UAE population...more than 80% are foreigner in Dubai?

Q: I tried to check the population of the 7 emirates of the UAE. Dubai's stats somehow caught my attention. Probably everyone knew that Dubai is the melting pot in the UAE, but I dont think it makes sense that this emirate is the home of more than 80% foreigners. I havent known any country (or any city) that foreigners dominate locals in the city. Saw this thru Wikipedia for Dubai's population: 42.3% Indian 17% Emirati 13.3% Pakistani 7.5% Bangladeshi 9.1% Arab 10.8% Others Now my questions are: 1. Why did the UAE allow this to happen? 2. For some countries, they would require a certain number of foreigners visiting their place to preserve their culture, heritage, etc. How come the government are allowing more to come? I doubt that its just for tourism. 3. Is this the UAE's way of promoting investors going in the country? 4. Did the UAE intentionally market Dubai to the foreigners so they can preserve the other emirates from foreign alienation? I think I'll have more questions soon. In figure, Dubai may only have around 2.2 million people, 1.75 million are foreigners. I dont think a million and a quarter (or even just half of those) are seasonal! ...make that a million and 3 quarters To am : How can you say that Emiratis are lazy? If there is any truth to that...then all 6 emirates will be filled with foreigners..not just Dubai. I have nothing against foreigners working in Dubai. Its just surprising that there are more of them than the locals. To Shirley : Your answers and link provided are indeed informative. Thumbs up to you!=D

A: First of all - Dubai is the only place which has grown at an extremely rapid pace as compared to any other city (in any country). So many constructions are going on (Palm island,shopping malls,sky scrapers)- which requires huge amount of labour(which are not seasonal). Out of the total expat population in dubai 75 per cent is male(mostly are labours whose salary is low so they cannot live with their families out here) and 25 per cent is female. Why Indians out here in dubai is in large population is because India has very large number of population and people out there don't get more employment opportunites(even if they get , the payment is very low to survive and also the weather is hot (so they are used to work under sun). 1. If you notice carefully then you will understand that they are allowing this only because they want things to be done rapidly. The logic is simple:- 100 worker will finish the construction in say 50 days but 1000 workers will finish the same job within 5 days. As far as positions in fields other than construction is concerned you will notice that UAE residents are very less in numbers as compared to the job opportunities in dubai.More a nation wants to develop more employment opportunities will be developed in that nation. So who will fulfil that requirement obviously foreigners. (demand and supply logic) 2. Well even though foreigners are more in dubai. But as far as the culture and heritage is concerned. UAE goverment has made very clear to foreigners "Mind your language, behaviour and dress in the UAE" http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Society/10230049.html So those who obey are living here happily and those who don't are depoted and are punished strictly. 3. Years ago foreigners were not allowed to purchase property in uae. But as constructions started in a huge scale. Obviously who will buy the remaining property? So they started promoting foreign investment. 4. According to me - The development is done step by step:- Dubai is very much planned city, so they would have started with one emirate i.e dubai, once the development will be over in dubai, they will proceed to other emirates also. (that's just my guess , I don't know the fact).

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