February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

Oil reserves refer to the estimated quantities of crude petroleum that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. Reserves are categorized as proven (P1), probable (P2), and possible (P3), with proven reserves representing the highest confidence level. Oil reserves are a critical metric for assessing a nation’s energy wealth and long-term fiscal capacity.

UAE Context

The UAE holds the world’s sixth largest proven oil reserves at approximately 98 billion barrels, with the vast majority located in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) manages upstream and downstream operations and has expanded production capacity to over four million barrels per day. The UAE is a founding member of OPEC and plays a significant role in global supply management decisions. Key oil-producing fields include Murban, Upper Zakum, Bu Hasa, and the offshore fields of the Lower Gulf. Revenue from oil exports has historically funded the UAE’s infrastructure development, sovereign wealth accumulation, and economic diversification efforts.

Key Data

  • Proven reserves: Approximately 98 billion barrels
  • Global ranking: Sixth largest proven oil reserves
  • Production capacity: Over 4 million barrels per day
  • Primary operator: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
  • OPEC membership: Founding member since 1967

Significance for Vision 2031

Oil reserves provide the financial foundation that enables the UAE’s Vision 2031 transformation. Revenue from hydrocarbon exports funds diversification initiatives, sovereign wealth accumulation, and public infrastructure investment. The We the UAE 2031 agenda recognizes oil as a transitional asset, leveraging current reserves to build non-oil economic capacity while ADNOC simultaneously pursues lower-carbon extraction technologies and petrochemical value addition.