Dubai, United Arab Emirates Population 2024

Dubai's 2024 population is now estimated at 3,051,020In 1950, the population of Dubai was 20,000Dubai has grown by 43,440 in the last year, which represents a 1.44% annual change.These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Dubai, which typically includes Dubai's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

Dubai is located in the United Arab Emirates and is the capital city of the Emirate of Dubai. Dubai is located along the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, at the southwest corner of the Arabian Gulf. This global city has become known as the Middle East’s business hub and for being a city of rich culture, and it is also renowned for its beaches, sunny weather, deserts, and hospitality. Its diverse and fast-growing economy has led to incredible growth over the decades. In 2016, the population of Dubai was over 2.5 million, and the city is expected to see continued steady increase in the years ahead.

Dubai is one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, and it is the second largest by area, measuring 4,114 square kilometers, and coming second only to Abu Dhabi, which comprises 87% of the UAE’s total area and shares borders with Dubai.

City Size and Population Density

The city limits are roughly 35 square kilometers with a metropolis area at a total of 4,114 square kilometers. The population density in the metro area is approximately 762.6 individuals living per square kilometer.

Dubai Demographics

In terms of population, Dubai has an estimated population of 2,504,000 in 2016. This makes it the most populated emirate in the UAE, surpassing Abu Dhabi which, despite having a larger area, has the third largest population in the UAE that is estimated at just over 1.1 million.

Dubai’s ratio of males to females is skewed, with approximately 75% of the population being male.

The population is also composed of just 15% native residents, with the remaining 85% being composed of expatriates. About 85% of the expatriate population – or 71% of the total population -- is Asian, primarily from India (accounting for 51%). Other Asians in Dubai are originally from Pakistan (17%), Bangladesh (9%) and the Philippines (3%). The city also has a high number of Somalis, and British expatriates make up the largest population of Western expatriates.

The official religion of Dubai is Islam, but the area is tolerant and respectful of other faiths, as well. Minority religions practiced within Dubai include Christianity, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddism, among others.

In terms of languages, Arabic is the official language, and English is often spoken as well. Additional common spoken words include Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, Tagalog, Persian, Chinese and others.

Life expectancy in Dubai and the UAE is 76 years for males and 79 years for female, according to 2015 WHO data. Depression has a significant contribution to the life expectancy, followed by a high-rate of deaths caused by auto accidents, which was calculated at 615 deaths per 100,000 people across the UAE in 2010. In 2013, the total expenditure for healthcare in the UAE was 3.2% of the GDP.

Dubai History

Dubai was first established in 1833 when approximately 800 settlers from the Bani Yas tribe arrived at Dubai creek. This harbor led to an economy that thrived on fishing, sea trade, pearling and, eventually, led to its status as a port city. By the 1930s Dubai's population was nearly 20,000, and this number continued to proliferate.

The story behind the name of Dubai has been questionable. Some say that the name comes from a word that means money because it was thought that those who lived there had a lot of money. Others have speculated that the name comes from the word “Yadub,” which translates to "creek", and is befitting of the area which splits the city of Dubai into two regions: Deira and Bur Dubai.

On the Deira side of the creek, the largest market in the area was set up with approximately 350 shops, bringing visitors into Dubai and giving an indication of its future economic status.

Through the years, Dubai has experienced a thriving economy and steady population growth. In 2013, Dubai was named as the 7th most visited city in the world for its ancient and modern attractions, which include the Deira Clocktower, the Burj Al Arab hotel (which is the 3rd tallest in the world) and the Hatta Heritage Village. Dubai has also been called the “shopping capital of the Middle East” because of its 70 shopping centers, including the largest in the world, Dubai Mall.

Dubai Population Growth

Dubai is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, increasing at a rate of 10.7% annually. The beauty and tolerance of the city make it a prime choice for expatriates, and the growing economy and availability of jobs makes it an appealing place to settle. The city was chosen as the site for Expo 2020, an event which could potentially lead to over 270,000 more jobs, which could further enhance future growth.

By 2020, the city is expected to experience rapid growth with the population estimated to reach over 2.8 million, while 2030 could see as many as 3.4 million people. Because of its political stability, thriving economy, and diversity, Dubai should have no problem keeping up with the rapid rate of growth over the next few decades.

Is Dubai a country?

No, Dubai is not a country. It is a city and also a region known as an Emirate, and is located in the country that is known as the United Arab Emirates or UAE. The United Arab Emirates has seven regions in it, each is called Emirates. The Emirates of the UAE are Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Fujairah, and Sharjah.

What is Dubai Like?

Dubai is a city that faces the Arabian Gulf and is home to Dubai International Airport, one of the largest international airports in the world. Where many might think a city in the middle of the UAE is a “typical” Middle Eastern city with villas, sand, and markets, Dubai is the exact opposite. Dubai is as urban as it gets in the Middle East.

It is home to many beaches and some of the biggest business in the world. Islam is the religion of the masses, but Hinduism is predominant there as well. The city is home to some of the most well-known mosques in the world, which stand in striking contrast to its massive urban skyscrapers.

Growth Rate
1.44%

86 Rows

Year
Population
20353,526,250
20343,484,530
20333,442,680
20323,400,570
20313,358,090
20303,314,980
20293,271,290
20283,227,140
20273,182,790
20263,138,550
20253,094,640
20243,051,020
20233,007,580
20222,964,380
20212,921,380
20202,878,340
20192,833,080
20182,785,380
20172,650,880
20162,522,880
20152,401,070
20142,285,130
20132,174,790
20122,069,920
20111,969,840
20101,874,730
20091,731,790
20081,599,920
20071,477,770
20061,365,100
20051,267,760
20041,185,710
20031,108,770
20021,036,920
2001969,728
2000906,971
1999848,120
1998793,160
1997741,762
1996693,758
1995649,755
1994609,701
1993572,116
1992536,895
1991503,755
1990472,701
1989443,562
1988416,255
1987390,561
1986366,485
1985344,611
1984324,854
1983306,179
1982288,602
1981272,033
1980254,361
1979235,501
1978218,062
1977201,914
1976186,982
1975165,701
1974140,599
1973119,300
1972101,250
197185,892
197072,880
196961,840
196852,483
196748,205
196645,774
196543,466
196441,277
196339,192
196237,216
196135,339
196033,559
195931,864
195830,257
195728,731
195627,284
195525,906
195424,600
195323,359
195222,182
195121,062
195020,000

86 Rows

Year
Population
Change
Growth
195020,0000%0
195121,0625.31%1,062
195222,1825.32%1,120
195323,3595.31%1,177
195424,6005.31%1,241
195525,9065.31%1,306
195627,2845.32%1,378
195728,7315.3%1,447
195830,2575.31%1,526
195931,8645.31%1,607
196033,5595.32%1,695
196135,3395.3%1,780
196237,2165.31%1,877
196339,1925.31%1,976
196441,2775.32%2,085
196543,4665.3%2,189
196645,7745.31%2,308
196748,2055.31%2,431
196852,4838.87%4,278
196961,84017.83%9,357
197072,88017.85%11,040
197185,89217.85%13,012
1972101,25017.88%15,358
1973119,30017.83%18,050
1974140,59917.85%21,299
1975165,70117.85%25,102
1976186,98212.84%21,281
1977201,9147.99%14,932
1978218,0628%16,148
1979235,5018%17,439
1980254,3618.01%18,860
1981272,0336.95%17,672
1982288,6026.09%16,569
1983306,1796.09%17,577
1984324,8546.1%18,675
1985344,6116.08%19,757
1986366,4856.35%21,874
1987390,5616.57%24,076
1988416,2556.58%25,694
1989443,5626.56%27,307
1990472,7016.57%29,139
1991503,7556.57%31,054
1992536,8956.58%33,140
1993572,1166.56%35,221
1994609,7016.57%37,585
1995649,7556.57%40,054
1996693,7586.77%44,003
1997741,7626.92%48,004
1998793,1606.93%51,398
1999848,1206.93%54,960
2000906,9716.94%58,851
2001969,7286.92%62,757
20021,036,9206.93%67,192
20031,108,7706.93%71,850
20041,185,7106.94%76,940
20051,267,7606.92%82,050
20061,365,1007.68%97,340
20071,477,7708.25%112,670
20081,599,9208.27%122,150
20091,731,7908.24%131,870
20101,874,7308.25%142,940
20111,969,8405.07%95,110
20122,069,9205.08%100,080
20132,174,7905.07%104,870
20142,285,1305.07%110,340
20152,401,0705.07%115,940
20162,522,8805.07%121,810
20172,650,8805.07%128,000
20182,785,3805.07%134,500
20192,833,0801.71%47,700
20202,878,3401.6%45,260
20212,921,3801.5%43,040
20222,964,3801.47%43,000
20233,007,5801.46%43,200
20243,051,0201.44%43,440
20253,094,6401.43%43,620
20263,138,5501.42%43,910
20273,182,7901.41%44,240
20283,227,1401.39%44,350
20293,271,2901.37%44,150
20303,314,9801.34%43,690
20313,358,0901.3%43,110
20323,400,5701.27%42,480
20333,442,6801.24%42,110
20343,484,5301.22%41,850
20353,526,2501.2%41,720

Dubai Population Data (Urban Area)

Name
2024 Pop.
2024 Growth
Dubai3,051,0201.44%
Sharjah1,872,2002.26%
Abu Dhabi1,593,2801.68%
Al Ain655,9501.67%
Ajman417,6951.53%

Other Cities in United Arab Emirates

  1. Government of Dubai - Dubai population and vital statistics
  2. Dubai Online - Population information and statistics

Sources