Expatriates in the United Arab Emirates

Most expatriates in the United Arab Emirates reside in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A number of expatriates settled in the country prior to independence.

The United Arab Emirates is the home of immigrants from all over the world, this may be because UAE nationals feel there is shame in working many private sector jobs. Many prefer to work for the government or military. The country's relatively liberal society compared to some of its neighbours has attracted many global expatriates, including people from western nations. Native Emiratis are outnumbered in their own country by a ratio of nine to one. Under Article 8 of UAE Federal Law no. 17, an expatriate can apply for UAE citizenship after residing in the country for a period not less than 30 years, of which 20 years at least after the said law comes into force, providing that person has never been convicted of a crime and can speak fluent Arabic.

There are an estimated 10,000 Algerians living in the UAE, which is one of the smallest Arab communities living in the UAE.

A small but unknown number of Bahrani people are present in the UAE. Bahrain is also a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); this membership enables Bahraini nationals to enter the UAE without restrictions.

Many members of the UAE's 10,000-strong stateless Bedoon community have obtained Comoro Islands passports, providing them a legal status and a pathway towards naturalised UAE citizenship. This move came following the Comorian legislature's decision to sell Comorian nationalities to stateless Bedoons in the Gulf countries, including UAE, in return for these Gulf countries' economic investment in Comoros. The number of such Bedoons with Comorian passports in the UAE is estimated to be at least a thousand.

There are an estimated 450,000 Egyptians living in the UAE, forming the largest community of non-citizens from the Arab world in the UAE.

Iraqis in the UAE have a population exceeding 100,000. Most Iraqis are recent immigrants who fled instability at home; while Syria, Jordan, Iran and Lebanon were ultimate destinations for most refugees, a large number settled in the United Arab Emirates. In addition, an increasing number of Iraqi students seeking education and career opportunities opted for the country in light of its relatively reputable institutions across the Middle East.

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