In 2018 bout 67% of Saudi's exports were essentially zero-value-add extracted oil & gas. About 12% were higher-value chemicals (still mostly basic chemicals, th

In 2018 bout 67% of Saudi's exports were essentially zero-value-add extracted oil & gas. About 12% were higher-value chemicals (still mostly basic chemicals, though some amount of super-high-value advanced materials or agrichemical or specialty chemicals). Value-added chemical exports as a % of total exports increased by 2021 although the data now includes a giant block for "trade data discrepancy", so results are not directly comparable to 2018. In 2018 "only" 43% of UAE's exports were zero-value-add extracted oil & gas. 11-12% was "Gold, Diamonds, Precious Metals"(?). The rest is pretty evenly split between very different industries - value-added chemicals, electronics, cars, metals, industrial machines, and textiles. Overall, UAE pulls in a higher % of their foreign currency from non-oil-and-gas economic activity than Saudi does, but still leans heavily on it for 40-60% of their exports. Saudi exports ~20% more oil & gas than UAE on a nominal total USD basis. However, UAE's total exports are 30-40% higher than Saudi's on a total USD basis. So UAE sells less oil, more other stuff. If I had to pick, I'd definitely rather be in Dubai's position than Saudi's. I've also lived in both places, and I'd definitely say that Dubai appeared to have a more diverse economy and drew from a deeper talent pool (mostly immigrant-based, though).