Pakistan Association Dubai

Last updated
Pakistan Association Dubai
AbbreviationPAD
Formation1960s
PurposeCommunity association
HeadquartersP.O. Box. 426 Oud Metha Road, Street 11, Bur Dubai
Location
Membership
Pakistani community
President
Dr. Faisel Ikram [1]
Vice President
Muhammad Zaim [1]
General Secretary
Sohail Ashraf [1]
Website pad.ae

The Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) is the largest community center for overseas Pakistanis in the world. It was founded in the late 1960s as a platform for advancing the social and cultural interests of Pakistani expatriates residing in Dubai and more broadly, the United Arab Emirates.

Contents

History

The Pakistani diaspora in the UAE is the third largest overseas Pakistani community, and also one of the oldest expatriate groups in the UAE. There are currently over 1.2 million Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates, [2] out of which over 400,000 are based in Dubai alone. [3] Pakistanis collectively comprise around 13% of Dubai's population and are the third largest ethnic group in the emirate (after Indians and native Emiratis). [4] When PAD was founded in the late 1960s by members of the early community, it was initially based at a small rented office space in Murshid Bazar in Deira, where the Pakistan Education Academy now exists. [1] By the early 1990s, the office was shifted to the Astoria Hotel in Bur Dubai. Later, the centre where the association is now headquartered was built on Oud Metha Road in Bur Dubai. [1] The objectives of PAD include promoting relations between Pakistan and the UAE, providing community support and welfare, promoting Pakistani culture, organising recreational community events, and enhancing the interests of the Pakistani expatriate community in the UAE. [5] .

Structure

The association elects a president who formally heads the organisation, typically for a tenure of two to three years. A vice-president, general-secretary and joint-secretary are also elected as part of the executive body. Membership is required to register and participate in the association. [1] PAD works closely with the Consulate-General of Pakistan in Dubai. [6] There are multiple community wings operating under PAD. These include the medical, engineering, journalist, professional, accounting and ladies wings, among others. [7]

Events and activities

PAD arranges numerous cultural events and gatherings in the community, such as Independence Day, Pakistan Day and UAE National Day celebrations, literary events including mushairas, iftar dinners during Ramadan, chaand raat events, meena bazaars, fundraising dinners and awareness events, award ceremonies, art exhibitions, sport and leisurely events, as well as workshops and language classes. PAD also arranges support services for Pakistanis in the UAE labour force, as well welfare activities both in Pakistan and the UAE. [8] [9] A newsletter is published and distributed by the association. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

The United Arab Emirates, or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East. It is located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula and shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia, while also having maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran. Abu Dhabi is the nation's capital, while Dubai, the most populous city, is an international hub.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dubai</span> Most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai

Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the country's seven emirates.

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

The Emiratis are the native Arab citizen population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Within the UAE itself, they number approximately 1.15 million.

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 UAE, which is over 38 percent of the total population of the UAE and the fourth highest number of overseas Indian people in the world, after the United States, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Nepal. 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.

<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.

Emirati Iranians or Emirati Persians are residents of the United Arab Emirates of Iranian national background. The community accounts for 5-8% of the country's population.

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.

Australians in the United Arab Emirates consist of 16,000 expatriates, most of whom live in Dubai and the capital of Abu Dhabi.

Canadians in the United Arab Emirates are residents of the United Arab Emirates who originate from Canada. They include Emirati-born residents of Canadian origin or Canadian emigrants in the UAE.

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

Denmark–United Arab Emirates relations refers to the bilateral relations established between Denmark and the United Arab Emirates. The UAE does not have a diplomatic mission in Denmark although Denmark maintains a consulate in Dubai and also announced the reopening of an embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2010, more than a decade after it was closed because of budget cuts.

Islam is both the official and majority religion in the United Arab Emirates, professed by approximately 76% of the population. The Al Nahyan and Al Maktoum ruling families adhere to Sunni Islam of Maliki school of jurisprudence. Many followers of the Hanbali school of Sunni Islam are found in Sharjah, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Ajman. Their followers include the Al Qasimi ruling family. Other religions represented in the country including Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrians, Druze, Baha'i Judaism and Sikhism are practiced by non-nationals.

There are thousands of Jordanians living in the United Arab Emirates. As of 2009, their population was estimated at 250,000, an increase from 80,000 in 2003, making them one of the largest Jordanian diaspora communities both worldwide and in the Persian Gulf region and also form the second largest community of non-citizen Arabs in the UAE after the Egyptians. Most Jordanians live in Dubai and the capital, Abu Dhabi.

Most expatriates in the United Arab Emirates reside in Dubai and the capital, Abu Dhabi. A number of immigrants settled in the country prior to independence. The UAE is home to over 200 nationalities. Emiratis constitute roughly 10% of the total population, making the UAE home to one of the world's highest percentage of expatriates. Indians and Pakistanis form the largest expatriate groups in the country, constituting 28% and 12% of the total population respectively. Around 510,000 Westerners live in the United Arab Emirates, making up 5.1% of its total population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emirati diaspora</span>

The Emirati diaspora comprises Emirati citizens who have emigrated from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to other countries, and people of Emirati descent born or residing in other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consulate-General of Pakistan, Dubai</span>

The Consulate-General of Pakistan, Dubai is a diplomatic mission of Pakistan in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The consulate serves the emirate of Dubai and the five surrounding Northern Emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah. It is one of two Pakistani diplomatic missions in the UAE, the other being the Pakistani embassy in Abu Dhabi, to which it reports. The current Consul-General is Mr. Hassan Afzal Khan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of Pakistan, Abu Dhabi</span> Diplomatic mission of Representation

The Embassy of Pakistan, Abu Dhabi is the diplomatic mission representing Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. The embassy is located in the Diplomatic Area in Abu Dhabi. Afzaal Mahmood is the incumbent Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan also has a Consulate-General in Dubai, which works under the embassy.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consulate-General of the United Arab Emirates, Karachi</span> Diplomatic mission located in Pakistan

The Consulate-General of the United Arab Emirates in Karachi is a diplomatic mission of the UAE in Pakistan.

Migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates describe the foreign workers who have moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for work. As a result of the proximity of the UAE to South Asia and a better economy and job opportunities, most of the migrant foreign workers are from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History". Pakistan Association Dubai. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Polling booths to be set up across the UAE so Pakistanis can vote". The National. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Hanif, Nadeem (8 May 2011). "Election looms for Pakistan community group". The National. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Jandt, Fred E. (2012). An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global Community. SAGE. p. 237. ISBN   9781452285757.
  5. ↑ "PAD Vision". Pakistan Association Dubai. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Pakistan Associations and Centres in Dubai and Northern Emirates". Consulate General of Pakistan, Dubai. Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "Wings". Pakistan Association Dubai. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "News Feed". Pakistan Association Dubai. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Events". Pakistan Association Dubai. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
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.