UAE 7 Emirates Population & Demographics Matrix
Source-dated comparison of UAE population figures, gender structure, major expatriate communities and long-term residency developments across all seven emirates.
This is not a fabricated “2026 national census”. Where an emirate's newest official public figure has a different reference year, that year is shown explicitly.
Why this page does not use a single “2026 population” number for every emirate
Official statistical agencies publish data using different reference dates and methodologies. FCSC's national 2024 figure is not interchangeable with every emirate's latest local release.
The matrix therefore reports the latest verified official figure located for each emirate and clearly labels the year and source.
FCSC 2024 total population, nationals and expatriate residents combined.
FCSC 2024 national total.
FCSC 2024 national total.
Official UAE Government and MoET sources describe more than 200 nationalities living and working in the UAE.
UAE national population: latest FCSC figure
The latest FCSC Unified UAE Numbers currently published for 2024 report a total population of 11.29 million. The same release reports approximately 7.24 million males and4.05 million females.
Source: Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), Unified UAE Numbers 2024.
Seven-emirate population matrix
The table below deliberately shows the reference year and statistical source. It does not pretend all seven emirates have an identical 2026 public dataset.
| Emirate | Latest verified population | Reference period | Population / gender information | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏛️ Abu Dhabi | 4,135,985 | 2024 | Official annual population release Gender: 66.9% male / 33.1% female Latest official 2024 register-based population release reviewed for Abu Dhabi Emirate. | Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD) |
| 🏙️ Dubai | 4,248,200 | End of 2024 | Official yearly population estimate Gender: 68.53% male / 31.47% female Official population estimate revised using the Dubai Population Now register-based approach. | Dubai Data & Statistics Establishment |
| 🕌 Sharjah | 1,820,392 | 2022 | Latest official emirate census figure located Gender: Not published here The current UAE Government emirate profile identifies 1.8 million in 2022; a newer directly comparable official public total was not used in this matrix. | Official UAE Government / Sharjah census data |
| 🏢 Ajman | 583,105 | 2024 | Estimated population indicator Gender: Not published here Ajman Statistics Center identifies this as an estimated 2024 population indicator based on natural growth. | Ajman Statistics Center |
| 🏔️ Ras Al Khaimah | Use latest RAK statistical release | 2025 demographic survey | Labour Force Survey / population structure Gender: 61.1% male / 38.9% female The current 2025 RAK Labour Force Survey provides demographic structure and gender ratios based on the 2023 census framework, but the source reviewed was not used to invent a single current absolute population total. | Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Center |
| 🌊 Fujairah | 328,495 | Mid-2025 | Official statistical-yearbook population figure Gender: 65.3% male / 34.7% female Fujairah Statistics Center reported 328,495 residents at the middle of 2025. | Fujairah Statistics Center |
| 🏖️ Umm Al Quwain | No current comparable public total verified | Current source review | Use local statistics authority for latest figure Gender: Not published here The official UAE profile still carries an old 2005 population figure. It has not been presented as a 2026 estimate. | UAE Government / Umm Al Quwain Government |
What official sources say about expatriate communities
The official UAE Government and Ministry of Economy material identifies the Indian community as the largest foreign community in the UAE, followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, other Asians, Europeans and Africans.
| Community grouping | Verified current statement |
|---|---|
| Indians | Largest foreign community in the UAE according to official UAE Government / MoET material. |
| Pakistanis | Identified as the next major foreign community in the official UAE demographic overview. |
| Bangladeshis | Identified among the country's major foreign communities. |
| Other Asians / Europeans / Africans | Official UAE sources describe each as significant resident populations. |
International Money Transfer & FX Rates
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Why nationality percentages are difficult to publish
FCSC explains that official administrative datasets can be broken down by emirate, nationality, gender and age, but some of those detailed tables are not published publicly.
Local statistical agencies also publish different years and variables. A credible demographics page should preserve those distinctions instead of combining older estimates and unofficial community counts into a single “2026 census” table.
Gender structure
The UAE has a male-skewed resident population. FCSC's 2024 national figures show approximately 7.24 million males and 4.05 million females, equivalent to roughly 64.1% male and 35.9% female.
FCSC 2024 national population.
FCSC 2024 national population.
Official Dubai and RAK sources specifically link the male skew to the composition of the migrant workforce and workers arriving without family members.
Golden Visa and Green Residency
Long-term residence programmes are an important part of the UAE's current expatriate policy framework, but demographic impact should not be overstated without measured evidence.
| Programme | Verified current feature |
|---|---|
| Golden Residency | Long-term residence of up to 10 years for eligible categories including specified investors, entrepreneurs, specialists, scientists, talents and other qualifying groups. |
| Green Residency | A longer-term residence pathway for eligible categories such as investors/partners, highly skilled workers and freelancers, subject to the current eligibility rules. |
| Demographic impact | Intended to support talent, investment and longer-term residence; no quantified national demographic shift is claimed here because the official sources reviewed do not establish that causal measurement. |
Population year matters
A 2024 Abu Dhabi register-based census figure should not be silently mixed with a 2022 Sharjah census figure and labelled “2026 population”.
Population and daytime presence differ
Dubai publishes both usual resident population and active population during peak hours. The latter includes commuters, temporary residents, visitors and other movements.
Nationality data is not universally published
Official systems contain detailed nationality-by-emirate information, but not every detailed table is publicly released. Unsupported percentages should not be inferred from general community descriptions.
Religion percentages require a source
The UAE is religiously diverse, but a current official nationwide religion-percentage census table was not verified for this page.
Religion and faith communities
The UAE is religiously diverse. Official UAE Government sources describe the country as home to people of many religions and nationalities, and the national legal framework permits recognised places of worship for communities other than Islam.
| Topic | Current source-backed statement |
|---|---|
| State religion | Islam is the official religion of the UAE under the Constitution. |
| Other religions | The UAE Government states that people of other religions practise their religions freely and that temples, churches and gurdwaras are permitted. |
| Current religion percentages | A current authoritative nationwide religion-percentage census table was not verified for this page, so no fabricated percentages are published. |
Demographic methodology used on this page
- National total uses the latest FCSC 2024 population release located.
- Individual emirates use the latest official public figure verified in the sources reviewed.
- Reference years are displayed instead of silently converting older census results into 2026 values.
- Different statistical methodologies are not treated as interchangeable.
- Nationality groups are described only where an official source supports the ranking or presence.
- Unsupported ethnic percentages and community headcounts are omitted.
- Religion percentages are omitted unless backed by a current authoritative statistical table.
- Golden/Green Visa discussion distinguishes programme facts from unproven demographic causation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal / national demographic sources
The national 2024 FCSC population release and the newest official emirate-level population/statistical publications located for this audit were checked individually.
Because emirates publish different reference years and some detailed nationality/religion tables are not publicly released, this page deliberately avoids manufacturing a uniform 2026 seven-emirate nationality matrix.