Malaysia vs United Arab Emirates: Electricity Compared

Malaysia generated 211 TWh of electricity in 2024 and the United Arab Emirates 177 TWh, according to Ember. Malaysia's largest source was coal (42.4%); the United Arab Emirates' was gas (68.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 604 gCO2/kWh in Malaysia and 468 gCO2/kWh in the United Arab Emirates. These are Ember annual statistics for 2024, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Ember's latest annual figures for the United Arab Emirates are for 2024, while Malaysia has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.

Why this comparison: similar electricity demand on the same continent.

Key Facts

Coal supplied 42.4% of Malaysia's electricity in 2024, against none in the United Arab Emirates.
The average person in the United Arab Emirates used 16.05 MWh of electricity in 2024, 2.9 times as much as in Malaysia (5.54 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 19.8% of Malaysia's electricity in 2024 and 31.7% of the United Arab Emirates'.
Electricity demand in 2024 was 210 TWh in Malaysia and 177 TWh in the United Arab Emirates.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Malaysia	United Arab Emirates
Total generation	211 TWh	177 TWh
Electricity demand	210 TWh	177 TWh
Demand per person	5.54 MWh	16.05 MWh
Carbon intensity	604 gCO2/kWh	468 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	128 MtCO2	82.9 MtCO2
Low carbon share	19.8%	31.7%
Largest source	Coal 42.4%	Gas 68.3%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation

Source	Malaysia	United Arab Emirates
Gas	35.6%	68.3%
Coal	42.4%	0.0%
Nuclear	0.0%	22.9%
Hydro	16.0%	0.0%
Solar	3.0%	8.6%
Other fossil	2.2%	0.0%
Bioenergy	0.8%	0.1%
Wind	0.0%	0.1%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 604 gCO2/kWh in Malaysia and 468 gCO2/kWh in the United Arab Emirates.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Malaysia and United Arab Emirates, 1985 to 2025
Year	Malaysia	United Arab Emirates
1985	494 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1986	491 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1987	472 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1988	468 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1989	518 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1990	567 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1991	571 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1992	586 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1993	581 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1994	563 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1995	577 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1996	596 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1997	604 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1998	607 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
1999	582 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2000	582 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2001	600 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2002	618 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2003	631 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2004	650 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2005	653 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2006	653 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2007	662 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2008	651 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2009	667 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2010	689 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2011	686 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2012	683 gCO2/kWh	677 gCO2/kWh
2013	666 gCO2/kWh	676 gCO2/kWh
2014	662 gCO2/kWh	675 gCO2/kWh
2015	669 gCO2/kWh	675 gCO2/kWh
2016	649 gCO2/kWh	675 gCO2/kWh
2017	621 gCO2/kWh	673 gCO2/kWh
2018	630 gCO2/kWh	671 gCO2/kWh
2019	627 gCO2/kWh	660 gCO2/kWh
2020	635 gCO2/kWh	646 gCO2/kWh
2021	617 gCO2/kWh	605 gCO2/kWh
2022	608 gCO2/kWh	559 gCO2/kWh
2023	610 gCO2/kWh	484 gCO2/kWh
2024	604 gCO2/kWh	468 gCO2/kWh
2025	606 gCO2/kWh	n/a

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 5.54 MWh in Malaysia and 16.05 MWh in the United Arab Emirates.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Malaysia and United Arab Emirates, 1985 to 2025
Year	Malaysia	United Arab Emirates
1985	n/a	n/a
1986	n/a	n/a
1987	n/a	n/a
1988	n/a	n/a
1989	n/a	n/a
1990	n/a	n/a
1991	n/a	n/a
1992	n/a	n/a
1993	n/a	n/a
1994	n/a	n/a
1995	n/a	n/a
1996	n/a	n/a
1997	n/a	n/a
1998	n/a	n/a
1999	n/a	n/a
2000	3.04 MWh	11.43 MWh
2001	3.22 MWh	11.59 MWh
2002	3.35 MWh	11.84 MWh
2003	3.37 MWh	11.80 MWh
2004	3.78 MWh	11.83 MWh
2005	3.74 MWh	13.01 MWh
2006	3.85 MWh	12.47 MWh
2007	3.94 MWh	14.00 MWh
2008	4.11 MWh	12.77 MWh
2009	4.13 MWh	12.78 MWh
2010	4.36 MWh	13.54 MWh
2011	4.37 MWh	13.77 MWh
2012	4.52 MWh	14.16 MWh
2013	4.68 MWh	14.04 MWh
2014	4.81 MWh	14.15 MWh
2015	4.81 MWh	14.68 MWh
2016	4.91 MWh	14.42 MWh
2017	4.93 MWh	14.56 MWh
2018	5.14 MWh	14.55 MWh
2019	5.29 MWh	14.76 MWh
2020	5.09 MWh	14.53 MWh
2021	5.08 MWh	15.25 MWh
2022	5.25 MWh	15.16 MWh
2023	5.32 MWh	15.73 MWh
2024	5.54 MWh	16.05 MWh
2025	5.56 MWh	n/a

Malaysia history · United Arab Emirates history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2024.

Malaysia vs United Arab Emirates: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2024

Generation Mix, 2024

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Related