Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total

Saudi Arabia
974.2%
in 2022
United Arab Emirates
1,509.9%
in 2022
Saudi Arabia rank
5th
United Arab Emirates rank
4th

Annual freshwater withdrawals, total over time

  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates
5001.0k1.5k2.0k198020012022

How they compare

United Arab Emirates currently reports 1,509.9% against 974.2% in Saudi Arabia, a difference of 535.7%.

That makes United Arab Emirates's figure about 1.5 times Saudi Arabia's.

Across all 31 years both countries report, United Arab Emirates has been ahead every year.

Saudi Arabia ranks 5th and United Arab Emirates ranks 4th of 177 countries.

United Arab Emirates has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Difference Ahead
1990s 737.0% 1,263.3% 526.3% United Arab Emirates
2000s 885.3% 1,688.8% 803.5% United Arab Emirates
2010s 929.4% 1,703.9% 774.5% United Arab Emirates
2020s 974.2% 1,543.5% 569.4% United Arab Emirates

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher annual freshwater withdrawals, total, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates, at 1,509.9% against 974.2% in Saudi Arabia as of 2022.
What is the difference in annual freshwater withdrawals, total between Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates?
535.7%, with United Arab Emirates ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates?
31 years are reported by both, from 1992 to 2022.
How do Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates rank globally for annual freshwater withdrawals, total?
Saudi Arabia ranks 5th and United Arab Emirates ranks 4th of 177 countries.
Where does this data come from?
AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates: Annual freshwater withdrawals, total. Statizoid, drawing on AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/compare/annual-freshwater-withdrawals-total-percent-of-internal-resources/saudi-arabia/united-arab-emirates/

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About this data

Indicator
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources)
Unit
% of internal resources
Source
AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
223 places, 6,630 data points, 1962–2022
Last refreshed

Annual freshwater withdrawals refer to total water withdrawals, not counting evaporation losses from storage basins. Withdrawals also include water from desalination plants in countries where they are a significant source. Withdrawals can exceed 100 percent of total renewable resources where extraction from nonrenewable aquifers or desalination plants is considerable or where there is significant water reuse. Withdrawals for agriculture and industry are total withdrawals for irrigation and livestock production and for direct industrial use (including withdrawals for cooling thermoelectric plants). Withdrawals for domestic uses include drinking water, municipal use or supply, and use for public services, commercial establishments, and homes. Data are for the most recent year available for 1987-2002.