Population of the United Arab Emirates
As of July 2026, the population of the United Arab Emirates is 11.6 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 196 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 2.02%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 30.8 years in 2016 to 31.6 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 83.4 years and population density is 163 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Population Growth
The population growth rate of the United Arab Emirates peaked in 1969, reaching around 19.27% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.69% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 777.43 thousand in 2007 to nearly 195.62 thousand in 2026.
Life Expectancy
In the United Arab Emirates, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 81.2 years in 2006 to 83.4 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 2 years over the past 2 decades.
Most populous cities in the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates has several cities considered medium-sized by their number of inhabitants, but there are also some large ones. The most populous city is Dubai, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 3.8 million inhabitants. It is followed by Abu Dhabi with 1.8 million and Sharjah with 1.8 million.
These are the 20 most populous cities in the United Arab Emirates:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai | 3,790,000 |
| 2 | Abu Dhabi | 1,807,000 |
| 3 | Sharjah | 1,800,000 |
| 4 | Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi | 846,747 |
| 5 | Ajman | 490,035 |
| 6 | Dayrah, Dubai | 400,000 |
| 7 | Ras Al Khaimah | 351,943 |
| 8 | Musaffah, Abu Dhabi | 243,341 |
| 9 | Jebel Ali, Dubai | 210,000 |
| 10 | Business Bay, Dubai | 191,000 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Dubai Investments Park, Dubai | 160,000 |
| 12 | International City, Dubai | 120,000 |
| 13 | Dubai Marina, Dubai | 120,000 |
| 14 | Fujairah | 118,933 |
| 15 | Al Majaz, Sharjah | 116,503 |
| 16 | Warīsān, Dubai | 108,759 |
| 17 | Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai | 90,000 |
| 18 | Ar Rumaylah, Ajman | 86,000 |
| 19 | Khalifah A City, Abu Dhabi | 85,374 |
| 20 | Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi | 85,000 |