Abu Dhabi population growth picks up during oil boom

The Abu Dhabi emirate’s population grew faster during the latest oil boom than in the previous years despite reported departure of a large number of foreigners in the aftermath of the 2008 global fiscal crisis, according to official data.

From 3.9 per cent during 2000-2005, the emirate’s population grew by nearly 4.3 per cent annually during 2005-2009 and the higher growth was in both nationals and expatriates, showed the figures by Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre (Scad).

It put the emirate’s total population at around 1.643 million in mid-2009, including nearly 1.236 million foreigners and 406,797 nationals.

The total population was estimated at 1.399 million in 2000 and about 1.17 million in 1995. In 2000, expatriates were put at 1.049 million and nationals at 350,000 while stood at 874,000 and 296,000 respectively in 1995.

The report showed the native population recorded an annual growth of around four per cent during 2005-2009 compared with 3.6 per cent during 2000-2005. Foreigners grew by nearly 4.45 per cent during 2005-2009 compared with around four per cent during 2000 -2005, according to the report.

Experts attributed the accelerated growth during 2005-2009 to the high birth rate among nationals, modest growth among expatriate residents and a surge in foreign influx during most of the 2005-2009 period due to the surge in oil prices.

“I have no exact figures for now but a large number of expatriates entered the UAE during the oil boom years before the eruption of the global crisis,” said an Abu Dhabi-based banker. “I know that many expatriates left the UAE after the crisis but I think more people came to the UAE than those left as they were attracted by a massive increase in projects during that period.”

Oil prices steadily increased during the region’s second boom period to peak at an all time high average of more than $145 a barrel in July 2008. They were also relatively high at around $70 in 2007 and $60 in the previous year compared with below $20 during most years in the 1990s.

Prices dived below $40 a barrel after the global crisis to record their largest decline in such a short period of time. They recovered in the second half of 2009 and remain firm this year due to heavy production cuts by the 12-nation Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec).

Strong oil prices in 2008 boosted Abu Dhabi’s nominal gross domestic product by nearly 29.7 per cent to a record high of Dh519.9 billion from nearly Dh400 billion in 2007, according to the Ministry of Economy.

The increase widened Abu Dhabi’s contribution to the UAE’s overall GDP to 55.7 per cent in 2008 from around 52.7 per cent in the previous year.

SCAD’s report showed Abu Dhabi’s population recorded its highest growth of nearly 11.3 per cent during the first oil boom between 1975 and 1985. Growth among expatriates stood at nearly 13 per cent.

The overall rate sharply declined to around 5.1 per cent during 1980-1985 following the plunge in oil prices and the ensuing downturn in regional economies. It picked up to 6.6 per cent during 1985-1995 before falling again to around 4.8 per cent during 1995-200, the report showed.

The report also showed children formed the largest age group among nationals in mid-2009 while the 30-34 year age group was the largest among foreigners.

National children aged 0-4 years were estimated at around 55,956. Those aged 509 years formed the second largest age group among nationals.

Expatriates aged 30-34 years were put at 197,641 in mid 2009. The 25-29 age group was the second largest among the expatriates, the report showed.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.