Formal Borrowing Statistics in United Arab Emirates (2026)
As of the 2021 data, 22.5% of adults in the United Arab Emirates borrowed from a formal financial institution, per World Bank Global Findex. Down from 46.1% in 2017 to 22.5% in 2021 (−23.7 percentage points). United Arab Emirates ranks #5 of 18 economies in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan on this measure, and #51 of 142 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2021)
- 22.5% (2021)
- Formal Borrowing in the United Arab Emirates as of 2021, the most recent observation in World Bank Global Findex data.
- Change since 2017
- −23.7 pp (2021)
- Down from 46.1% in 2017 to 22.5% in 2021 (−23.7 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (2014)
- 39.4% (2014)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Down from 39.4% in 2014 to 22.5% in 2021.
- Peak value (2017)
- 46.1% (2017)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2021 value is 22.5%.
- Rank in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- #5 of 18 (2021)
- The United Arab Emirates ranks 5 of 18 countries in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #51 of 142 (2021)
- The United Arab Emirates ranks 51 of 142 countries with data globally.
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan average
- 15.7% (2021)
- The United Arab Emirates (22.5%) is above the average of 15.7% across the 18 countries in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan with data.
- Among women (2021)
- 18.7% (2021)
- Value for women in the United Arab Emirates, same 2021 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Among men (2021)
- 23.9% (2021)
- Value for men in the United Arab Emirates, same 2021 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Gender gap (women minus men)
- −5.2 pp (2021)
- In 2021, the figure was 18.7% for women and 23.9% for men — 5.2 percentage points lower among women.
- Among the poorest 40% (2021)
- 22.1% (2021)
- Value for adults in the poorest 40% of households in the United Arab Emirates in 2021.
- Poorest-40% gap vs national
- −0.4 pp (2021)
- The poorest 40% (22.1%) are 0.4 percentage points below the national figure (22.5%).
- Internet use in the United Arab Emirates (2024)
- 100% (2024)
- 100% of the population in the United Arab Emirates used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 11 million (2024)
- The United Arab Emirates had a population of 11 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 2014–2021
| Year | % of adults (age 15+) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22.5% | −23.7 pp |
| 2017 | 46.1% | +6.7 pp |
| 2014 | 39.4% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of adults in the United Arab Emirates borrowed from a formal financial institution?
22.5% of adults in the United Arab Emirates borrowed from a formal financial institution in 2021, according to World Bank Global Findex data.
How does the United Arab Emirates compare with other countries in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
The United Arab Emirates ranks 5 of 18 countries in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan with data, with 22.5% versus a regional average of 15.7% (latest values per country).
Where does the United Arab Emirates rank globally on formal borrowing?
The United Arab Emirates ranks 51 of 142 countries with data globally, based on the latest World Bank Global Findex value for each country.
Is there a gender gap in formal borrowing in the United Arab Emirates?
Yes — in 2021 the figure was 18.7% for women and 23.9% for men, a gap of 5.2 percentage points in favor of men.
When did formal borrowing in the United Arab Emirates peak?
The highest value in the available series was 46.1% in 2017; the latest (2021) value is 22.5%.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank Global Findex, indicator
fin22a, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .