A mosaic of peoples
Overall, two-thirds of immigrants come from the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Bangladesh...) and just over 20% from nearby or neighboring countries (Iran, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Afghanistan). The remainder are Western expatriates, mainly Anglo-Saxon. While the latter and Emiratis represent the most affluent strata, a growing number of very privileged families from the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East are settling in the country on a long-term basis in search of financial or political stability. The male population accounts for 69%, largely due to the large number of employees in the construction sector. The country's population is young, with the 24-55 age group accounting for over 66% of the total, while the over-65s represent barely 1%. The latter figure could change, as the government's latest measures are designed to encourage wealthy expatriates to spend their retirement in the Emirates.
An expatriate population that is settling permanently
Several times in its history, the Emirates have encouraged successive waves of immigration, which have led to staggering demographic growth, to the point where the number of expatriate workers represents over 87% of the country's total population.
The dazzling development of the country's major metropolises is accompanied by a growing need for manpower, while at the same time attracting large numbers of capital and investors, seduced by the country's potential and financial security. While for a long time, foreigners did not enjoy the same rights as Emiratis, new laws have recently been passed to allow the creation of companies without local sponsorship in a number of economic sectors. Recently, 10-year golden visas have been granted to expatriates who have contributed to the country's reputation or invested significantly in the country. But more unexpectedly, other categories of professionals are also eligible, including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, writers and their families. Even more surprisingly, an amendment to the law allowing the naturalization of certain categories of foreigners was passed in 2021, in recognition of their service to the country. This is quite an extraordinary decision, as nationality comes with enormous economic benefits.
Whereas expatriates used to stay in the Emirates for just a few years, there has been a transition, with an increasing number of families choosing the country as their permanent home, even among the Western population.
The Bedouins
The Bedouin, whose name means "desert dwellers" in Arabic, were originally camel and sheep breeders. They trace their origins to the biblical Ishmael, the son of Abraham's handmaid. Today's indigenous population is descended from those who populated the land and lived either in the desert or by the sea, depending on their main economic activity. The Bedouins of the sands and oases lived in the oases, tending their date palms. Desert Bedouins grazed their animals. Although sea work hardly corresponds to the imagery associated with the Bedouin, coastal work mobilized men for several months at a time, whether for fishing or collecting pearl oysters.
These peoples were divided into clans and tribes, themselves subdivided into numerous sub-branches. For many centuries, the tribe or clan was the mainstay of society. This is still the case today. Hereditary power is therefore inseparable from the social and political fabric of the emirate and the state as a whole, to the extent that the ruling family and the government are virtually indistinguishable.
The tribes
The largest tribes in number are the Bani Yas, from which descend the members of the Al Nahyan family, rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In Sharjah, they are the descendants of the Qawassim clan, and in Umm Al-Quwaïn, the Al Mualla, whose lineage dates back to 1768, descend from the Al-Ali clan. The Azd tribe rules Ras Al-Khaimah. In 1904, 44 different tribes were registered in the Trucial States, and in 1968, the first ever census counted 17,750 people as Bedouins.
The Emirati people today
The Federation's economic development has increased life expectancy thanks to free medical care in super-equipped hospitals, and life expectancy in the Emirates is 79 years for women and 77 years for men. Similarly, education is compulsory and free for both girls and boys, and at university whether in the Emirates or abroad. Gas and electricity prices are subsidized. Emiratis own their land, with the ruler of each ruling emirate organizing the distribution of free plots. On the other hand, while the country's total population increases year on year, the number of native Emiratis could continue to decline. Indeed, between 1970 and 2005, the fertility rate averaged 6.4 children per woman, dropping precipitously to less than 2.5 births per woman by 2021. This demographic transition is linked to an increase in the age at marriage, with women's growing participation and responsibility in the world of work, and a decline in infant mortality.
The language
The United Arab Emirates is first and foremost a multilingual country. Arabic is the official language. It is the language of law, since all administrative and legal documents are written in Arabic. English, however, is spoken and understood almost everywhere in town. It is the language of business, shopping and tourism. Road signs are written in both Arabic and English, as are a host of other signs, brochures and documents. As many foreigners originate from the Indian subcontinent, Hindi and Urdu are commonly spoken even by the Emirati population.
