Annual precipitation in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Annual precipitation was 18.71 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
18.71 millimeters
Change on year
down 86.1%
World rank
190th
of 192 countries
All-time high
142.72 millimeters
in 1997
All-time low
9.01 millimeters
in 1956
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Annual precipitation in United Arab Emirates, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
In 2025, annual precipitation in United Arab Emirates stood at 18.71 millimeters.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 86.1% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual precipitation in United Arab Emirates peaked at 142.72 millimeters in 1997 and was at its lowest, 9.01 millimeters, in 1956.
United Arab Emirates ranks 190th of 192 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual precipitation in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 25.57 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | 11.78 millimeters | -53.9% |
| 1942 | 104.18 millimeters | +784.0% |
| 1943 | 127.98 millimeters | +22.8% |
| 1944 | 89.44 millimeters | -30.1% |
| 1945 | 25.08 millimeters | -72.0% |
| 1946 | 13.81 millimeters | -44.9% |
| 1947 | 62.51 millimeters | +352.7% |
| 1948 | 123.17 millimeters | +97.0% |
| 1949 | 61.62 millimeters | -50.0% |
| 1950 | 42.12 millimeters | -31.6% |
| 1951 | 70.45 millimeters | +67.3% |
| 1952 | 55.25 millimeters | -21.6% |
| 1953 | 85.96 millimeters | +55.6% |
| 1954 | 26.25 millimeters | -69.5% |
| 1955 | 86.92 millimeters | +231.1% |
| 1956 | 9.01 millimeters | -89.6% |
| 1957 | 131.22 millimeters | +1356.6% |
| 1958 | 34.35 millimeters | -73.8% |
| 1959 | 68.98 millimeters | +100.8% |
| 1960 | 39.31 millimeters | -43.0% |
| 1961 | 31.35 millimeters | -20.2% |
| 1962 | 11.31 millimeters | -63.9% |
| 1963 | 57.95 millimeters | +412.5% |
| 1964 | 97.67 millimeters | +68.5% |
| 1965 | 102.36 millimeters | +4.8% |
| 1966 | 24.02 millimeters | -76.5% |
| 1967 | 31.24 millimeters | +30.0% |
| 1968 | 65.62 millimeters | +110.0% |
| 1969 | 76.02 millimeters | +15.9% |
| 1970 | 24.17 millimeters | -68.2% |
| 1971 | 17.52 millimeters | -27.5% |
| 1972 | 132.29 millimeters | +655.3% |
| 1973 | 21.01 millimeters | -84.1% |
| 1974 | 36.89 millimeters | +75.6% |
| 1975 | 25.3 millimeters | -31.4% |
| 1976 | 78.24 millimeters | +209.2% |
| 1977 | 51.23 millimeters | -34.5% |
| 1978 | 31.87 millimeters | -37.8% |
| 1979 | 47.85 millimeters | +50.1% |
| 1980 | 20.98 millimeters | -56.1% |
| 1981 | 15.14 millimeters | -27.8% |
| 1982 | 124 millimeters | +718.9% |
| 1983 | 138.68 millimeters | +11.8% |
| 1984 | 17.96 millimeters | -87.0% |
| 1985 | 13.78 millimeters | -23.3% |
| 1986 | 34.78 millimeters | +152.4% |
| 1987 | 47.9 millimeters | +37.7% |
| 1988 | 118.65 millimeters | +147.7% |
| 1989 | 99.59 millimeters | -16.1% |
| 1990 | 75.32 millimeters | -24.4% |
| 1991 | 32.3 millimeters | -57.1% |
| 1992 | 107.7 millimeters | +233.4% |
| 1993 | 84.9 millimeters | -21.2% |
| 1994 | 11.52 millimeters | -86.4% |
| 1995 | 102.25 millimeters | +787.6% |
| 1996 | 89.44 millimeters | -12.5% |
| 1997 | 142.72 millimeters | +59.6% |
| 1998 | 51.49 millimeters | -63.9% |
| 1999 | 21.85 millimeters | -57.6% |
| 2000 | 10.22 millimeters | -53.2% |
| 2001 | 9.31 millimeters | -8.9% |
| 2002 | 44.19 millimeters | +374.9% |
| 2003 | 31.05 millimeters | -29.7% |
| 2004 | 29.4 millimeters | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 33.79 millimeters | +14.9% |
| 2006 | 64.26 millimeters | +90.1% |
| 2007 | 21.72 millimeters | -66.2% |
| 2008 | 31.08 millimeters | +43.1% |
| 2009 | 49.23 millimeters | +58.4% |
| 2010 | 29.49 millimeters | -40.1% |
| 2011 | 20.87 millimeters | -29.2% |
| 2012 | 14.31 millimeters | -31.4% |
| 2013 | 66.71 millimeters | +366.3% |
| 2014 | 37.51 millimeters | -43.8% |
| 2015 | 19.52 millimeters | -48.0% |
| 2016 | 57.67 millimeters | +195.5% |
| 2017 | 45.94 millimeters | -20.3% |
| 2018 | 14.77 millimeters | -67.9% |
| 2019 | 41.65 millimeters | +182.1% |
| 2020 | 68.56 millimeters | +64.6% |
| 2021 | 11.12 millimeters | -83.8% |
| 2022 | 35.26 millimeters | +217.1% |
| 2023 | 41.79 millimeters | +18.5% |
| 2024 | 134.23 millimeters | +221.2% |
| 2025 | 18.71 millimeters | -86.1% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 18.71 millimeters is below the median for high income countries, which is 891.63 millimeters, 2% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 18.71 millimeters is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 115.13 millimeters, 16% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual precipitation 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | +1356.6% | 9.01 millimeters | 131.22 millimeters |
| 1942 | +784.0% | 11.78 millimeters | 104.18 millimeters |
| 1995 | +787.6% | 11.52 millimeters | 102.25 millimeters |
| 1982 | +718.9% | 15.14 millimeters | 124 millimeters |
| 1972 | +655.3% | 17.52 millimeters | 132.29 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 64.51 millimeters | 11.78 millimeters | 127.98 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 61.05 millimeters | 9.01 millimeters | 131.22 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 53.68 millimeters | 11.31 millimeters | 102.36 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.64 millimeters | 17.52 millimeters | 132.29 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 63.15 millimeters | 13.78 millimeters | 138.68 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 71.95 millimeters | 11.52 millimeters | 142.72 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.43 millimeters | 9.31 millimeters | 64.26 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.84 millimeters | 14.31 millimeters | 66.71 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.61 millimeters | 11.12 millimeters | 134.23 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More climate change data for United Arab Emirates
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 20.45 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,596 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 556.37 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,039 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.1 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 37.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 113.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 113.02 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 0.0084 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.4265 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual precipitation in United Arab Emirates?
- Annual precipitation in United Arab Emirates was 18.71 millimeters in 2025, according to Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual precipitation recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 142.72 millimeters in 1997.
- What is the lowest annual precipitation recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.01 millimeters in 1956.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for annual precipitation?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 190th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual precipitation rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual precipitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 86 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total annual precipitation—rain and snow—calculated as the sum of daily averages, reported as the depth of water falling to Earth's surface, excluding fog and dew.