Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Mobile cellular subscriptions was 22.41 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Arab Emirates, 1982–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 22.41 million for mobile cellular subscriptions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 33.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions in United Arab Emirates peaked at 22.41 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2,330, in 1982.
That places United Arab Emirates 62nd out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 2,330 | — |
| 1983 | 3,564 | +53.0% |
| 1984 | 4,936 | +38.5% |
| 1985 | 7,924 | +60.5% |
| 1986 | 11,191 | +41.2% |
| 1987 | 13,711 | +22.5% |
| 1988 | 13,823 | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 24,946 | +80.5% |
| 1990 | 33,578 | +34.6% |
| 1991 | 43,008 | +28.1% |
| 1992 | 48,919 | +13.7% |
| 1993 | 70,586 | +44.3% |
| 1994 | 91,488 | +29.6% |
| 1995 | 128,968 | +41.0% |
| 1996 | 193,834 | +50.3% |
| 1997 | 309,373 | +59.6% |
| 1998 | 493,278 | +59.4% |
| 1999 | 832,267 | +68.7% |
| 2000 | 1.43 million | +71.6% |
| 2001 | 1.91 million | +33.7% |
| 2002 | 2.43 million | +27.2% |
| 2003 | 2.97 million | +22.4% |
| 2004 | 3.68 million | +23.9% |
| 2005 | 4.53 million | +23.1% |
| 2006 | 5.52 million | +21.7% |
| 2007 | 7.73 million | +40.1% |
| 2008 | 9.36 million | +21.0% |
| 2009 | 10.67 million | +14.0% |
| 2010 | 10.93 million | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 11.73 million | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 13.78 million | +17.5% |
| 2013 | 16.06 million | +16.6% |
| 2014 | 16.82 million | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 17.94 million | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 19.91 million | +10.9% |
| 2017 | 19.83 million | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 20.08 million | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 19.60 million | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 18.37 million | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 18.24 million | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 20.04 million | +9.9% |
| 2023 | 21.22 million | +5.9% |
| 2024 | 22.41 million | +5.6% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 22.41 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 4.8× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 22.41 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.65 million, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10,303 | 2,330 | 24,946 | 8 |
| 1990s | 224,530 | 33,578 | 832,267 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.02 million | 1.43 million | 10.67 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.67 million | 10.93 million | 20.08 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.06 million | 18.24 million | 22.41 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More infrastructure data for United Arab Emirates
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 203.21 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 2.29 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 20.8 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.2087 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.54 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 2.29 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 2.04 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 22.41 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile cellular subscriptions in United Arab Emirates?
- Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Arab Emirates was 22.41 million in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 22.41 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,330 in 1982.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for mobile cellular subscriptions?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 62nd out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Mobile cellular subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Mobile cellular telephone subscriptions are subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the PSTN using cellular technology. The indicator includes (and is split into) the number of postpaid subscriptions, and the number of active prepaid accounts (i.e. that have been used during the last three months). The indicator applies to all mobile cellular subscriptions that offer voice communications. It excludes subscriptions via data cards or USB modems, subscriptions to public mobile data services, private trunked mobile radio, telepoint, radio paging and telemetry services.