According to data from the International Monetary Fund's October 2024 World Economic Outlook, the average GDP per capita in the Middle East will be US$13,700 in 2024, but the distribution in the region is extremely uneven.

Qatar is the richest country in the Middle East. Its GDP per capita ranks ninth in the world, with GDP per capita reaching US$71,568. Qatar is rich in energy resources and has the third largest natural gas reserves in the world, so the country provides free water and electricity to its citizens. In addition, Qatar is investing heavily in infrastructure and emerging industries to further diversify its economy in the long term.

The UAE is also one of the countries with a higher GDP per capita in the Middle East, with a GDP per capita of US$49,550 in 2024. About 80% of the country's government revenue comes from the oil and gas industry, but the petro-state is aggressively expanding its economic base, driven by heavy investment in technology and renewable energy.

Saudi Arabia’s GDP per capita is just behind the United Arab Emirates, at $32,881. Saudi Arabia is home to the world's largest energy company, Saudi Aramco, which produces 11 million barrels of oil per day and accounts for one-tenth of the world's oil production. Saudi Arabia has a population of nearly 37 million.