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The UK–MENA corridor, by the numbers.

Population, output and trade across the United Kingdom and all 22 member states of the League of Arab States — with a downloadable fact sheet.

0Arab-world population (millions)
0League of Arab States member states
$4.1tnCombined nominal GDP (IMF, 2025)
0UK–GCC trade (£ billions, 2025)

The Arab world is home to around 475 million people across 22 states — from Egypt and Sudan to the Gulf and the Maghreb. The GCC alone accounts for some 62 million of them, and is, together, the UK’s tenth-largest trading partner.

Download the full fact sheet (PDF) ↓
Economies at a glance

The markets, side by side.

The UK and all 22 League of Arab States members, by population, output and output per head.

CountryPopulationGDP (nominal)GDP per capita
United Kingdom~69m~$3.7tn~$53,000
Saudi Arabia~32.5m~$1.39tn~$37,800
United Arab Emirates~11.6m~$622bn~$54,200
Egypt~119m~$430bn~$3,900
Algeria~47.8m~$317bn~$6,600
Iraq~47.5m~$265bn~$5,700
Qatar~3.1m~$217bn~$68,100
Morocco~38.6m~$194bn~$5,100
Kuwait~5.5m~$173bn~$33,200
Oman~5.9m~$117bn~$21,600
Jordan~11.9m~$65bn~$5,600
Tunisia~12.4m~$61bn~$4,900
Libya~7.5m~$52bn~$7,000
Bahrain~1.6m~$49bn~$29,600
Sudan~51.6m~$45bn~$900
Lebanon~5.7m~$34bn~$6,400
Palestine~5.7m~$16bn~$2,900
Mauritania~5.4m~$14bn~$3,000
Somalia~19.7m~$14bn~$800
Yemen~42.3m~$7bn~$400
Djibouti~1.2m~$5bn~$4,400
Comoros~0.9m~$2bn~$2,000
Syria~26.5mLimited data
Output

Economy size, compared.

Nominal GDP across the Arab world (US$, IMF 2025). Saudi Arabia and the UAE alone account for roughly half.

Saudi Arabia
$1.39tn
UAE
$622bn
Egypt
$430bn
Algeria
$317bn
Iraq
$265bn
Qatar
$217bn
Morocco
$194bn
Kuwait
$173bn
Oman
$117bn
Jordan
$65bn
Tunisia
$61bn
Libya
$52bn
Bahrain
$49bn
Sudan
$45bn
Lebanon
$34bn
Palestine
$16bn
Mauritania
$14bn
Somalia
$14bn
Yemen
$7bn
Djibouti
$5bn
Comoros
$2bn
Trade profiles

What each market sells and buys.

CountryKey exportsKey imports
United KingdomMachinery, cars, pharmaceuticals, aircraft, financial & professional servicesMachinery, cars, crude oil, foodstuffs
Saudi ArabiaCrude oil, refined petroleum, petrochemicals, plasticsMachinery, vehicles, electronics, foodstuffs
United Arab EmiratesCrude & refined oil, gold, re-exports, aluminiumGold, machinery, vehicles, electronics
EgyptPetroleum & gas, gold, textiles, agricultureMachinery, wheat, vehicles, pharma
AlgeriaCrude oil, natural gas, refined petroleumMachinery, vehicles, cereals, pharmaceuticals
IraqCrude oilMachinery, food, vehicles, manufactures
QatarLNG, petroleum, petrochemicalsMachinery, vehicles, aircraft
MoroccoCars, phosphates & fertilisers, textiles, wiringEnergy, machinery, vehicles
KuwaitCrude & refined oilVehicles, machinery, food
OmanCrude oil, LNG, refined petroleum, metalsMachinery, vehicles, manufactures
JordanPhosphates, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, textilesCrude oil, machinery, food
TunisiaTextiles & clothing, electrical machinery, olive oil, phosphatesMachinery, fuels, vehicles
LibyaCrude oil, natural gasMachinery, vehicles, food
BahrainAluminium, petroleum, textiles, goldCrude oil, machinery, chemicals
SudanGold, oil, livestock, sesameMachinery, foodstuffs, manufactures
LebanonGold & jewellery, pharmaceuticals, food & beveragesFuels, vehicles, foodstuffs
PalestineStone & marble, agriculture, furnitureFoodstuffs, fuels, machinery
MauritaniaIron ore, fish, gold, copperMachinery, fuels, foodstuffs
SomaliaLivestock, bananas, hides, charcoalFoodstuffs, fuels, manufactures
YemenCrude oil (limited), coffee, fishFoodstuffs, machinery, fuels
DjiboutiRe-exports & port/transit services, hidesFoodstuffs, machinery, fuels
ComorosVanilla, cloves, ylang-ylangFoodstuffs, fuels, equipment
SyriaCrude & olive oil, agriculture (disrupted)Foodstuffs, fuels, machinery
The UK relationship

How Britain connects to the key markets.

United Arab Emirates
UK relationshipThe UK’s largest regional partner — total trade £24.8bn (to Q2 2025).
Saudi Arabia
UK relationshipTotal trade ~£18bn; the UK in surplus; bilateral target of $39.6bn by 2030.
Qatar
UK relationshipMajor LNG supplier and a significant investor in the UK.
Kuwait
UK relationshipLong-standing investment ties via the Kuwait Investment Authority.
Oman
UK relationshipClose defence and commercial ties; tariff-free access via the UK–GCC FTA.
Bahrain
UK relationshipA regional financial hub with long, close UK ties.
Egypt
UK relationshipUK Export Finance support including a £1.7bn Cairo Monorail guarantee.
Morocco
UK relationshipUK Export Finance facility of up to £4bn for Moroccan importers.
Jordan
UK relationshipUK association agreement; development and trade cooperation.
Iraq
UK relationshipEnergy and reconstruction opportunities; growing UK commercial interest.
Algeria
UK relationshipA significant gas and energy relationship; widening non-oil trade.

Coverage spans the United Kingdom and all 22 members of the League of Arab States. Population figures are 2025 UN projections; GDP and GDP-per-capita are IMF World Economic Outlook 2025 estimates; UK bilateral trade is from the UK Department for Business & Trade and ONS (2025–26). Figures for conflict-affected states (Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Palestine, Somalia) carry greater uncertainty. Geographic MENA also includes the non-Arab states Iran, Israel and Türkiye, which sit outside this firm’s Arab focus. Verify before formal use.

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