saudi Arabia 0.19
02Over time
Which way United Arab Emirates is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)
Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators · higher is better
United Arab EmiratesWorld median
United Arab Emirates rose from 2.5 in 2015 to 2.67 in 2024; the world median went from 3.14 to 3.14.
Every year’s figures
Year United Arab Emirates World median 2024 2.7 3.1 2023 2.7 3.1 2022 2.7 3.2 2021 2.7 3.1 2020 2.7 3.1 2019 2.7 3.1 2018 2.7 3.2 2017 2.7 3.1 2016 2.7 3.1 2015 2.5 3.1 Cereal Yield
Cereal yield (kg per hectare) · higher is better
United Arab EmiratesWorld median
United Arab Emirates rose from 17,505 in 2000 to 23,307 in 2023; the world median went from 2,170 to 3,072.
Every year’s figures
Year United Arab Emirates World median 2023 23,307 3,072 2022 20,370 3,217 2021 19,809 3,003 2020 18,983 3,260 2019 23,842 3,106 2018 20,853 2,883 2017 30,802 2,984 2016 33,397 3,043 2015 35,291 3,000 2014 14,238 3,001 2013 36,762 2,970 2012 12,112 2,782 2011 24,064 2,754 2010 18,070 2,647 2009 24,717 2,653 2008 22,266 2,664 2007 21,429 2,553 2006 20,901 2,514 2005 20,215 2,512 2004 20,374 2,428 2003 20,928 2,331 2002 18,065 2,378 2001 17,477 2,199 2000 17,505 2,170 Agriculture Orientation Index
Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size) · higher is better
United Arab EmiratesWorld median
United Arab Emirates rose from 0.24 in 2011 to 1.22 in 2024; the world median went from 0.29 to 0.305.
Every year’s figures
Year United Arab Emirates World median 2024 1.22 0.305 2023 1.25 0.305 2022 1.24 0.290 2021 0.90 0.260 2020 0.86 0.255 2019 1.01 0.265 2018 0.27 0.270 2017 0.26 0.260 2016 0.31 0.285 2015 0.17 0.305 2014 0.26 0.300 2013 0.18 0.285 2012 0.25 0.330 2011 0.24 0.290 2010 — 0.320 2009 — 0.370 2008 — 0.390 2007 — 0.410 2006 — 0.355 2005 — 0.325 2004 — 0.320 2003 — 0.320 2002 — 0.340 2001 — 0.360
03In context
United Arab Emirates beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 184 countries on food & agriculture, never a place within the region.
United Arab Emirates and the countries it borders
Standing among all 184; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators | Cereal YieldCereal yield (kg per hectare) | Dietary Energy SupplyDietary energy supply (kcal per person per day) | Agriculture Orientation IndexAgriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | =37th | 2.67 | 23,307 | — | 1.22 |
 Oman | 72nd | 2.83 | 29,147 | 3,008 | 0.3 |
 Saudi Arabiacompare | =86th | 2.17 | 5,122 | 3,646 | 0.19 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 184.
Placed either side on food & agriculture
The countries immediately above and below United Arab Emirates in the topic’s list.
Mauritius=34th
Türkiye36th
Netherlands=37th- United Arab Emirates=37th
Chile39th
Russia40th
Cyprus41st
04Context, no vote
Where United Arab Emirates is ahead of the world, and behind
25 more statistics filed under food & agriculture, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which United Arab Emirates does better than the middle country measured.
Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 4.90.94.9▼ Worsened since 2023
United Arab Emirates: 0.9 · world median 4.9 · Population in severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 62.9; lower is better.
Position 116th of 119 · derived, 1st = worst.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.06132.1107.06▲ Improved since 2012
United Arab Emirates: 132.1 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 30th of 194 · derived.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08124.86106.08▲ Improved since 2012
United Arab Emirates: 124.86 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 34th of 195 · derived.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▲ Improved since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.23116.03106.23▲ Improved since 2012
United Arab Emirates: 116.03 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 61st of 195 · derived.
Organic Agricultural AreaFAO · 2024 · world median 0.7251.360.725▼ Worsened since 2014
United Arab Emirates: 1.36 · world median 0.725 · Organic share of agricultural land (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 86.38; higher is better.
Position 65th of 150 · derived.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413841▼ Worsened since 2012
United Arab Emirates: 38 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Behind the world median4
Statistics on which United Arab Emirates does worse than the middle country measured.
Agricultural Emissions IntensityFAO · 2023 · world median 1.5651.781.565▲ Improved since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 1.78 · world median 1.565 · Greenhouse gases from farming per value of agricultural output (kg CO₂eq per international dollar). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 28.2; lower is better.
Position 80th of 190 · derived, 1st = worst.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6970.94102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 70.94 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8364.1384.83▼ Worsened since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 64.13 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to LandFAO · 2025 · world median 313No earlier reading
United Arab Emirates: 1 · world median 3 · Level of legal guarantees of women's equal rights to land ownership and control, 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 6; higher is better.
No better end14
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cereal Import Dependency RatioFAO · 2022 · world median 42.810042.8No real change since 2012
United Arab Emirates: 100 · world median 42.8 · Share of the cereal supply that is imported (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from -1,894 to 100.
Livestock DensityFAO · 2023 · world median 0.5353.090.535No real change since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 3.09 · world median 0.535 · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 43.97.
Position 14th of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural Irrigated LandFAO · 2023 · world median 3.6623.993.66No earlier reading
United Arab Emirates: 23.99 · world median 3.66 · Irrigated share of agricultural land (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 89.04.
Position 11th of 121 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 2023 · world median 87.36326.8987.36Moved since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 326.89 · world median 87.36 · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,926.
Position 17th of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cropland Nitrogen BalanceFAO · 2023 · world median 37.63140.4237.63Moved since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 140.42 · world median 37.63 · Nitrogen surplus (+) or deficit (−) on cropland, kg per hectare. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -555.52 to 1,199.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1723.1116.17Moved since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 23.11 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8367.8457.83Moved since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 67.84 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · 2024 · world median 52,37560,64152,375Moved since 2014
United Arab Emirates: 60,641 · world median 52,375 · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 70,500,841.
Water Withdrawal by SectorFAO · 2022 · world median 62.1451.1862.14Moved since 2012
United Arab Emirates: 51.18 · world median 62.14 · Freshwater withdrawn for agriculture (% of total). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.48.
Position 102nd of 171 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural EmissionsFAO · 2023 · world median 8,6355,3138,635Moved since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 5,313 · world median 8,635 · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,044,508.
Position 120th of 193 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.381.43814.38Moved since 2015
United Arab Emirates: 1.438 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 166th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Land Under Cereal ProductionFAO · 2023 · world median 689,278945689,278Moved since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 945 · world median 689,278 · Land under cereal production (hectares). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 103,715,108.
Position 165th of 179 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural LandFAO · 2023 · world median 37.965.51537.96No real change since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 5.515 · world median 37.96 · Agricultural land (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.445 to 86.48.
Position 193rd of 209 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Arable Land per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 0.1090.0050.109No real change since 2013
United Arab Emirates: 0.005 · world median 0.109 · Arable land (hectares per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1.459.
Position 196th of 206 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for United Arab Emirates
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Dietary Energy Supply, Global Report on Food Crises, Per Capita Food Supply Variability, Pesticide Use per Hectare and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Food & Agriculture among United Arab Emirates’s 14 topics
Food & Agriculture is United Arab Emirates’s 8th best-placed topic of 14. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Education & Knowledge1st of 1982/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 3rd of 1593/3 keys
- Work & Labour10th of 1824/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing13th of 2003/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade14th of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology26th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 34th of 1773/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 37th of 1843/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions58th of 1944/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital64th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience75th of 1934/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties148th of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality143rd of 1832/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability173rd of 1863/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on food & agriculture
The three countries placed highest of 184, and the leaders United Arab Emirates can most readily be measured against.
1
SerbiaSouthern Europe
1st of 184 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
AustriaWestern Europe
2nd of 184 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
3
MaltaSouthern Europe
3rd of 184 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan5th2/4 keysHighest in Western Asia
Türkiye36th3/4 keysThis page
United Arab Emirates=37th3/4 keys
Positions out of 184 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
United Arab Emirates on food & agriculture: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does United Arab Emirates rank on food & agriculture?
United Arab Emirates is placed joint 37th of 184 countries on Food & Agriculture in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), Cereal Yield and Agriculture Orientation Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) figure for United Arab Emirates?
2.67 in 2024 (current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 3.14.
What is the latest Cereal Yield figure for United Arab Emirates?
23,307 in 2023 (cereal yield (kg per hectare)), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 3,072.
How does United Arab Emirates compare with Saudi Arabia on food & agriculture?
Saudi Arabia is placed joint 86th of 184, and United Arab Emirates joint 37th. Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy): Saudi Arabia 2.17, United Arab Emirates 2.67; Cereal Yield: Saudi Arabia 5,122, United Arab Emirates 23,307; Agriculture Orientation Index: Saudi Arabia 0.19, United Arab Emirates 1.22.
How have United Arab Emirates’s food & agriculture figures changed?
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) rose from 2.5 in 2015 to 2.67 in 2024; Cereal Yield rose from 17,505 in 2000 to 23,307 in 2023; Agriculture Orientation Index rose from 0.24 in 2011 to 1.22 in 2024.
Which food & agriculture statistics are missing for United Arab Emirates?
No current reading is published for United Arab Emirates on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP), Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Dietary Energy Supply, Global Report on Food Crises, Per Capita Food Supply Variability, Pesticide Use per Hectare and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This subject is about production and land use, not about whether people are fed. Hunger, undernourishment and what a population actually eats are measured under Health & Wellbeing, and the two regularly disagree — a country can grow a great deal and still leave many people short, and one that grows little can be well fed by trade. The wider environmental cost of farming — emissions, water withdrawal, forest cover — is filed under Environment & Sustainability.
How the Food & Agriculture standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The food & agriculture method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Cereal Yield — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Dietary Energy Supply — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Agriculture Orientation Index — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 25 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
United Arab Emirates’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- United Arab Emirates (banner) — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Serbia — Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Malta — Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). United Arab Emirates: Food & Agriculture — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/food