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Ethnic group
Ethnic group
Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates
Total population
1,500,000 (2017)[1]
12.53% of the UAE's population[2][3]
Regions with significant populations
Abu Dhabi · Dubai · Sharjah · Al Ain · Ras Al Khaimah
Languages
Urdu[a] · Punjabi · Pashto · Sindhi · Balochi · Saraiki  · Pahari-Pothwari · Brahui · Kashmiri · Arabic · English · other Pakistani languages
Religion
Islam (predominantly) · Christianity[5][6] · Hinduism[7]

Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates include expatriates from Pakistan who have settled in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With a population of over 1.5 million,[8] Pakistanis are the second largest national group in the UAE after Indians, constituting 12.5% of the country's total population.[3] They are the third largest overseas Pakistani community, behind the Pakistani diaspora in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. The population is diverse and consists of people from all over Pakistan, including Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and former FATA, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. The majority of Pakistanis in the UAE are Muslim, with significant minorities of Christians, Hindus and other religions. The majority are found in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively, while a significant population is spread out in Sharjah and the remaining Northern Emirates. Dubai alone accounts for a Pakistani population of 400,000.[8]

Background

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A Pakistan vs. India cricket match at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi

From the time when heavy Pakistani migration occurred to the Middle East, a number of Pakistanis went to the UAE. While many tend to be skilled and semi-skilled professionals,[9] most are unskilled migrant workers.[10] Pakistanis outnumber Emirati nationals in three of UAE's emirates: Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.[11]

Demographics

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Pakistani ethnic groups with significant populations include Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Baloch, Muhajirs and smaller populations of Saraikis, Kashmiris, Hindkowans and other ethnic groups. There are also smaller populations of Pakistani expatriates from other countries who live and work in the UAE, such as British Pakistanis[12] and Pakistani Canadians.[13]

Society

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Economic contributions

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General overview

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Pakistan and the UAE maintain strong economic relations with each other, with the UAE being the second biggest trading partner of Pakistan in terms of bilateral trade. A large skilled and semi-skilled Pakistani workforce contributes to the UAE economy. Around 20% of Pakistanis are white-collar professions, and the remaining 80% are involved in the blue-collar industry.[15] The ratio of blue-collar Pakistani labour migrating to the UAE has dropped since 2008, although the volume of remittances has increased.[16]

Pakistani expatriates in the UAE are actively involved in the country's business, investment and services sectors; in 2025 there were some 47,000 Pakistani-owned businesses registered in the UAE, including more than 8,000 in a year.[17]

The UAE is the second largest source of remittances to Pakistan; in 2012, remittances from the UAE amounted to $2.9 billion.

Pakistani professionals

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Pakistan ranks among the top five sources of migrant professionals in the UAE.[18] Pakistanis in UAE dominate the transport sector i.e. from logistics to crane operators and up to taxi drivers. There are many Pakistani bankers working in various local and multinational banks. It is not uncommon to find Pakistani professionals working in various multinationals in UAE. There are many Pakistani restaurants in UAE owned and run by these expatriate Pakistanis.

Assets

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In September 2018, Pakistan’s Supreme Court was informed that Pakistani nationals held an estimated US $150 billion in assets and properties in the UAE, according to a report presented by chartered accountancy firm A.F. Ferguson. The figure was disclosed during proceedings related to a case on overseas holdings and bank accounts, with Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar noting the large sum remained abroad despite a recent amnesty scheme. A separate summary in the court’s written order placed the estimated value of Pakistani-owned assets in the UAE at about US $110 billion.[19][20]

Property holdings

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The UAE is a major investment destination for Pakistan. Pakistanis are among the top ten investors in the UAE property market, ranking as the second largest nationality that bought most property in Dubai.[21] Over the years, many wealthy Pakistanis have bought expensive properties in Dubai and have second homes there;[22][23] in 2024, following data leaks, it was estimated that 17,000 Pakistanis have bought 23,000 properties in Dubai, their collective property holdings estimated at $11 billion,[24] while Dawn News asserted higher estimates based on academics using the data and additional sources, with 22,000 Pakistanis having property holdings worth $12,5 billion.[25]

"Modern slavery"

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See Migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates

The UAE is widely reported to be complicit in a modern-day slave trade of from Pakistan workers. There continues to be very little sharing of oil despite energy shortages in Pakistan and unflexible nationality guidelines for anybody wanted to move on from Pakistani citizenship.[26]

Community representation

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There are number of organisations which represent Pakistanis in UAE. Some of them are as follows:

  1. Pakistanis in Dubai - PID [largest Facebook community group)
  2. Pakistan Business Council (PBC)
  3. Pakistan Association of Dubai (PAD)
  4. Pakistan Professional Wing (PPW)
  5. Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP)- UAE Chapter Wing
  6. Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Alumni - UAE Chapter

Culture

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The Pakistani community in the UAE celebrates Independence Day with much fervour.[27] Urdu, being the national language of Pakistan, is a principal language of the community.[28]

Deportation

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Between April and May 2026, the UAE increased its efforts to find and detain Pakistani expatriates, especially those from the Shia community, by using a method of systematic sectarian profiling.[29][30] Security forces reportedly used biometric data and digital surveillance to target individuals based on names commonly associated with the Shia community, as well as their involvement in Imambargahs or religious events.[31][32] Those identified often ended up being detained without any formal charges or legal help during early morning raids at their homes and workplaces.[33] Many reported that their phones were taken right away to prevent them from contacting their families or embassies.[34] The way these removals were carried out involved a coordinated "asset stripping" process, where the UAE government froze the bank accounts of thousands of Shia professionals before they were expelled.[35] Detainees were moved through different detention facilities and holding centers where they reportedly faced tough conditions and physical abuse, often losing their residency status and life savings in just a few days.[36] After being processed, around 15,000 individuals were forcibly put on flights back to Pakistan, often arriving with just the clothes on their backs and no access to the financial resources they had built up over many years of living in the Emirates.[37][38]

Notable citizens

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Also known as Lashkari (لشکری)[4]

References

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  1. ↑ "Year Book 2017-18" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-02-28.
  2. ↑ "UAE´s population – by nationality". BQ Magazine. 12 April 2015. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 "United Arab Emirates: Demography" (PDF). Encyclopædia Britannica World Data. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  4. ↑ Mingo, Ariadna Saiz. "Pantallosos: mantenimiento de la lengua de herencia en la diáspora." Lenguas Modernas 58 (2021): 219-242.
  5. ↑ Teller, Matthew (12 July 2015). "Free to pray - but don't try to convert anyone". BBC. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Christian community in UAE remembers victims of Lahore attacks
  7. ↑ "Hindu temple a symbol of UAE's culture of tolerance". Yahoo Maktoob. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Pakistan asks expatriates for aid - the National". Archived from the original on 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  9. ↑ "Thirty-seven years in UAE and looking forward to more". 2 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "UAE bidoon celebrate National Day as Emiratis | the National". Archived from the original on 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  11. ↑ "Pakistanis outnumber Emiratis in three UAE states". The Express Tribune. 2015-08-07. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  12. ↑ Roy, Ananya; Ong, Aihwa (2011). Worlding Cities: Asian Experiments and the Art of Being Global. John Wiley & Sons. p. 170. ISBN 9781444346770. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  13. ↑ Aulakh, Raveena (28 May 2011). "'Colony of wives' thrives in Mississauga". The Star. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  14. ↑ Pakistan’s poor handling brings UAE, India closer
  15. ↑ Sun, Yan; Kock, Udo (1 August 2011). Remittances in Pakistan: Why have they gone up, and why Aren't they coming down?. International Monetary Fund. p. 10. ISBN 9781463901622.
  16. ↑ Dunya News. (2025, February 22). Pakistanis establish over 8,000 new companies in UAE in one year. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  17. ↑ Oxborrow, Ian. . .
  18. Bhatti, Haseeb (2018-09-03). . .
  19. "Pakistanis own $150bn of assets in UAE, Supreme Court told". Arab News. 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
  20. ↑ "Pakistanis bought property worth 16bn dirhams in Dubai". 17 February 2015.
  21. ↑ Zaheer, Farhan (28 June 2013). "DAMAC Properties: Dubai-based developer to tour Pakistan this week". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  22. ↑ "Revealed: Which nationalities bought most property in Dubai". Emirates 24/7. 27 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  23. ↑ Dunya News. (2024, May 15). Dubai Unlocked: 17,000 Pakistanis own property worth $11bn in Dubai. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  24. ↑ Rehman, Atika; Ali, Naziha Syed (May 14, 2024). "Dubai Unlocked: Pakistan's multi-billion dollar property pie". Dawn. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  25. ↑ "UAE: Migrant Worker Abuses Linked to Broader Climate Harms | Human Rights Watch". 21 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "Pakistanis in UAE to celebrate I-Day with fervour". Yahoo Maktoob. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  27. ↑ Bridging gaps, Indo-Pak poets share the stage
  28. ↑ "U.A.E. Expels Pakistani Workers, as Pakistan's Peacemaking Creates a Rift". The New York Times. 2026-05-08. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  29. ↑ "UAE Deported 15,000 Pakistanis Due to Islamabad's Policy Towards Iran". bb.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  30. ↑ MRRORS (2026-05-16). "Detained, tortured and deported: Pakistani migrants recount UAE's anti-Shia crackdown amid Iran war". MRRORS. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  31. ↑ "UAE expels 15,000 Pakistani Shias". Pars Today. 2026-05-03. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  32. ↑ Al-Mansouri, Fatima (2026-04-23). "Golden Visa Holder Details Detention and Deportation After 17 Years in UAE". Eva Daily. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  33. ↑ "UAE Expels 15,000 Pakistani Shia Workers, Seizes Bank Accounts and Assets". ABNA English. 2026-05-03. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  34. ↑ Gupta, Surbhi; El-Kholy, Christin (2026-04-29). "Pakistani Nationals Allege Arbitrary Detention and Deportation From the UAE". New Lines Magazine. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  35. ↑ "NEX العربية — أخبار عالمية: سياسة واقتصاد وتقنية". NEX العربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  36. ↑
  37. ↑ "UAE deports Pakistani workers over US-Iran peace talks: Report". The Times of India. 2026-05-09. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
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