MigrantoImmigrants in the UAE
7.9M foreigners live in the UAE — 72% of the country's population
Immigrants in the UAE by country
The 3 largest groups make up 66% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| India | 3248545 |
| Bangladesh | 1024949 |
| Pakistan | 932356 |
| Egypt | 841883 |
| Philippines | 528527 |
| Indonesia | 298351 |
| Yemen | 192423 |
| Jordan | 158125 |
| Sudan | 124677 |
| Sri Lanka | 112759 |
| Kuwait | 63192 |
| Palestine | 54566 |
| Syria | 49529 |
| Lebanon | 39223 |
| Turkey | 35736 |
| United Kingdom | 27318 |
| Nepal | 26097 |
| Eritrea | 18093 |
| France | 16977 |
| South Sudan | 14900 |
| Nigeria | 14690 |
| USA | 14618 |
| Thailand | 11996 |
| Ethiopia | 10340 |
| Somalia | 9109 |
| Morocco | 8368 |
| Afghanistan | 7665 |
| Saudi Arabia | 6157 |
| Tunisia | 5497 |
| Chad | 5007 |
| Netherlands | 2953 |
| Qatar | 2500 |
| Bahrain | 1870 |
By region of origin
78% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in the UAE in numbers
Immigration drives population growth
73% of the population growth of the UAE since 1990 came from immigrants.
1 in 1 residents of the UAE was born abroad
7.9M of 11M residents were born abroad — 72.0% of the population.
Indians are the largest group by a wide margin
41% of all immigrants were born in India, while the next group accounts for just 13%.
Immigrant population in the UAE over time
Foreigners living in the UAE, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1283343 |
| 1995 | 1753508 |
| 2000 | 2306805 |
| 2005 | 3122725 |
| 2010 | 5280438 |
| 2015 | 6650469 |
| 2020 | 6965576 |
| 2024 | 7908996 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in the UAE, by year
| Year | Indians | Bangladeshis | Pakistanis | Egyptians | Filipinos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 456794 | 154362 | 158191 | 165437 | 59910 |
| 1995 | 657380 | 216463 | 222210 | 204664 | 90400 |
| 2000 | 888393 | 288689 | 296606 | 254074 | 124993 |
| 2005 | 1262523 | 401200 | 376533 | 335290 | 198805 |
| 2010 | 2168857 | 684306 | 622486 | 562083 | 352872 |
| 2015 | 2731583 | 861853 | 783994 | 707918 | 444426 |
| 2020 | 2861045 | 902689 | 821140 | 741460 | 465483 |
| 2024 | 3248545 | 1024949 | 932356 | 841883 | 528527 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in the UAE
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in the UAE
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in the UAE?
Around 7.9M immigrants live in the UAE — the world's #9 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of the UAE are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 72% of the population of the UAE — that's 7.9M out of a total population of 11M.
Where do most immigrants in the UAE come from?
Most immigrants in the UAE come from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan — these three countries account for about 66% of all immigrants.
How many Indians live in the UAE?
Around 3.2M Indians live in the UAE — about 41% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in the UAE growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in the UAE has grown from 6.7M to 7.9M, about 19%.
Where does the data on immigrants in the UAE come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in the UAE. Their children born in the UAE are not included.
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Living in the UAE
See the full country overview