The United Arab Emirates experienced a significant population increase in recent years as a result of major economic growth. This led to an influx of workers from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, increasing the population from 4 million in 2004 to roughly 11.35 million in 2024.[5][6] As of 2024, foreigners represent 88.50% of the population,[6][7] the third largest proportion of expats in the world in relation to the nationals after Qatar and the Vatican. 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%.[8][6]
Female citizens and non-citizens account for 36.20% percent of the UAE's population due to the high level of male foreign workers.[9] The majority of the UAE population is between 25 and 54 years old 64.12%.[6] A large part of this can be attributed to the expatriate worker population who fall in the age category.[10] Population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula. The three largest Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah), are home to nearly 83% of the population.[11][6]
As of 2024 the population of the UAE stood at 11.35 million,[6] with 63.80% being male and 36.20% female.[12][13][14] The country's total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.46, while that of the Emirati citizen population was 3.1, significantly higher than the national average, though reflecting a 16% decline from 3.7 in 2015.[15] In 2024 the population density of the Emirates has reached a record 114 per km2.[16]
Arabic is the official language.[65]Emirati people speak Gulf Arabic.[66] English is the most used language amongst expatriates and in business. Arabic is the main medium of instruction at all levels of schooling in government schools, while English is taught as a second language and used for teaching technical or scientific subjects. Private schools can follow a different curriculum (British, American, French, Pakistani, etc.) and use a different language.[67][68] Many other languages are spoken in the UAE due to immigration (see table). In 2019, Abu Dhabi included Hindi as third official court language.[69][70] Currently, the UAE government provides lectures and tests to obtain a driving license in Urdu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Bengali, besides Arabic and English.[71]
↑Kemp, Linzi J. (2013). "Progress in female education and employment in the United Arab Emirates towards Millennium Development Goal (3): gender equality". Foresight. 15 (4): 264–277. doi:10.1108/fs-02-2012-0007.
↑"Fertility Rates". UAE.Stat Data Explorer. Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority; Ministry of Health and Prevention. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
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