UAE population to exceed five million by year's end

The UAE's population will cross the five-million-mark at the end of this year for the first time since the country was formed as a federation of seven Gulf emirates nearly 38 years ago, official figures showed yesterday.

The bulk of the increase of nearly 300,000 people will be in the dominant expatriate community while Dubai is projected to maintain its status as the most populated emirate in the UAE for the second year running.

From about 4.765 million at the end of 2008, the country's total population will peak at nearly 5.066 million at the end of 2009, an annual growth of around 6.3 per cent, the Ministry of Economy said. A breakdown showed the national population will grow from about 892,000 at the end of 2008 to 923,000 at the end of 2009 while expatriates will increase from about 3.873 million to 4.143 million.

The report showed the UAE's demographic system would maintain its status as a male-dominated population, with males expected to increase from about 3.286 million at the end of 2008 to 3.504 million at the end of 2009. Females are expected to rise from 1.479 million to about 1.562 million in the same period.

Dubai was the most populated emirate at the end of 2008 after overtaking Abu Dhabi for the first time, with its population peaking at around 1.596 million. It is expected to surge by about 7.8 per cent to 1.722 million at the end of 2009, the highest growth rate in the UAE.

Abu Dhabi, by far the largest emirate by area, had the second highest population of about 1.559 million, which is projected to reach 1.628 million at the end of 2009. But the emirate's female population was much higher, standing at 539,000 at the end of 2008 compared with 376,000 for Dubai.

The figures showed Sharjah was the third most populated emirate with about 946,000 people at the end of 2008. It is expected to have 1.017 million people at the end of 2009.

Ajman had the fourth largest population of 237,000 at the end of 2008 and is expected to maintain this position at the end of 2009 as its population is projected to grow to about 250,000, according to the Ministry.

Ras Al Khaimah's population was estimated at nearly 231,000 at the end of 2008 and 241,000 at the end of 2009. It stood at 143,000 at the end of 2008 and 152,000 at the end of 2009 in Fujairah and about 53,000 at the end of 2008 and 56,000 at the end of 2009 in Umm Al Quwain.

The report showed Dubai, the region's non-oil commercial hub, would record the highest population growth of 7.8 per cent in 2009, followed by Sharjah at 7.5 per cent, Fujairah at 6.2 per cent, Umm Al Quwain at 5.6 per cent, Ajman at 5.4 per cent, Abu Dhabi at 4.4 per cent and Ras Al Khaimah at around 4.3 per cent.

In terms of age groups, the UAE has a dominant young population, with the 25-29 years emerging as the largest group of about 777,000 at the end of 2008. It is projected by the Ministry to peak at 830,000 at the end of 2009.

The second largest is the 30-34 years group, totalling 754,000 at the end of 2008 and estimated at 806,000 at the end of 2009.

As a whole those aged below 34 years were estimated to be 2.95 million at the end of 2008, nearly 55 per cent of the total population.

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