Expats Outnumber Locals

Dubai is a global city and a major business and tourism hub in the Middle East. The population of Dubai is estimated to be around 3.4 million people as of 2021. However, the majority of the population in Dubai is made up of expatriates and foreign workers, and local citizens make up less than 20% of the total population.

According to the Dubai Statistics Center, in 2020, the Emirati population in Dubai was around 11.2% of the total population, with the remaining 88.8% being expatriates. Expatriates come from various countries, with the largest groups being from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.

The reasons for the high proportion of expatriates in Dubai are many, including the city’s strong economy, its tax-free environment, and its reputation as a safe and welcoming place to live and work. The government of Dubai has also implemented policies and initiatives to attract foreign workers and investors to the city, which has contributed to its rapid growth and development over the past few decades.