If you are looking for an investment destination with a high level of safety, great environment for professional growth, cross-cultural exchange, and high-quality living in the middle east, you might have a hard time finding a better place than the UAE. These highly desirable factors consistently draw attention, leading to population growth and the sensible labor and migration policies make the whole package a lot more tempting. This is all while other neighbouring countries are experiencing population decline or reverse migration. Citizens of more than 200 nations now call the United Arab Emirates home, which has shaped its vibrant and multicultural character.
In this article by Dxboffplan, we will explore the UAE’s population in 2025 and the country’s path towards a multicultural, thriving future.
Reasons Behind UAE Population Growth
The dramatic population growth of recent years in the United Arab Emirates is due to a mixture of economic, social, and policy-driven immigrations.
The UAE offers modern infrastructure, a whole range of employment opportunities in tourism, IT and even construction. All these are complemented by a very high standard of living for the residents which means immigrants view this country as a very friendly destination to move in and reside with their families. The rather easy and straightforward process of getting a UAE residency visa and Investor-friendly laws are also great incentives for those in business, while high quality healthcare centers and educational institutions attract families. All these factors contribute to overall population growth of the country.
Major Population Statistics of the UAE in 2025
The UAE continues to experience consistent growth in population in 2025, becoming even denser and welcoming to immigrants due to high quality living conditions in the UAE, economic opportunities and diverse cultural acceptance. The following represent the highest population figures of note for this year:
- UAE Total population(April of 2025): 11.35 million
- Population of Dubai: 3.90 million (most populated city of the UAE)
- Abu Dhabi population(2023): 3.78 million
- UAE Male population estimate(2025): 7.24 million
- UAE female population estimate(2025): 4.11 million
- Number of expatriates (foreigners): 10.04 million
- Native Emirati nationals: 1.31 million
- The highest number of foreign nationals: Indians, 4 million
- Major working population group: aged between 25 and 54 years, over 7.28 million
- Urban population: 10.00 million
- Rural population: 1.35 million
- Average population age: The average in the UAE stands at 31.6 years
These statistics refer not only to the UAE’s strong population growth in 2025, but also to its unique cultural diversity and youthful demographic structure.
UAE Population by City in 2025
By 2025, population distribution within UAE’s seven emirates finds Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah still to be the most densely populated. As we mentioned above, Dubai remains at the top with over 3.8 million people, followed almost closely by Abu Dhabi at 3.7 million. Sharjah, becoming increasingly popular as a living and business destination, ranks third at around 1.8 million people. Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain rank lower in population but still contribute in their own unique way to the country’s economy and growth.
| Emirate |
Population |
| Dubai |
3,841,188 |
| Abu Dhabi |
3,789,860 |
| Sharjah |
1,808,000 |
| Ajman |
504,846 |
| Ras Al Khaimah |
400,000 |
| Fujairah |
316,790 |
| Umm Al Quwain |
49,159 |
The statistics rely on official sources, though numbers can change since several of the emirates have not yet released updated population statistics.
Population Breakdown by Nationality in 2025
As one of the world’s most expat-friendly nations, it is natural to find so many expatriates in the UAE as of 2025. The population of the UAE consists predominantly of foreign residents and workers, and of them, nearly 38% of the total population consists of Indian nationals, followed by huge populations of Pakistani, Bangladeshis, and Filipinos. Iranians and Egyptians also have a considerable population here.
The country’s population has increased consistently over the years, especially in the 2000s and 2010s, in parallel with the UAE’s own quick development as a regional power.
| Nationality |
Population (millions) |
Percentage (%) |
| India |
4.00 |
37.96% |
| Pakistan |
1.90 |
16.72% |
| Bangladesh |
0.84 |
7.38% |
| Philippines |
0.78 |
6.89% |
| Iran |
0.54 |
4.72% |
| Egypt |
0.48 |
4.23% |
| Nepal |
0.36 |
3.15% |
| Sri Lanka |
0.36 |
3.15% |
| China |
0.25 |
2.16% |
| Other countries |
0.25 |
2.16% |
Population of UAE by Nationality (1980–2025)
Over previous decades, the United Arab Emirates has experienced phenomenal growth in population, transforming itself from that of a small country of just slightly above 1 million citizens in 1980 to one of recognised hubs of modern living and global business. With calculated investment in facilities and thriving economies, the country has turned itself into an expat hub in pursuit of opportunities.
Currently, in 2025, the population of the UAE is 11.35 million and is dominated by migrants. This shows how much of an appeal the country holds as a lively place of work, business, and modern living. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah remain to be the densely populated and economically active main cities.
UAE Population by Year
| Year |
Population (Millions) |
Annual Growth Rate (%) |
| 2025 |
11.35 |
10.84% |
| 2024 |
10.24 |
22.91% |
| 2023 |
10.17 |
0.89% |
| 2022 |
10.08 |
0.90% |
| 2021 |
9.99 |
1.01% |
| 2020 |
9.89 |
2.17% |
| 2015 |
9.26 |
8.43% |
| 2010 |
8.54 |
86.46% |
| 2005 |
4.58 |
46.33% |
| 2000 |
3.13 |
29.88% |
| 1995 |
2.41 |
32.42% |
| 1990 |
1.82 |
33.82% |
| 1985 |
1.36 |
34.65% |
| 1980 |
1.01 |
— |
Even though there is still a huge imbalance due to the large proportion of male labor migrants, the UAE is progressing on a trajectory of balancing its demographic profile by enhancing female contribution to the labor market and pushing family-based policy of migration.
With sustainable development initiatives, economic diversification, and efforts to increase living standards, the population of the UAE is forecast to increase steadily in years to come.
Final Words
It is rather clear why the UAE and Dubai in particular are attracting so many immigrants in hope of a better future. The diversity in culture, the whole range of employment opportunities, and apparent high standard of living would convince almost anyone to join UAE’s population in 2025, move in and settle. If you fancy yourself living here, you are going to need a fine place to live and that’s where we come in.
We invite you to find your opportunities at Dxboffplan, the largest most well recognised website offering off-plan developments and latest property prices in Dubai and the UAE. Make your homeownership dream or high returning investment in the heart of the Middle East come true.
