Refugees by country of asylum in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Refugees by country of asylum was 1,377 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in United Arab Emirates, 1968–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in United Arab Emirates is 1,377 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and up 228.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in United Arab Emirates peaked at 26,350 people in 1985 and was at its lowest, 70 people, in 1989.
United Arab Emirates ranks 120th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 300 people | — |
| 1969 | 300 people | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 870 people | +190.0% |
| 1972 | 870 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3,200 people | +267.8% |
| 1974 | 1,200 people | -62.5% |
| 1976 | 4,000 people | +233.3% |
| 1977 | 390 people | -90.2% |
| 1978 | 390 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 590 people | +51.3% |
| 1980 | 2,490 people | +322.0% |
| 1981 | 6,090 people | +144.6% |
| 1982 | 3,690 people | -39.4% |
| 1983 | 4,090 people | +10.8% |
| 1984 | 5,170 people | +26.4% |
| 1985 | 26,350 people | +409.7% |
| 1989 | 70 people | -99.7% |
| 1993 | 434 people | +520.0% |
| 1994 | 380 people | -12.4% |
| 1995 | 409 people | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 464 people | +13.4% |
| 1997 | 519 people | +11.9% |
| 1998 | 532 people | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 501 people | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 560 people | +11.8% |
| 2001 | 554 people | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 165 people | -70.2% |
| 2003 | 160 people | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 106 people | -33.8% |
| 2005 | 104 people | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 176 people | +69.2% |
| 2007 | 161 people | -8.5% |
| 2008 | 204 people | +26.7% |
| 2009 | 280 people | +37.3% |
| 2010 | 538 people | +92.1% |
| 2011 | 675 people | +25.5% |
| 2012 | 628 people | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 602 people | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 419 people | -30.4% |
| 2015 | 663 people | +58.2% |
| 2016 | 888 people | +33.9% |
| 2017 | 884 people | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 1,167 people | +32.0% |
| 2019 | 1,242 people | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 1,315 people | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 1,355 people | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 1,399 people | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 1,416 people | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 1,377 people | -2.8% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 1,377 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 14% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 1,377 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16,250 people, 8% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +520.0% | 70 people | 434 people |
| 1985 | +409.7% | 5,170 people | 26,350 people |
| 1980 | +322.0% | 590 people | 2,490 people |
| 1973 | +267.8% | 870 people | 3,200 people |
| 1976 | +233.3% | 1,200 people | 4,000 people |
| 1971 | +190.0% | 300 people | 870 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 300 people | 300 people | 300 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 1,439 people | 390 people | 4,000 people | 8 |
| 1980s | 6,850 people | 70 people | 26,350 people | 7 |
| 1990s | 462.71 people | 380 people | 532 people | 7 |
| 2000s | 247 people | 104 people | 560 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 770.6 people | 419 people | 1,242 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,372 people | 1,315 people | 1,416 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More reference data data for United Arab Emirates
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0407 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4839 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.6291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.6291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1364 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0486 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0008 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in United Arab Emirates?
- Refugees by country of asylum in United Arab Emirates was 1,377 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 26,350 people in 1985.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 70 people in 1989.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 120th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 228.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.