Population of Dubai in 2026 - Demographics & Statistics

In the centre of the constantly shifting terrain of the area, Dubai stands out as a beacon of prosperity and development. The flood of foreign labourers and investors throughout 2025 led to a large growth in the emirate's population. This increase, which is greater than the growth rates from the prior year, shows Dubai's continued allure as a major centre for banking, trade and tourism.

Dubai has experienced significant expansion throughout the years. Its population has reached 3.95 million as per the reports of June 2025, has grown from 20,000 in 1950 to a lively metropolitan agglomeration.

The economic trend of Dubai has been significantly accelerated by its dynamic economy, which is powered by a wide range of sectors including Tourism, Hospitality, Logistics, Growth in Dubai Real Estate Sector, Financial Services, Technology, Manufacturing Healthcare and Education. Its population of more than 3.95 million in 2025 attested to its appeal as a hub for travel and business.

Dubai’s Population Density and Size

The urban limits of Dubai cover an area of about 35 square kilometres, whereas the metropolitan area of Dubai covers 4,114 square kilometres of territory. The population density of this large metro area is approximately 110,000 people per square kilometre. This shows a concentration of people residing in the city's larger metropolitan area which includes the surrounding suburban and rural areas in addition to the city's central urban core. Dubai's comparatively high population density, given the size of its metropolitan area, is indicative of its prominence as a major urban centre and economic hub in the United Arab Emirates.

Demographics of Dubai

With an estimated 3.68 million in 2026 , Dubai is the most populated emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with an estimated 1,618,740 living in Abu Dhabi, which is a larger emirate. Native residents make up only 7.98% of Dubai's population; the other 92.02% are ex-pats, most of whom are Asian, with the majority coming from Bangladesh (7.38%), Pakistan (16.72%), India (37.96%), and the Philippines (6.89%). While British expatriates make up the largest group of Western expats, Somalis also make up a sizable section of the population.

The proportion of men to women is lopsided, with men making up roughly 68.6% of the population. Dubai's official religion is Islam, however, the emirate welcomes religious diversity, with minorities practising Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism. The official language is Arabic, but Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, Tagalog, Persian, and Chinese are all commonly spoken, in addition to English.

What's driving the population to rise so quickly in Dubai?

The introduction of the golden and silver visas, which have seen a spike in interest from high-net-worth individuals globally, has been the main factor driving population development in Dubai. Silver visas have become more reasonably priced, making them attractive to companies moving to the UAE, while golden visas are now available to real estate investors with properties worth more than AED 2 million.

The demand for consumer items and rental houses has surged as a result of this influx. The UAE Central Bank predicts that 2026 inflation will be 1.8% and 2027 inflation may trend around 1.90%, which is still below the average for the world, while the country's GDP will grow by 4.5% in 2026 due to rising population and spending.

Population of Dubai in Recent Years

• 2020: Population - 2,878,344, Growth Rate - 1.6%, Growth - 45,265
• 2021: Population - 2,921,376, Growth Rate - 1.5%, Growth - 43,032
• 2022: Population - 2,964,382, Growth Rate - 1.47%, Growth - 43,006
• 2023: Population - 3,007,583, Growth Rate - 1.46%, Growth - 43,201
• 2024: Population - 3,051,016, Growth Rate - 1.44%, Growth - 43,433
• 2025: Population - 3,950,000, Growth Rate - 1.44%, Growth - 110,000

Expats Population in UAE & Their Percentage

There are many different nationalities in the population, but Indians make up the largest group with 37.96%. They are followed in size by Pakistanis 16.72%, Bangladeshis 7%, and Filipinos 6.89%. Around 4.72% and 4.23% of the population come from Iranians and Egyptians, respectively. Chinese and other ethnic groups account for 2.16% of the population, followed by Sri Lankans and Nepalese 3.15%respectively.

Population in Different Cities of UAE

• The population of Dubai is 3,950,000.
• Sharjah's population stands at 1,808,000.
• Abu Dhabi has a population of 3,789,860.
• Ajman's population is 504,846.
• Ras al-Khaimah's population is 400,000.
• Fujairah has a population of 316,790.
• Umm Al Quwain's population is 549,159.

Quick Overview of UAE Population 2026

1. 11,574,682 people will live in the United Arab Emirates in 2026, according to the Population Pyramid.
2. As of 2025, 11.35 million people are living in the UAE's cities.
3. Around 1.81 million people belong to age 0-14, 1.44 million comprise age 15-24, 7.24 million are covered by age 25-54, and 0.61 million make up the age 55-64.
4. A small proportion of 0.20 million people in the UAE belong to the age above 65 years.
5. The UAE has 7.28 million inhabitants in the age group of 25 to 54, which is the largest in the country. In the UAE, the median age of the populace is 33.6 years.

Foreigners Vs Emiratis

Foreigners make up 88.50% of the population in the United Arab Emirates, compared to 11.50% of Emiratis. In response, programmes such as the Dubai Social Agenda 33 seek to increase the number of Emirati families and provide employment possibilities in the private sector in order to stimulate population growth among Emiratis.

Closing In!

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has gone through major changes in its demographics as of 2025. Its estimated total population is around 11.35 million, and expats account for about 88.5% of this number. Dubai continues to be the most populous emirate with an estimated 3.84 million residents.

The male-to-female ratio is around 2.2:1, which also comes from labor migration trends. The UAE government has introduced initiatives such as Dubai Social Agenda 33 to promote Emirati families and encourage more locals to work in the private sector to redress the demographic imbalance. However, many challenges remain. These efforts are in line with the UAE's continued emphasis on sustainable development and cultural preservation, as its cities adapt to rapid growth. ​

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Disclaimer:- Information provided here has been gathered from various reliable sources, but please be advised that there might be minor changes in population stats