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UAE Population and religion percentage
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or the Emirates, is a country in Western Asia located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. The UAE is an elective monarchy formed from a federation of seven emirates, consisting of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain.
According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, the population of the UAE in 2023 is 10,678,556 (10.6 million), and as per the UN World Population Prospects report, the estimated population of the UAE in 2026 is 11 million.
UAE location on Map
| UAE | 2023 Census |
| Total Population | 10,678,556 |
| Growth rate | 0.80% |
| Land Area | 83,600 sq. km (32,300 sq. mi) |
| Pop. Density | 128 people/sq. km |
| Capital City | Abu Dhabi |
| Fertility Rate | 1.42 |
| Infant mortality rate | 4.8 |
| Median Age | 32.6 Years |
| Life Expectancy | 78.46 years |
| Urban Population | 86.4 % |
Source: Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre
UAE Population By Emirates
The UAE consists of 7 separate emirates and each region has contributed to small spikes in the population chart due to regional immigration. Among the 7 emirates, Dubai has the largest population of around 3,488,745 followed by Sharjah with 1,786,000. Abu Dhabi has a population of 1,540,000 while Ajman has a population of 504,846. Ras-Al-Khaimah has a population of 345,000 and Fujairah has a population of 256,256. The least populated Emirate is Umm Al Quwain with a population of 49,159
| Location | Population |
| Dubai | 3,488,745 |
| Sharjah | 1,786,000 |
| Abu Dhabi | 1,540,000 |
| Ajman | 504,846 |
| Ras al-Khaimah | 345,000 |
| Fujairah | 256,256 |
| Umm Al Quwain | 49,159 |
Source: Global Media Insight
UAE Population by Nationality
Expatriates outnumber the nationals in the UAE. While the ex-pat population totals around 88.52% i.e. 8.92 million, the nationals only amount to 11.48% i.e. 1.16 million. Most of the expatriate population that comes in search of a job permanently settles down here.
| Nationality | Population in (Million) | Percentage |
| India | 2.77M | 27.49% |
| Pakistan | 1.28M | 12.69% |
| Bangladesh | 0.75M | 7.40% |
| Philippines | 0.56M | 5.56% |
| Iran | 0.48M | 4.76% |
| Egypt | 0.43M | 4.23% |
| Nepal | 0.32M | 3.17% |
| Sri Lanka | 0.32M | 3.17% |
| China | 0.21M | 2.11% |
| All other countries | 1.81M | 17.94% |
| Total Expat Population | 8.92M | 88.52% |
Source: Global Media Insight
Religion in UAE
Islam is both the official and majority religion in the United Arab Emirates Its followed by 76% of the population with over 90% of the Emirati Muslims practicing Sunni Islam.
Other religions represented in the country including Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Sikhism are practiced by non-nationals.
Religion percentage in the UAE
- Islam – 76%
- Christianity – 9%
- Hinduism – 8%
- Others (including Buddhism and Baha’i faith) – 7%
Source: Wikipedia
Largest Cities in UAE by Population
| # | City | Emirate | Population |
| 1 | Dubai | Dubai | 32,97,980 |
| 2 | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi | 18,07,000 |
| 3 | Sharjah | Sharjah | 12,74,749 |
| 4 | Al Ain | Abu Dhabi | 7,66,936 |
| 5 | Ajman | Ajman | 2,26,172 |
| 6 | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras al Khaimah | 1,15,949 |
| 7 | Fujairah | Fujairah | 97,226 |
| 8 | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain | 61,700 |
| 9 | Khor Fakkan | Sharjah | 39,151 |
| 10 | Kalba | Sharjah | 37,545 |
Indian Population in UAE
As per the Ministry of External Affairs report, there are 3,425,144 (34.25 Lakhs) Indians residing in UAE. Indians form the largest expatriate groups in the country, constituting 38% of the total population of the United Arab Emirates.