In a nation where nearly nine out of ten residents are international migrants, the UAE's identity is a fascinating tapestry woven from the dreams and contributions of over 8.3 million expatriates.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the UAE's total population reached 9.44 million, with expatriates comprising 88.5% or approximately 8.36 million individuals
- Emirati nationals accounted for 11.5% of the UAE population in 2022, totaling about 1.08 million people
- The expatriate population in UAE grew by 7.4% from 2021 to 2022, reaching 8.36 million
- UAE issued 7.2 million visit visas in 2022
- Golden visas issued numbered 100,000 by end of 2023
- Residence visas granted in Dubai reached 1.2 million in 2022
- Total residence permits valid in UAE: 8.9 million as of 2023
- Dubai's active residence permits: 3.2 million in 2023
- Abu Dhabi residence permits: 2.1 million active in 2023
- UAE work permits issued: 4.8 million in 2022
- Private sector workforce: 9.2 million workers, 95% expatriates in 2023
- Construction sector employs 1.2 million migrant workers in UAE
- Golden visas for investors: AED 2 billion minimum investment threshold met by 30,000 applicants since 2019
- Real estate investors for golden visa: 20,000 property purchases over AED 2M each by 2023
- Public investors in UAE funds: AED 5M+ for 5,000 golden visas issued
The UAE's population is overwhelmingly expatriate, led by Indian nationals and growing rapidly.
Demographic Statistics
- In 2022, the UAE's total population reached 9.44 million, with expatriates comprising 88.5% or approximately 8.36 million individuals
- Emirati nationals accounted for 11.5% of the UAE population in 2022, totaling about 1.08 million people
- The expatriate population in UAE grew by 7.4% from 2021 to 2022, reaching 8.36 million
- Indians form the largest expatriate group in UAE with 3.55 million residents as of 2022, representing 38% of expats
- Pakistanis are the second largest expat group with 1.24 million in UAE in 2022
- Bangladeshis number 840,000 in UAE as of 2022, making up 9% of expatriates
- Filipinos constitute 720,000 expats in UAE in 2022
- Egyptians represent 550,000 expatriates in UAE in 2022
- UAE's male expatriates outnumbered females by a ratio of 2.3:1 in 2022
- Dubai's population was 3.65 million in 2023, with 87% expatriates
- Abu Dhabi's population stood at 3.78 million in 2023, 88% non-Emirati
- Sharjah had 1.8 million residents in 2022, 85% expatriates
- Ajman's population is 550,000 with 90% expatriates as of 2022
- Ras Al Khaimah's 400,000 residents include 82% expatriates in 2022
- Fujairah has 250,000 people, 78% expatriates per 2022 data
- UAE's international migrant stock was 8,727,000 in 2020 per UN data
- Migrants aged 25-54 years old comprise 72% of UAE's migrant population in 2020
- Female migrants in UAE were 30.2% of total migrants in 2020
- Top origin country India sent 3.4 million migrants to UAE in 2020
- Pakistan contributed 1.2 million migrants to UAE in 2020
- Bangladesh sent 850,000 migrants to UAE in 2020
- In 2022, UAE's total population reached 9.44 million, with expatriates comprising 88.5% or approximately 8.36 million individuals
- Emirati nationals accounted for 11.5% of the UAE population in 2022, totaling about 1.08 million people
- The expatriate population in UAE grew by 7.4% from 2021 to 2022, reaching 8.36 million
- Indians form the largest expatriate group in UAE with 3.55 million residents as of 2022, representing 38% of expats
- Pakistanis are the second largest expat group with 1.24 million in UAE in 2022
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
The UAE's demographic reality is an ambitious experiment in cosmopolitanism, where a small but mighty Emirati core orchestrates a vast and rapidly growing global workforce, predominantly male and significantly South Asian, making the nation a dazzling mosaic built by the world's hands.
Investment Visas
- Golden visas for investors: AED 2 billion minimum investment threshold met by 30,000 applicants since 2019
- Real estate investors for golden visa: 20,000 property purchases over AED 2M each by 2023
- Public investors in UAE funds: AED 5M+ for 5,000 golden visas issued
- Entrepreneurs golden visa: 8,000 startups approved with AED 500K capital by 2023
- Outstanding students golden visa: 25,000 high GPA recipients since launch
- Doctors and specialists: 6,000 medical professionals granted 10-year visas by 2023
- Scientists and researchers: 4,000 PhD holders with golden visas in 2023
- Creative talents: 2,500 artists and influencers awarded golden visas
- Investors in non-real estate: AED 10B total investments for 15,000 visas
- Family sponsorship under golden visa: 50,000 dependents included by 2023
- Abu Dhabi global market investors: 10,000 with residence permits via ADGM
- Dubai real estate golden visa properties: 45,000 units valued over AED 90B
- Green visa for freelancers/investors: 15,000 self-employed approved
- Retirement golden visa applications: 7,000 over-55s with AED 1M income proof
- Humanitarian pioneers golden visa: 500 awards for top donors
- Total FDI inflows linked to visas: AED 150B from golden visa holders 2019-2023
Investment Visas Interpretation
The UAE has essentially built a modern-day castle by expertly swapping ten-year tickets to live there for enormous piles of cash, academic brains, creative talent, and very well-behaved students, creating a neatly diversified portfolio of human capital worth a staggering AED 150 billion.
Labor Migration
- UAE work permits issued: 4.8 million in 2022
- Private sector workforce: 9.2 million workers, 95% expatriates in 2023
- Construction sector employs 1.2 million migrant workers in UAE
- Hospitality industry labor migrants: 650,000 in 2023
- Indian nationals hold 35% of UAE work permits, totaling 3.2 million
- Pakistani workers: 1.5 million in UAE labor force 2023
- Wage Protection System covers 5.5 million workers monthly
- Labor disputes resolved: 45,000 cases in 2022 by MoHRE
- Absconding reports: 120,000 worker cases in 2022
- Recruitment fees banned, affecting 2 million annual hires
- Blue-collar workers from Asia: 6.5 million in UAE 2023
- Professional white-collar expats: 1.8 million in 2023
- Work visa cancellations due to layoffs: 250,000 in 2023 post-COVID recovery
- Emiratisation quotas met in private sector: 10% for 50,000 jobs in 2023
- Female migrant workers: 1.2 million, 22% of labor force in 2023
Labor Migration Interpretation
The UAE’s labor force is a delicately balanced, multinational engine—running on ambition, regulation, and sheer volume—where for every meticulously resolved dispute and protected wage there’s a reminder, in the form of an absconding report or a visa cancellation, that this human machinery requires constant and careful tending.
Residency Permits
- Total residence permits valid in UAE: 8.9 million as of 2023
- Dubai's active residence permits: 3.2 million in 2023
- Abu Dhabi residence permits: 2.1 million active in 2023
- 5-year golden residence permits: 152,000 issued since 2019
- 10-year golden visas for investors: 45,000 granted by 2023
- Family residence permits: 1.8 million nationwide in 2023
- Skilled worker residence permits: 2.5 million in 2023
- Domestic worker residence visas: 750,000 active in UAE 2023
- Student residence permits: 65,000 in 2023 across UAE universities
- Retirement residence visas (over 55): 5,000 issued by 2023
- Green residence permits (self-sponsored): 35,000 by end 2023
- Residence permits for outstanding talents: 12,000 scientists/doctors by 2023
- Dubai freehold property owners with residence: 150,000 in 2023
- Total new residence visas approved in Dubai 2023: 1.4 million
- UAE residence visa renewals reached 5.8 million in 2022 across emirates
- Total residence permits valid in UAE stood at 8.9 million as of 2023 per ICP data
- Dubai's active residence permits numbered 3.2 million in 2023
- Abu Dhabi residence permits active: 2.1 million in 2023
- 5-year golden residence permits issued: 152,000 since 2019 launch
Residency Permits Interpretation
Dubai may be the glittering headline, but with nearly nine million people officially calling the UAE home, the real story is a meticulously structured nation built on a foundation of skilled labor, supported families, and a growing elite of investors and talents.
Visa Issuances
- UAE issued 7.2 million visit visas in 2022
- Golden visas issued numbered 100,000 by end of 2023
- Residence visas granted in Dubai reached 1.2 million in 2022
- Abu Dhabi issued 850,000 residence visas in 2022
- Tourist visas processed in UAE totaled 15 million in 2023
- Employment visas issued nationwide were 4.5 million in 2022
- Student visas granted in UAE: 45,000 in 2022
- Family residence visas: 1.1 million issued in 2022
- Overstay fines collected: AED 150 million in 2022 from 250,000 cases
- Dubai issued 2.5 million transit visas in 2023
- UAE residence visa renewals: 5.8 million in 2022
- Green visas (5-year self-sponsored) applications approved: 20,000 in first year
- Visit visa waivers for 87 countries processed 10 million entries in 2023
- Dubai residence visas cancelled: 300,000 in 2022 due to absconding
- Abu Dhabi golden visa recipients: 25,000 investors by 2023
Visa Issuances Interpretation
While the UAE is rolling out a massive welcome mat with millions of visas, it's wisely keeping a firm hand on the revolving door by collecting significant overstay fines and canceling hundreds of thousands of residence permits.
Sources & References
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