Military Personnel as a Percentage of Population in United Arab Emirates, 1987-2016

The United Arab Emirates’ military personnel percentage shows distinct shifts, initially high at 2.6% in 1987, peaking at 3.4% in 1990, followed by a steady decline to 0.7% by 2016. The early peak reflects the UAE’s rapid defense expansion amid regional tensions. As urbanization accelerated, transforming cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, fewer citizens enlisted, contributing to the reduced percentage after the 1990s.

In the 2000s, the decline continued as the UAE increasingly relied on advanced military technology rather than manpower, further encouraged by its urban economic model. The stabilization at 0.7% by 2016 aligns with the UAE’s emphasis on a highly skilled, urbanized workforce, aligning military needs with the nation’s modernized, economically focused priorities.