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Water and land (W-L) resources become even more important in the context of urban-rural integration in China's arid northwest region in order to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). Our study used Gini coefficients to examine the relationship between natural resources and economic development in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Cobb-Douglas (C-D) production functions were used to determine the economic impacts of W-L resources on rural-urban economic development. We also examined the spatiotemporal interaction characteristics of the growth drag effect of W-L resources. As a result of the decline in Gini coefficients between 2000 and 2020, Xinjiang experienced a decrease in water resources, land resources, and urban-rural GDP (gross domestic product). The output elasticities of urban-rural land and water resources were 0.3544 and 0.4790, respectively, whereas the output elasticities of urban-rural land resources were 0.1501 and 0.2185, respectively. As a result, water resources contribute to the growth of urban-rural GDP more than land resources, and W-L resources contribute to the economic development of rural areas more than it does to that of urban areas. Land resources were found to have a drag effect on urban and rural economies, respectively, in 7 and 56 counties, respectively, and water resources were found to have a drag effect on urban and rural economies, respectively, in 67 and 58 counties. In Xinjiang, water resources contributed more to economic growth than land resources. Even though W-L resources still have a drag effect on urban-rural economic growth, we can gain greater driving force by optimizing and improving resource use. However, this requires an optimal allocation and efficient use of water resources. • The drag model can analyze the drag effects of natural resource use on the urban-rural economy. • Water resources are more compatible with the urban-rural economy than land resources. • Water constraints affect Xinjiang's economic growth more than land constraints. • Water scarcity reduced Xinjiang's urban economic growth by 0.68%–1.57% from 2000 to 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]