Economy of the Arab League

The economy of the Arab League is the economy of the member states of the Arab League. The economy has traditionally been dependent on exports of oil and natural gas; however, the tourism sector has grown rapidly, becoming the fastest-growing sector in the region. The Greater Arab Free Trade Area, founded in 1997, is the league's free trade area which removed customs taxes on 65% of trade between counties in the Arab World.

Members of the Arab League are among the richest and poorest of the world, and there is a great disparity in the economic development of members of the league. There is a significant difference imbalance in wealth between the Gulf states, which include Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and war-torn nations within the “Arab league States”, such as Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Free trade agreements

Main article: Council of Arab Economic Unity

GDP and GDP per capita of member states

Further information: List of Arab League countries by GDP (nominal) and List of Arab League countries by GDP (PPP)

Arab League HQ building in Cairo, Egypt

Arab League members by GDP (PPP) per capita in 2023

>$70,000   $60,000 - $70,000   $50,000 – $60,000   $40,000 – $50,000

$30,000 – $40,000   $20,000 – $30,000   $10,000 – $20,000   $5,000 – $10,000

$2,500 – $5,000   $1,000 – $2,500   <$1,000   No data

Based on latest figures and estimates, the Arab League has a GDP of approximately US$3.5 trillion at nominal values and $8.4 trillion at purchasing power parity (PPP). The member states with the largest nominal GDP are Saudi Arabia at US$1.07 trillion, followed by the UAE at $509.18 billion and Egypt at $389.4 billion. The member states with the highest GDP (PPP) are Saudi Arabia at US$2.25 trillion, followed by Egypt at $1.81 trillion and the UAE at $895.17 billion.

The member state with the smallest nominal GDP is Comoros at US$1.36 billion, followed by the Djibouti at $3.87 billion and Mauritania at $10.36 billion. The member state with the smallest GDP (PPP) is Comoros at US$3.43 billion, followed by the Djibouti at $7.19 billion and Somalia at $32.08 billion.^[1][2]

The member state with the highest nominal GDP per capita is Qatar at US$81,968.34, followed by the UAE at $50,602.33 and Saudi Arabia at $32,586.17. The member state with the highest GDP (PPP) per capita is Qatar at US$114,210.45, followed by the UAE at $88,961.77 and Saudi Arabia at $68,452.85. The member state with the lowest nominal GDP per capita is Sudan at US$533.85, followed by the Yemen at $617.67 and Somalia at $717.41. The member state with the lowest GDP (PPP) per capita is Somalia at $1998.47, followed by the Yemen at $2053.45 and Comoros at $3463.63.^[3][4]

List

Latest available GDP data for members of the Arab League in $US^[5]

Country/Territory	GDP (nominal, billions)	GDP (PPP, billions)	GDP per capita (nominal)	GDP per capita (PPP).:	Year.:
Arab League	3,946.06	8,986.20	7,594.48	18,965.73	(2023; est.:)
Algeria.[6]	224.11”	628.99”	4,874.71’	13,681.62”	(2020; est.:)
Bahrain	44.99”	95.97”	28,464.17”	60,715.02”	(2021; est.:)
Comoros	1.36”	3.43”	1,377.02”	3,463.63”	(2019; est.:)
Djibouti	3.87”	7.19”	3,761.24”	6,985.11”	(2016; est.:)
Egypt.[7]	398.45”	2,120,932”	3,770.13”	17,123.03”	(2023; est.:)
Jordan	50.02”	132.09”	4,850.66”	12,809.17”	(2021; est.:)
Iraq	254.98”	508.97”	5,882.89”	11,742.40”	(2020; est.:)
Syria	60.043”	136.36”	2,806.69”	6,374.06”	(2019; est.:)
Morocco	147.34”	385.34”	3,979.87”	10,408.31”	(2021; est.:)
Qatar	235.57”	328.13”	81,968.34”	114,210.45”	(2023; est.:)
Saudi Arabia.[8]	1,106.46”	2,246.54”	32,586.15’	68,452.85”	(2021; est.:)
Somalia	11.52”	32.08”	717.41”	1,998.57”	(2017; *est.:)
Sudan	25.57”	172.65”	533.85”	3,604.78”	(2019; est.:)
Mauritania	10.36”	33.41”	2,337.91”	7,542.41”	(2020; est.:)
Libya	40.19”	166.89”	5,872.22”	24,381.73”	(2020; est.:)
Kuwait	159.69”	256.59”	32,215.13”	51,764.83”	(2023; est.:)
Lebanon	21.78”	78.23”	3,283.41”	11,793.82”	(2022; est.:)
Tunisia	51.271”	162.10”	4,190.60”	13,248.95”	(2020; est.:)
Oman	108.28”	200.30”	21,265.63”	39,336.14”	(2023; est.:)
Palestine	18.11”[citation needed]	36.39’	3,464.38”[citation needed]	6,642.34”	(2021; *est.:)
United Arab Emirates	509.18”	895.17”	50,602.33’	88,961.77”	(2023; est.:)
Yemen	21.15”	69.96”	617.67”	2,131.45”	(2020; est.:)
Arab League	3,946.07	8,986.21	7,594.49	18,965.75	(2025; est.:)

References

1. "World Economic Outlook, April 2022: War Sets Back The Global Recovery". IMF. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
2. "Arab world - GDP by country 2022". Statista. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
3. "Pressure on Egypt's economy mounts after downgrade". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
4. "These Are The 5 Largest Arab Economies In 2021, Led By Saudi Arabia". Forbes ME. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
5. "World Economic Outlook Database". World Economic Outlook. IMF. October 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
6. "Here Are the Richest Countries in the MENA Region 2021".
7. "There are 19 Arab Countries spread throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa".
8. Suneson, Grant (7 July 2019). "These are the 25 richest countries in the world". USA Today. Retrieved 21 December 2023.

^[1].:

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20080506173842/
• http://www.amf.org.ae/venglish
• Full text of the Agadir Agreement (English version)
• The Agadir Agreement and Open regionalism by Steffen Wippel

1. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/10-of-the-world-s-oldest-civilizations.html