Dubai’s population in peak daytime rose to 5.13 million in 2024 from 4.86 million in 2023 and 4.72 million in 2022, according to the latest data by the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment. The authority defines peak daytime as the usual daily peak hours from Saturday to Thursday, from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm.
2024’s peak population includes 3.86 million individuals residing in Dubai and 1.26 million individuals residing outside Dubai, who visit it for work. This includes employees at the federal government, local government and private sector who reside outside the emirate.
Dubai adds 59,610 new households in 2024
Among the permanent residents, 3.56 million were non-citizens, while 299,600 were Emirati citizens. A separate report reveals that the number of citizens residing in Dubai grew from 292,200 in 2023 to 299,600 in 2024.
Last year, Dubai also recorded 59,610 new households in 2024. The total number of households reached 771,200, up from 711,590 in 2023 and 669,750 in 2022.
During a recent workshop titled ‘Connecting Bridges’, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, director general, chairman of the board of executive directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, said that over the past decade, Dubai’s population has grown at an average annual rate of over 6 percent, significantly outpacing the global average of 1.1 percent. By 2040, the city’s peak daytime population is expected to reach eight million.
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Factors driving population growth
Dubai is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The economic stability and growth of Dubai make it a prime choice for expatriates, particularly those seeking jobs. The city also continues to attract investors, high-net-worth individuals, and businesses due to the ease of doing business. A fluid geopolitical and economic environment, changing government policies, taxes and incentives, and quality-of-life factors are also supporting population growth.
The UAE is a particularly attractive option for high-net-worth individuals who bring their companies with them. It has a dynamic economy that’s diversifying away from oil and attracting growing sums of corporate and sovereign wealth investment.
This population growth is also driving economic growth and diversification. As Dubai’s population expands, demand for services and properties rises. In the real estate sector, prime residential capital values in Dubai rose by 6.8 percent in 2024, with prime office values growing by 7 percent in Q4 alone.
In 2024, the residential sector recorded unprecedented transaction volumes, with a 47 percent year-on-year increase. Of these, over 4,600 units priced above AED10 million were transacted during the year, marking a 23 percent year-on-year increase.
