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UAE population hits 6m, Emiratis make up 16.5%
The population of the UAE currently stands at around six million with Emiratis making up 16.5 percent, according to the results of two major studies, it was reported on Wednesday.
The figures, up nearly two million on the 2005 census results, were based on two research projects carried out on visa registration and the number of people employed in the country, UAE daily Gulf News reported. The studies were compiled by the Department of Naturalisation and Residency, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour.
They revealed that the expatriate population in the UAE was rapidly increasing with the largest group made up of Indians, with 1.75 million currently residing in the country, the paper reported.
The second largest group was from Pakistan, with about 1.25 million while roughly 500,000 Bangladeshis live in the UAE, according to the studies.
Members of other Asian communities, including China, the Philippines, Thailand, Korea, Afghanistan and Iran make up approximately one million of the total population, the research showed.
Western expatriates, from Europe, Australia, Northern Africa, Africa and Latin America make up 500,000 of the UAE population.
Last week, the former director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said the Gulf’s sprawling migrant workforce was potentially the biggest issue facing the region today.
Mike Moore, a former prime minister of New Zealand, warned that the sheer number of expatriates residing in the oil-rich Gulf states was tantamount to colonisation.
“The fundamental issue here is; where in history have local people been so overwhelmed by expats? In the past, we’ve called it colonisation. It’s how my country was founded,” he said.
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Posted by goldcoinsgain, Orlando, United States on 30 October 2009 at 07:40 UAE time
I really love to read some articles that have great positive impacts on its reader and benefit by reading such article. I admire these writers in sharing their views and or opinions that can enlighten the mind of the readers. Great Job and continue inspiring readers.
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Posted by Mohammed on 12 October 2009 at 17:53 UAE time
There is a fundamental difference between the UAE and South Africa. In South Africa it was a colonial backed minority ruling the African native’s majority. This is absolutely not the case in the UAE where the natives are ruling (very normal) and foreign expats are asking for a say on that because they are larger in numbers!!
Posted by Duretger on 11 October 2009 at 23:36 UAE time
Minority rule is nothing new. It went on for years in South Africa. By the way Emiratis are Asians if the UAE is in Asia?
Posted by Etisalgood, Dubai, UAE on 11 October 2009 at 17:26 UAE time
I agree with Muhammed Azeem and as someone who was born in the UAE, I'm happy to call it home. My advice to fellow expats is to enjoy your stay while keeping your expectations to a minimum and don't lend an ear to the barrage of racist comments here. If you want rights & representation and freedom of speech, you might want to consider migrating to a Western country, something thats still pretty easily achievable. Trust me, you'll be making yourself and people like Mr. Salem Abdul Aziz Almazrouei (aka Mr. Thesaurus) very happy.
Posted by GR, Dubai, UAE on 11 October 2009 at 16:11 UAE time
Hanan - please do not generalize and include all expats in your comments. I, and I suspect many other expats, to not hate Emiratis and certainly hold no emotions towards them that could be described as envy or spite. I presume you do and hence your comments.
Speaking for myself I have lived here for 19 years and have had many colleagues and friends who are Emirati. Like every other single nationality on earth they have good and bad among their numbers. On the whole I find them very polite, generous and possesing an excellent sense of humour.
Whilst they certainly have many advantages as Emiratis in my mind they also have many disadvantages, Do I think their government treats them better then mine treats its citizens? No I don't but then I am looking beyond simple monetary advantages.
Yours may not treat you as well and hence your envy etc but please do not tar us all with the same brush.
Posted by Ali, Dubai, UAE on 11 October 2009 at 15:07 UAE time
Hana, a very important note regarding your comments. Personally I dont mind when a native gets preference for a job. But parking spaces; yes, I have seen people break queues for everything including parking spaces, and then justifying it saying "I am local".
The other day, a 4WD drove in anger to another car because he wasnt allowed to break the queue; his excuse "this is my country, I can hit who I want"
I dont care if people get preference for jobs, social aid, marriage allowance as thats between them and their govt. What peeves me and many other expats is times like when someone breaks a queue and yells "This is my country"
Posted by Jon, Dubai, UAE on 11 October 2009 at 15:06 UAE time
...it's not the point of the article, but the whole world is NOT talking about the Dubai Metro. Just go to international news websites such as BBC or CNN, type "Dubai Metro" in the search and see what you get - a few non committal articles from when it opened.
This doesn't undermine the importance of the Metro to Dubai; but let's stop talking it up like the whole world cares. It's a mass transit system that catches up where say London and New York were over a 100 years ago.
Posted by Hanan, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 11 October 2009 at 14:15 UAE time
The negative energy in those comments are very normal. Two things happen here:
1) either an expat encounters an unpleasant experience where a) he gets bullied by an Emirati or b) loses an opportunity of work, parking space, etc. for an Emirati so he/she (the expat) holds that in his/her heart forever and jumps at the nearest occassion to lash back at them.
2) we expats, naturally have jealousy of locals (be it Emiratis or any other country citizens) since we are away from home and are working hard and of course think we should be treated better etc. and we see the locals (again, any country) feel at ease and enjoy the blessings of their country and governemnt and since, specifically, the UAE government literally spoils its citizens then this jealousy turns into envy and spite.
Therefore, just remember one rule, when you love someone, you forgive them. That's what all religions preached and tought us. Remember that we should love each other and be an example for each other by practice and not just words. There are other problems in the West and racism and unjustice and we never feel misjudged in this country so please don't hold any negative feelings in your hearts.
Posted by Peter Higgins, Dubai, UAE on 11 October 2009 at 12:12 UAE time
Anyone would think from reading AB that there is a constant source of tension between expats and Nationals. In general, most Nationals I have met are polite, friendly and helpful, and most expats I know haven't had a single confrontational anecdote to tell. So if we all get on pretty well considering, then let's try and be a little less hostile online too!
Posted by vijay, dubai, u.a.e on 11 October 2009 at 10:05 UAE time
I think mr Hamad is an educated emirati and me being an educated expatriate resident business man since last 40 years would like to reason with him about his comments on the expatriate population of dubai.If the govt and the locals think that they are being overwhelmed by the expatriates the policy of the same does not suggest that.the number of new hotels residences shopping malls expansion of air ports.sea ports would not be able to be sustained by only the local population.one 5 star hotel of say 300 rooms atleast needs about 500 people to service it.the medical toruism aspect of the dubai authorities will need trained professionals to service the hundreds of clinics and hospitals being opened in the health care city.the media city which houses huge media conglermates like cnn etc needs highly trained professionals in that field.The question is are there any qualified locals to service these industries,if we apply the logic of economy of scale the import of consumer goods durables cars etc is highly dependent on the population.compare the prices of electronics fabrics building materials etc the competitave edge dubai has over the gulf countries is due to the expatriate population.one expatriate not only consumes locally but on every travel he buys goods for relatives friends in their home countries and thus helps in boasting demand and gives a boast to the local economy.I am a merchant in the souq and have 4 shops but sorry to say that 90 percent of my customars are expatriates.so to even generate jobs for the future generation of locals there is a need of a population and since the local population will not increase to that extent i dont see the reasoning to show the expatriates the exit door.