Dubai: The Indian expatriate population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has crossed 4.36 million, marking a significant milestone. According to the Indian Consulate in Dubai, the Indian population in the UAE has doubled over the past decade. The number of Indians migrating to the UAE for employment has reached an all-time high, highlighting the strong demand for the Indian workforce in the region.
Indian Consul General Satish Kumar Sivan shared the latest figures during the India-UAE Conclave held in Dubai. As of December 2023, the Indian population stood at 3.89 million, and within a year, it surged to 4.36 million. Ten years ago, this figure was just 2.2 million. The rapid growth underscores the increasing role of the Indian community in the UAE’s development.
A majority of Indian expatriates reside in the emirate of Dubai. Alongside the rise in population, bilateral relations between India and the UAE have also deepened, with economic, technological, and social ties strengthening significantly. The adoption of platforms like UPI (Unified Payments Interface) has made financial transactions more efficient and seamless for expatriates.
Indians have made substantial investments in various sectors of the UAE, including healthcare, real estate, and retail. These contributions have played a vital role in the emirates’ economic growth, according to the Consul General.
In December 2023, a joint committee meeting between India and the UAE was held in New Delhi, focusing on enhancing human resource collaboration. UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressed his appreciation for the Indian community’s contribution to the UAE’s progress.
Following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), trade relations between the two nations have also expanded significantly. In 2023, bilateral non-oil trade between India and the UAE reached $54.2 billion.
The increasing influx of Indians has also boosted investment from Indian expatriates across various emirates, especially Dubai. Over the past five years, Indian companies have invested approximately AED 15 billion in Dubai. In 2023 alone, the emirate welcomed 16,623 new Indian companies. Currently, more than 70,000 Indian businesses operate in Dubai, further emphasizing the depth of economic engagement between the two nations.
