Fujairah & Umm Al Quwain Demographics Guide
A current evidence-based guide to Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain covering population data, nationality statistics, geography, communities, places of worship, maritime activity and cultural heritage.
Data note: Official population series are not equally current for the two emirates. Fujairah has a current 2025 local statistical release, while the UAE Government's public UAQ profile still cites the 2005 census. The page does not fill that gap with an invented 2026 estimate.
Fujairah vs Umm Al Quwain at a glance
| Indicator | Fujairah | Umm Al Quwain |
|---|---|---|
| Latest population evidence used | 328,495 at mid-2025 | 49,159 in December 2005 official census |
| Latest nationality breakdown used | 2024: 107,518 Emiratis / 207,311 non-Emiratis | 2005 census: 15,873 nationals / 33,286 non-nationals |
| Coastal setting | Gulf of Oman / East Coast | Arabian Gulf / Northern Emirates |
| Economic profile | Port, maritime services, energy storage/bunkering, industry, free zone and tourism | Fishing, coastal tourism, trade, port activity and free-zone business |
| Demographic-data caution | Latest local total is 2025; detailed nationality table is 2024 | Public federal profile still uses 2005 census data |
Fujairah Emirate
Population
328,495 residents at mid-2025
Latest Fujairah Statistics Center total. The latest detailed nationality breakdown currently verified is for 2024.
Geography
The only UAE emirate located completely on the eastern coast along the Gulf of Oman, with about 70 km of coastline.
| Emirati / non-Emirati data | 2024 breakdown: 34.1% Emirati / 65.9% non-Emirati |
| Major hubs / communities | Fujairah City, Dibba Al-Fujairah, Al Bithnah and Al Aqah |
| Places of worship | Al Bidyah Mosque, Sheikh Zayed Mosque Fujairah, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church |
| Key economic drivers | Maritime services, oil and fuel storage/bunkering, port logistics, mining and stone-related industries, free-zone activity and tourism |
Fujairah Religious & Heritage Landmarks
Al Bidyah Mosque
The UAE Government identifies Al Bidyah Mosque as the oldest mosque in the UAE. Current Fujairah Tourism material reports archaeological dating of the foundations to approximately 1599 CE ±9 years, placing the surviving structure in the 16th century rather than the 1446 date used in the original file.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque Fujairah
Current Fujairah Tourism material describes the Sheikh Zayed Mosque as the second-largest mosque in the UAE by size and number of worshippers. The earlier fixed capacity of 28,000 has been removed because the current official source does not substantiate that exact figure.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
The church's current parish website identifies the church in Fujairah and provides its current contact/location information. Its parish serves the wider eastern-coast Catholic community.
Umm Al Quwain Communities & Heritage
Our Lady of Arabia Catholic Church
Current Catholic directory information identifies Our Lady of Arabia Church in Al Muqta 1, Umm Al Quwain, within the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. The vicariate also documented a pastoral visit to the UAQ parish in 2024.
Siniyah Island heritage
Siniyah Island is important for both natural and archaeological heritage. Archaeological work identified the remains of an ancient Christian monastery there, dating to the late sixth to mid-eighth centuries.
Coastal community
UAQ retains a strong fishing and coastal identity, alongside tourism, trade and free-zone activity. The current UAE Government profile continues to identify fishing as a key contributor to the emirate's economy.
Fujairah Population Evidence
| Year | Total population | Emirati citizens | Non-Emirati residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 328,495 | Detailed nationality split not yet used here | Detailed nationality split not yet used here |
| 2024 | 314,829 | 107,518 | 207,311 |
The 2024 nationality figures produce approximately 34.1% Emirati and 65.9% non-Emirati. The 2025 total is newer, but no newer nationality breakdown is used in this page.
Umm Al Quwain Population Data: Important Limitation
| Historical official data | Value |
|---|---|
| Total population, 2005 | 49,159 |
| UAE nationals, 2005 | 15,873 |
| Non-nationals, 2005 | 33,286 |
| Historical citizen share | Approximately 32.3% |
The nationality figures above are from the 2005 UAE census dataset. They are historical and are not represented as current UAQ demographics.
Port & Economic Role of Fujairah
Fujairah Port & marine fuel
Fujairah's maritime economy is strategically located outside the Strait of Hormuz. AD Ports' current Fujairah Terminals fact sheet highlights general cargo, container, warehousing, transshipment, land lease and direct Etihad Rail connectivity, as well as proximity to one of the world's largest bunkering hubs.
Because global rankings vary with the metric and year, this page deliberately avoids freezing the older “world's 3rd largest bunkering hub” claim.
Wider Fujairah economy
Current Fujairah Government material identifies shipping and bunkering, cement, stone crushing, mining and free-zone activity alongside tourism and traditional fishing/agriculture.
Cost-of-Living Comparison: What Can Safely Be Said
Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain are generally positioned as lower-cost alternatives to Dubai for many residential and commercial needs, but the original claim that rents and real estate are universally 50%–70% lower is not supported by an official standardized statistic.
| Factor | Fujairah | Umm Al Quwain |
|---|---|---|
| Residential positioning | Generally more affordable than Dubai for many housing options, while varying significantly by neighbourhood and property type. | Smaller-market housing with a quieter coastal setting; exact savings depend on property and location. |
| Commercial / industrial | Strong logistics and industrial infrastructure can justify higher costs for strategically located facilities. | Smaller market and lower industrial scale, with different facility and logistics considerations. |
| Best comparison method | Compare actual current listings, leases and service costs rather than applying a fixed percentage discount to Dubai. | |
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Fujairah Statistics Center: fscfuj.gov.ae
Fujairah Government: fujairah.ae
UAE Government Portal: u.ae
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church: olphfujairah.org