Indians form the largest foreign community in the UAE, followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, other Asians, Europeans and Africans. The literacy rate in the UAE is close to 95 per cent.
As of 2024, the largest group of non-UAE nationals are South Asian 68.36% (Indians 37.96%,Pakistanis 16.72%, Bangladeshis 7.38% and others 6.3%), Filipinos 6.1%, Iranians 4.72%, Egyptians 4.23% and other 2.16%.
Most immigrants reside in Dubai and the capital, Abu Dhabi. The UAE is home to over 200 nationalities. Indians and Pakistanis form the largest expatriate groups in the country, constituting 28% and 12% of the total population respectively.
Dubai is a very diverted City, 71% residents belong to many nationalities and that includes Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Bangladeshi (Demographics in UAE, 2023). With Dubai being a very diverse city, there are many languages also spoken here, not only Arabic like English and Hindi.
Ethnic groups: Arab, Pakistani, Indian, Iranian, Filipino (15-20% of residents are UAE citizens). Religions: Muslim (90%), Hindu, Christian. Languages: Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Urdu, Persian.
Dubai Racing Club's Meydan Racecourse is home to one of the world's richest horse races – the annual Dubai World Cup. With a purse of US$35m, the Dubai World Cup is the highlight of the city's horse-racing scene, drawing thousands of visitors in March each year.
Public displays of affection should be minimal; holding hands is acceptable but kissing and hugging in the public is not.
Women can drive in Dubai and, in fact, the city offers women-only taxis driven by women. Until recently, Saudi Arabia — the UAE's neighboring country — was the only nation in the world that had placed a ban on women driving. This was lifted in 2018.
Non-Emiratis form the vast majority of the UAE (88.52%) and are composed of expatriates, with the largest groups hailing from South Asian countries such as India (2.62 million), Pakistan (1.21 million) and Bangladesh (706,000). There are also nationals of other GCC and Arab countries who live in the UAE.
The average salary in Dubai is around AED 15,700 per month, or approximately $4,274 USD². Actual earnings vary significantly based on profession, experience, and industry. For example, pharmacists earn about $61,500 annually, cyber security engineers around $54,459, and registered nurses between $46,877 and $53,836³.
It is estimated that around 19.5% of Emiratis live below the poverty line. This is an estimation because the UAE does not formally update these statistics themselves. Despite the underreported number of impoverished people in the nation, the government provided support to only 27.1% of Emiratis in 2011.
The UAE does not have a legal framework for granting asylum or refugee status, and asylum applicants without valid residency are treated as unauthorized immigrants, although the UAE- authorities sometimes cooperate with the UNHCR to provide temporary protection or facilitate resettlement.
UAE's population by nationality
According to data from the United Nations, the total UAE expat population as of 2021 was 8.84 million people. This means that 88.5% of the population of the UAE is made up of expats. The top three countries these expats come from are India (27.5%), Pakistan (12.7%) and Bangladesh (7.4%).
Oil is really the resource by which the emirates thrive. At the moment the Emirates has about 5.6 % of the world's oil reserves and it`s the lever that drives the economy. But it`s not only oil that has made the Emirates rich and has competed with the giant countries.
Indians form the largest foreign community in the UAE, followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, other Asians, Europeans and Africans. The literacy rate in the UAE is close to 95 per cent.
The largest concentrations of affluent residents are found in Emirates Hills (often called “Billionaires' Row”), Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Bay (Bulgari Island), Downtown Dubai (around Burj Khalifa), Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and the DIFC/Business Bay area.
Provisions allowing foreigners to acquire the Emirati nationality. In January 2021, the UAE Government approved amendments to the 'Executive Regulation of the Citizenship and Passports Law' (page in Arabic) allowing specific categories of foreigners, their spouses and children to acquire the Emirati nationality.
A global community awaits. Whilst British residents are the largest Western group in Dubai, it's also a melting pot of cultures, with over 200 nationalities. Expats make up over 90% of the population so expect to connect with people from every corner of the globe.
You can buy alcohol as a non-Muslim in so-called "liquor shops" similar to the rest of the world. Those shops are scattered around Abu Dhabi and as tourist you will not need a license to buy alcohol. Those shops are for non-moslems only. Alcohol consumption in the public is generally prohibited, just like in the USA.
There are no gender-based restrictions on drinking alcohol. Both men and women can legally purchase and consume alcohol in Dubai, provided they adhere to the local regulations. Regulations do differ a bit between residents of Dubai and visiting tourists.
Australian licences are on the UAE's approved list of 52 countries whose issued licenses are recognised for tourists, allowing you to drive without conversion or an IDP.
Key Takeaways: Cohabitation in Dubai has been legal for unmarried couples since 2020 under the UAE's updated personal status laws. The law applies to expats, tourists, and residents, though cultural expectations may still influence behaviour.
One of the symbols that best represents Dubai is the 3-finger hand gesture, coined in 2013 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al. Maktoum. The meaning behind the three fingers is “Winning - Victory - Love”, understood as work ethic, success and love for the nation.
The answer is yes, it is possible. Currently, most hotels in Dubai do not require couples to present a marriage certificate when checking in. Changes in regulations and a more open approach to tourists have meant that foreigners visiting the Emirates can also share a room with their partner without any problems.
Dubai adheres closely to Sharia (traditional Islamic religious) law. There is little tolerance for same-sex relations and multiple common actions are illegal, including: PDA (including same-sex PDA) Public drunkenness.