Indians in the United Arab Emirates

Last updated

Indians in the United Arab Emirates
Total population
3,420,000
35.0% of the UAE's population (2020) [1]
Regions with significant populations
Abu Dhabi  • Dubai  • Sharjah
Languages
Malayalam  • Hindi  • Urdu  • Tamil  • Rajasthani  • Marathi  • Odia  • Tulu  • Kannada  • Telugu  • Punjabi  • Sindhi  · Bhojpuri  • Bengali  • Kashmiri  • Dogri  • Assamese  • Nepali  • Maithili  • English  • Arabic  • Others Indian languages
Religion
Hinduism  • Islam  • Christianity  • Sikhism  • Jainism  • Zoroastrianism  • Buddhism  • Baháʼí

Indians in the United Arab Emirates constitute the largest part of the population of the country. Over 3,860,000 Indian expats are estimated to be living in the United Arab Emirates, [1] with over 38% of the country's total population and the fourth highest number of overseas Indians in the world, after the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia. [2] Indian contact with the emirates that now constitute the UAE dates back several centuries, as a result of trade and commerce between the emirates and India. The UAE has experienced a tremendous increase in the population of resident Indians who initially migrated to the country as a result of opportunities in petroleum. Now, Indians are key to the UAE's construction, retail, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and transport sectors. A sizeable minority of Indian migrants are involved in professional services and entrepreneurship. Relations between India and the UAE have traditionally been very friendly. [3]

Contents

History

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing an Indian community gathering in Dubai Cricket Stadium in August 2015. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing the gathering at the Indian Community Reception, in Dubai Cricket Stadium, UAE on August 17, 2015.jpg
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing an Indian community gathering in Dubai Cricket Stadium in August 2015.

Countries in the Persian Gulf region have had a long-established economic and political link with India. The Trucial Oman (now the UAE) was nominally independent in the 19th century but was administered by the British Raj; trade and banking sectors in the territory were administered by the Khoja and Kutchi communities of India. In 1853, the rulers of the emirates signed a Perpetual Maritime Truce with the British, effectively bringing the region under Britain's sphere of influence. Administered from British India, the emirates developed commonalities with South Asia. Indian Rupees were used as currency, as were Indian stamps (overlaid with the name of the emirate) for postal correspondence. [4] A fairly homogeneous society at the turn of the 20th century, the region that now comprises the UAE experienced an economic boom as a result of the pearling industry; the few Indian traders emigrating to the emirates moved to the coastal towns and remained on the fringes of Emirati society. [5] Dubai had traditionally served as an entrepôt for trade between the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent and was dominated by Indian merchants in gold and textile trades. [6] Dubai was also an important trading post for Indians prior to the discovery of oil (in commercial quantities) in the UAE in 1959; [5] the emirate had been at the centre of a smuggling route of gold via small boats to India, where the importation of gold was illegal. [7]

Indian footprint on UAE economy

Businesses in the largest sheikhdoms in the UAE, Dubai and Abu Dhabi continued to use the Indian Rupee even after India's independence in 1947. But its popularity strained India's foreign reserves, and so in 1959 the Indian government created the Gulf rupee, initially at par with the Indian rupee. It was introduced as a replacement for the Indian rupee for circulation exclusively outside the country, which included apart from the states making up the UAE, the nations of Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. [8]

On 6 June 1966, India devalued the Gulf rupee against the Indian rupee. Following the devaluation, several of the states still using the Gulf rupee adopted their own currencies.

Immigration boom

The discovery of oil brought with it an influx of workers from India from the mid-1960s onward. Many came via sea, a trip of about three days from Bombay (now Mumbai) to Dubai. Most of the shopkeepers were from the state of Kerala, or were Indian Arabs, descendants of Arabs who had previously emigrated to India. [9] Indian migration to the UAE drastically increased in the 1970s and 1980s, with the expansion of the oil industry and the growth of free trade in Dubai. Annual migration of Indians to the UAE, which stood at 4,600 in 1975, rose to over 125,000 by 1985, and stood at nearly 200,000 in 1999. [10]

Demographics

Of the 3.4 million migrants, 1 million are from Kerala and 450,000 from Tamil Nadu, form the majority in Indian community living in UAE. By 1999, the population of Indian migrants in the UAE, which stood at 170,000 in 1975, was at 750,000. [10] The estimated population of Indians in the UAE as of 2009 is near 2 million. Indians constitute 42% of the total UAE population. [11] [12] A vast majority of Indian migrants are on employment based visas, while others are on business or trade visas. Some are also sponsored by their spouse or parents.

In addition, over 300,000 undocumented migrants, many of whom are Indian, are said to be living in the UAE. [13] Undocumented migrants, if caught, are jailed and then deported to their home countries. A federal law enacted in 1996 in the U.A.E imposed sanctions against undocumented migrants and their employers. The UAE government offers amnesty programs where foreign undocumented workers can voluntarily leave the country without facing imprisonment or having to pay fines. One such three month amnesty program in 2007 benefited 110,000 illegal Indian migrants, all of whom were either legally reabsorbed into the UAE workforce or were allowed to return to India without sanctions or imprisonment. [14]

There is also a sizable population of second or third generation U.A.E-born Indians. [11] [15] They share characteristics with other third culture kids, forming a cultural identity that blends their heritage culture and the myriad of foreign cultures they encounter growing up in the U.A.E, and a more fluid sense of home. Those who grow up in western compounds tend to be well-assimilated into western culture, whereas those who stay in Indian neighborhoods tend to be more in touch with India. [16] Many U.A.E-born Indians further migrate to countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand both for greater economic and lifestyle opportunities, and due to the U.A.E's restrictive citizenship practices; many are forced to leave when no longer deemed valuable by the government, and citizenship is only given to descendants of local Emiratis. [15]

However, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic plunged many economies, including the UAE, into a recession. As of September 2020, more than 600,000 Indians applied to be repatriated amid the coronavirus outbreak, of which 400,000 left the country since repatriation flights began in May. [17]

Economic contribution

Foreigners comprise 99% of the UAE's labour force, of which Indians are a part. [18] Some of these foreigners have lived in the country for generations. Around 40% of Indians in the UAE are white collar professionals. [19] In addition to employment-based migrants from India, many Indian entrepreneurs in the UAE have established successful national franchises, the notable ones such as Lulu Group International, Landmark Group, Jashanmal, Ajmal Perfumes, [20] Amber Packaging Industries, Jumbo Electronics, Choithram's, Varkey Group, Alukkas and New Medical Centre.

The Dubai-based Indian billionaires include Micky Jagtiani of the Landmark Group, Yusuff Ali M.A. of Lulu Group International, Ravi Pillai of the Ravi Pillai Group, the Chhabria family of the Jumbo Group, Sunny Varkey of GEMS Education, Tony Jashanmal of the Jashanmal Group and Joy Alukkas of Joyalukkas Jewellery.

Rizwan Sajan of Danube Group, Azad Moopen of Aster DM Healthcare, Ramesh S Ramakrishnan of the Transworld Group, and Shamsheer Vayalil of VPS Health Care are also on the list of Indian millionaires living in Dubai. [21]

The Gulf Medical University founded by Thumbay Moideen is an Indian contribution to the Higher Education scenario in the UAE. Today students from over 68 countries study in their campus in Ajman and the university is well known in the medical education circles.

Adnan Chilwan, Group CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank, [22] and Kamal Puri, Founder President of Skyline University, an influencer in the UAE Education Ecosystem, [23] Satish Sanpal, Chairman and Managing Director of Anax Holding (Anax Media, Anax Developments, Anax Hospitality), [24] are also some of the few well known Indians in the UAE.

By 1996, at least 150 Indian companies were operating in the Jebel Ali Free Zone Area (JAFZA), [10] and even today, more than 50% of the work force are Indian, in one of the most successful and model Free Trade Zones of the world. Over 25% of Indian workers in the UAE were engaged in manufacturing, transport and related professions, while 20% were engaged in professional and technical fields. [25] The 2005 Merrill Lynch report estimated that there were approximately 33,000 Indian millionaires living in the UAE. [26] Indian expats typically save most of their earnings through employment benefits on accommodation and transport, and income tax free provisions of the UAE. [10] As a result, a majority of the money is remitted for the maintenance of migrants' households in India. In 2005, an estimated US billion was remitted, about half of which was sent through informal hawala channels. About 70% of all remittances from the UAE (or US billion) was sent to India. [27]

A small number of Indian migrants have been involved in criminal activities in the Middle East, including smuggling, trade in narcotics, extortions and other activities. [10] Dubai, in particular has been associated with the smuggling of gold and precious metals. Dawood Ibrahim, head of the organised crime syndicate D-Company, is estimated to have smuggled 20 to 30 tonnes of gold to India. [10]

Indo-Emirati relations

India and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) have generally enjoyed cordial relations, partly due to their shared history with the British presence in Asia, and partly due to the pre-colonial history of trade, commerce and settlement between the nations. In 1999, the UAE government secured the release of 25 civilian passengers aboard Indian Airlines flight IC-814 that had been hijacked and forced to land in Dubai en route to New Delhi from Kathmandu, Nepal. [28] However, several incidents, mainly concerning India's expatriate workforce in the UAE, have caused friction in Indo-Emirati relations. [29] There is also a Historic Book launched in Dubai titled PEARLS OF DUBAI - INDO ARAB RELATIONS dated 1900-1958, which talks about the contributions of the early Indian business community settlers and their contributions towards development of Dubai. The book was formally launched by HH Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (Chairman & CEO Emirates Airlines Group and President Dubai Civil Aviation) and written by Deepak Vijay Bhatia (Managing Director of Uncle’s Shop) also one of the oldest Indian family living in Dubai for over 100 Years.

Culture

India vs Pakistan cricket charity match at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2007. Pakvind123.JPG
India vs Pakistan cricket charity match at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2007.

The large segment of Indian migrants, along with comparatively lenient laws in the UAE [10] have allowed Indian communities to more or less practice their native cultures in the country. Middle class Indians in the UAE have established a network of cultural associations which cater to their needs. Cultural associations such as the India Club, Indian Association, Goan Cultural Society and numerous Keralite associations support cultural networks of the Indian sub-communities in the UAE. Additionally, schools such as the Abu Dhabi Indian School and The Indian High School, Dubai provide Indian curricular education to expatriate students. Dubai is the only emirate in the UAE with a Hindu temple and Sikh Gurudwara. In August 2015, in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit of the country, the UAE government decided to allot land for the construction of a temple in Abu Dhabi. [19] Dubai and Sharjah are the only emirates with operating cremation facilities in the Emirates. Official permission must be obtained for their use in every instance. Churches exist in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al-Khaimah. In 1998, the government of Dubai donated land for the construction of a facility to be shared by five congregations, four Protestant and one Catholic. [30]

Restaurants serving Indian food are very popular and widely available in the Emirates. Many of the hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have Indian restaurants that serve Mughlai or Tandoor cuisine, while vegetarian South Indian are available and popular in the larger cities of the UAE.

India-Pakistan cricket matches are widely followed by the Indian diaspora in the UAE. The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, established by Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, hosted several India & Pakistan matches and triangular tournaments through the 1980s and 1990s, which attracted Indian and Pakistani cricket spectators from the UAE as well as from India and Pakistan. More recently, the state-of-the-art Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi has hosted bilateral and triangular cricket tournaments featuring India and Pakistan. 2014 also marked the official entry of the Indian Premier League (IPL) into UAE with matches held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai & Sharjah.

Bollywood, Tollywood (Telugu), Malayalam cinema and Kollywood are popular among Indian expatriates and are shown in most major theatres in the Emirates' main cities. Award ceremonies such as the International Indian Film Academy Awards, South Indian International Movie Awards, Asianet Film Awards, Filmfare Awards South as well as Filmfare Awards have previously been held in Dubai; the city is also a popular destination for filming Indian films.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of the United Arab Emirates</span>

Demographic features of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) include population density, vital statistics, immigration and emigration data, ethnicity, education levels, religions practiced, and languages spoken within the UAE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of the United Arab Emirates</span>

The United Arab Emirates is a high-income developing market economy. The UAE's economy is the 4th largest in the Middle East, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$415 billion in 2021-2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Arab Emirates</span> Country in West Asia

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal, elective monarchy composed of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi as its capital. It shares land borders with Oman to the east and northeast, and with Saudi Arabia to the southwest; as well as maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran, and with Oman in the Gulf of Oman. As of 2024, the UAE has an estimated population of over 10 million, of which 11% are Emiratis; Dubai is the most populous city and is an international hub. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language, while English is the most spoken language and the language of business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in the Middle East</span>

According to the Book of Idols by the medieval Arab scholar Hisham ibn al-Kalbi, Hinduism was present in pre-Islamic Arabia. Ibn Al-Kalbi explains the origins of idol worshipping and the practice of circumambulation as rooted in India and Hinduism.

The earliest written record of Dubai (Dibei) is accredited to Muhammad al-Idrisi, who mapped the coast of the UAE in the tenth century AD. Circa 1580, the state jeweler of Venice, Gasparo Balbi, documented the pearling industry of Dubai and other cities currently presiding in UAE territory. Though traditionally conservative, the UAE is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf, with other cultures and beliefs generally tolerated. Politically it remains authoritarian, however, relations with neighbouring Iran have been tense because of an ongoing territorial dispute over Gulf islands. The UAE was one of only three countries to recognise Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

Mass media in the United Arab Emirates is subject to government control and censorship. Media freedom is severely curtailed in the UAE. Most UAE media is owned by the government or by groups that have ties to the government. UAE law permits the government to censor content critical of the government. Journalists and writers who criticize the government are subject to repression.

Armenians in United Arab Emirates refers to ethnic Armenians living in the United Arab Emirates. They number around 5,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan–United Arab Emirates relations</span> Bilateral relations

Pakistan–United Arab Emirates relations refer to bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. These relations date back to the UAE's formation in 1971, and have since evolved into wide-ranging co-operation in various fields. Pakistan was the first country to extend recognition of the United Arab Emirates, while the UAE has previously been a donor of economic and financial assistance to Pakistan it has happened the other way too. UAE recognizes Pakistan's contribution to the evolution of key institutions in the Emirates while Pakistan recognizes UAE's investment in Pakistan's economy and infrastructure. Both countries' populations share the same faith and are majorly Muslim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trucial States</span> British protectorate 1820–1971 in Persian Gulf, precursor to United Arab Emirates

The Trucial States, also known as the Trucial Coast, the Trucial Sheikhdoms, Trucial Arabia or Trucial Oman, was a group of tribal confederations to the south of the Persian Gulf whose leaders had signed protective treaties, or truces, with the United Kingdom between 1820 and 1892.

Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates include expatriates from Pakistan who have settled in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a population of over 1.5 million, Pakistanis are the second largest national group in the UAE after Indians, constituting 12.5% of the country's total population. They are the third largest overseas Pakistani community, behind the Pakistani diaspora in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. The population is diverse and consists of people from all over Pakistan, including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. The majority of Pakistanis are Muslim, with significant minorities of Christians, Hindus and other religions. The majority are found in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively, while a significant population is spread out in Sharjah and the remaining Northern Emirates. Dubai alone accounts for a Pakistani population of 400,000.

Americans in the United Arab Emirates are residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who originate from the United States. As of 2015, there are over 50,000 Americans living in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postage stamps and postal history of the United Arab Emirates</span>

This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–United Arab Emirates relations</span> Bilateral relations

India–United Arab Emirates relations are the bilateral relations that exist between the Republic of India and the United Arab Emirates. Since 3000 B.C., India and the UAE, including its precursor emirates, had close relations with ancient trade networks. Sumerians traded with Meluhha, Magan, and Dilmun (Bahrain), connecting through the UAE. Maritime routes facilitated Arab trade with India for silk, spices, gold, and porcelain. Sumerians traded with Meluhha, Magan, and Dilmun (Bahrain), connecting through the UAE. Maritime routes facilitated Arab trade with India for silk, spices, gold, and porcelain. Post-1971, India-UAE relations strengthened politically, economically, and culturally.

Iraqis in the United Arab Emirates have a population exceeding 200,000, closer estimates report a total of 250,000 Iraqis in the Emirates. Since its independence, Iraqis have contributed in the development of UAE, as engineers, politicians and in other fields. Most notably Adnan Pachachi who was appointed as Minister of State in the first Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Pachachi is known for his role in submitting the UAE's application for membership in the United Nations. In a meeting with Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that "Iraqis have contributed in building the UAE, and there are many of them who worked, built, developed and helped build the Emirates, and we mention this credit to them, whether engineers, doctors, or even politicians and others. There are still many Iraqis living in the UAE, and they are credited.”

Expatriates in the United Arab Emirates represent about 88% of the population, while Emiratis constitute roughly 12% of the total population, making the UAE home to one of the world's highest percentage of expatriates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shia Islam in the United Arab Emirates</span> Islam in the United Arab Emirates

Shia Islam is practiced by a minority of Muslims in the United Arab Emirates. It is also practiced among expatriate Muslim communities living in the country, most notably Iranians, as well as some Arabs, Pakistanis, Indians, and other nationalities. Non-Twelver Shia branches such as Ismailis and the Dawoodi Bohras are also present in the UAE and account for less than 5% of the total population. Shia nationals are concentrated in the city of Dubai, belonging mostly to the latest (1920s) wave of migrants who managed to obtain citizenship.

Muthal Puredath Muralidhara Menon was an Indian diplomat, ambassador to Bahrain, Maldives, United Arab Emirates and Brazil.

Syrians in the United Arab Emirates include migrants from Syria to the United Arab Emirates, as well as their descendants. The number of Syrians in the United Arab Emirates was estimated to be around 242,000 in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poland–United Arab Emirates relations</span> Bilateral relations

Polish-Emirati relations are foreign relations between the Republic of Poland and the United Arab Emirates. Poland has an embassy in Abu Dhabi, and the United Arab Emirates has its counterpart in Warsaw.

References

  1. 1 2 "India is a top source and destination for world's expats". Pew Research Center. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. ↑ Profile - Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi UAE
  3. ↑ India-UAE Bilateral Relations
  4. ↑ R Perry, B Maurer. Globalization Under Construction: Governmentality, Law, and Identity (page 142). University of Minnesota Press. 2003 ISBN   0-8166-3966-3
  5. 1 2 Abed, Hellyer. United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective (page 114). Trident Press. 2001
  6. ↑ King, Russel. Return Migration and Regional Economic Problems (page 245). Routledge. 1986
  7. ↑ Brenchley, Frank. Britain and the Middle East: An Economic History 1945–87 (page 279). I.B.Tauris. 1989
  8. ↑ Reserve Bank of India (Amendment) Act, 1 May 1959
  9. ↑ Salisu, Mohammed. "Impacts of Foreigners on the Gulf Arab Vernacular: The Case of Indian Immigrants in the United Arab Emirates" (PDF).
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 G Singh, B Parekh, et al. Culture and Economy in the Indian Diaspora. Routledge. 2003
  11. 1 2 Vora, Neha (18 March 2013). Impossible Citizens: Dubai's Indian Diaspora. Durham London: Duke University Press Books. ISBN   9780822353935.
  12. ↑ Naffis-Sahely, Andre (21 February 2018). "As one of Abu Dhabi's unofficial citizens, when will I get to call my country home?". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  13. ↑ Kapiszewski, Andrzej. Nationals and Expatriates: Population and Labour Dilemmas of the Gulf. Garnet & Ithaca Press. 2001
  14. ↑ 70,000 Indian workers benefited from UAE amnesty scheme. The Economic Times. The Times Group. 5 November 2007
  15. 1 2 Unnikrishnan, Deepak (13 December 2017). "Abu Dhabi: the city where citizenship is not an option". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  16. ↑ Yadava, Sukriti (17 January 2018). "Nomadic utopia: will Dubai's many worlds ever find a common cultural identity?". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  17. ↑ "Coronavirus: More than 50,000 Indians repatriated from Ras Al Khaimah since June". The National. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  18. ↑ Fearful of Restive Foreign Labor, Dubai Eyes Reforms. The New York Times , 6 August 2007
  19. 1 2 "UAE decides to allot land for temple in Abu Dhabi". Express Tribune. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  20. ↑ "Ajmal Perfume". Ajmal Perfume. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  21. ↑ Dubai emerges as new hub for India's super-rich | Business Line
  22. ↑ Chilwan, Adnan. "Adnan Chilwan is promoted as Group CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank". www.dib.ae.[ permanent dead link ]
  23. ↑ Puri, Kamal. "Kamal Puri Founder President of Skyline University". www.skylineuniversity.ac.ae. Skyline University College. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  24. ↑ "UAE Indians: Meet the 50 Indian Aces you need to know - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". www.arabianbusiness.com. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  25. ↑ K Zachariah, B Rakash, et al. Indian Workers in the UAE: Employment, Wages, and Working Conditions. Economic and Political Weekly. 29 May 2004
  26. ↑ ICICI Bank: The Indian diaspora in Dubai and DIFC. Khaleej Times . 25 December 2005
  27. ↑ UAE Exchange is now authorised dealer. The Hindu BusinessLine . 10 October 2006
  28. ↑ Chronology of a hijack. British Broadcasting Corporation. 29 December 1999
  29. ↑ R Perry, B Maurer. Globalization Under Construction: Governmentality, Law, and Identity. University of Minnesota Press. 2003
  30. ↑ Larkin, Barbara. Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. United States Department of State. November 2000
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.