Net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates: Net migration metrics was 300,004 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
300,004
Change on year
down 7.1%
World rank
10th
of 236 countries
All-time high
722,380
in 2007
All-time low
-125,186
in 2019
Years of data
74
1950–2023

Net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates, 1950–2023

-200.0k0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k195019862023

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates is 300,004, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.1% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates peaked at 722,380 in 2007 and was at its lowest, -125,186, in 2019.

That places United Arab Emirates 10th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates, year by year

Annual values for Net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates, 1950 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1950 3,186 —
1951 3,318 +4.1%
1952 3,391 +2.2%
1953 3,400 +0.3%
1954 3,364 -1.1%
1955 3,295 -2.1%
1956 3,214 -2.5%
1957 3,150 -2.0%
1958 3,118 -1.0%
1959 3,095 -0.7%
1960 3,102 +0.2%
1961 3,141 +1.3%
1962 3,212 +2.3%
1963 3,264 +1.6%
1964 3,126 -4.2%
1965 2,598 -16.9%
1966 1,516 -41.6%
1967 -283 -118.7%
1968 28,866 -10300.0%
1969 39,902 +38.2%
1970 40,792 +2.2%
1971 41,425 +1.6%
1972 41,888 +1.1%
1973 42,243 +0.8%
1974 42,474 +0.5%
1975 42,380 -0.2%
1976 78,903 +86.2%
1977 81,111 +2.8%
1978 82,359 +1.5%
1979 82,238 -0.1%
1980 78,148 -5.0%
1981 37,600 -51.9%
1982 38,276 +1.8%
1983 38,536 +0.7%
1984 38,124 -1.1%
1985 37,605 -1.4%
1986 69,655 +85.2%
1987 69,493 -0.2%
1988 68,991 -0.7%
1989 68,132 -1.2%
1990 67,118 -1.5%
1991 66,943 -0.3%
1992 65,739 -1.8%
1993 65,545 -0.3%
1994 62,352 -4.9%
1995 68,938 +10.6%
1996 180,296 +161.5%
1997 183,310 +1.7%
1998 183,329 +0.0%
1999 180,469 -1.6%
2000 178,469 -1.1%
2001 178,779 +0.2%
2002 178,988 +0.1%
2003 177,237 -1.0%
2004 176,319 -0.5%
2005 174,926 -0.8%
2006 399,306 +128.3%
2007 722,380 +80.9%
2008 523,207 -27.6%
2009 163,643 -68.7%
2010 161,842 -1.1%
2011 215,183 +33.0%
2012 225,921 +5.0%
2013 279,269 +23.6%
2014 360,174 +29.0%
2015 342,468 -4.9%
2016 195,317 -43.0%
2017 34,155 -82.5%
2018 14,611 -57.2%
2019 -125,186 -956.8%
2020 92,541 -173.9%
2021 421,663 +355.6%
2022 322,773 -23.5%
2023 300,004 -7.1%

United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries

  • United Arab Emirates's 300,004 is above the median for high income countries, which is 5,173, 58.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
  • United Arab Emirates's 300,004 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 500, 600.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1968 +10300.0% -283 28,866
2019 -956.8% 14,611 -125,186
2021 +355.6% 92,541 421,663
2020 +173.9% -125,186 92,541
1996 +161.5% 68,938 180,296
2006 +128.3% 174,926 399,306

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 3,253 3,095 3,400 10
1960s 8,844 -283 39,902 10
1970s 57,581 40,792 82,359 10
1980s 54,456 37,600 78,148 10
1990s 112,404 62,352 183,329 10
2000s 287,325 163,643 722,380 10
2010s 170,375 -125,186 360,174 10
2020s 284,245 92,541 421,663 4

Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates

  1. 7 Canada 433,842 compare
  2. 8 Saudi Arabia 325,691 compare
  3. 9 Egypt 305,006 compare
  4. 11 Iran 262,044 compare
  5. 12 South Africa 228,222 compare
  6. 13 Malaysia 181,071 compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for United Arab Emirates

All data for United Arab Emirates →

Frequently asked questions

What is net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates?
Net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates was 300,004 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The highest recorded value was 722,380 in 2007.
What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The lowest recorded value was -125,186 in 2019.
How does United Arab Emirates rank for net migration metrics?
United Arab Emirates ranks 10th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is net migration metrics rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/net-migration-metrics/united-arab-emirates/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://population.statizoid.com/stat/net-migration-metrics/united-arab-emirates/">Net migration metrics in United Arab Emirates</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Net migration metrics
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed