Dubai’s population up 7 per cent in nine months

Dubai’s population grew by nearly seven per cent in the first nine months of 2010 to reach 1.87 million, indicating the emirate is back on track in economic recovery, a local newspaper reported on Saturday.

Alkhaleej, quoting a Dubai official, said the emirate’s actual population becomes higher by more than one million during the day as Dubai remains a target for workers and businessmen from neighboring emirates.

Aref Al-Muhairi, Executive Director of the Dubai Statistics Centre, projected Dubai’s economy, the UAE’s largest after Abu Dhabi, would grow by around 2.3 per cent in 2010 after expanding in the first half.

“Dubai enjoys an infrastructure that makes it attractive for business and foreign capital…this has enhanced Dubai’s economy and allowed it to overcome the global crisis as it recorded growth in the first half of this year…growth is projected to reach 2.3 per cent through 2010,” he told Alkhaleej Arabic language daily.

He said most non-oil sectors are growing this year, including manufacturing, transport, trade, hotels and restaurants, and government services.

“As for the population, our surveys show there was a growth of seven per cent in the first nine months as the population with permanent residence was estimated at 1.87 million at the end of September…but the active population is estimated at 2.9 million during the day as many businessmen and workers from other cities and emirates stay in Dubai most of the day.”

Asked about inflation in Dubai, Muhairisaid it was negligible as it is estimated at only around 0.8 per cent which is “not of concern to the economy.”

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