 As of 2013 , only about 15 % of the population of the emirate was made up of UAE nationals , with the rest comprising expatriates , many of whom either have been in the country for generations or were born in the UAE . Approximately 85 % of the expatriate population ( and 71 % of the emirate 's total population ) was Asian , chiefly Indian ( 51 % ) and Pakistani ( 16 % ) ; other significant Asian groups include Bangladeshis ( 9 % ) and Filipinos ( 3 % ) . There is a sizable community of Somalis numbering around 30 @,@ 000 , as well as other communities of various nationalities . A quarter of the population ( local and foreign ) reportedly traces their origins to Iran . In addition , 16 % of the population ( or 288 @,@ 000 persons ) living in collective labour accommodation were not identified by ethnicity or nationality , but were thought to be primarily Asian . There are over 100 @,@ 000 British expatriates in Dubai , by far the largest group of Western expatriates in the city . The median age in the emirate was about 27 years . In 2014 , there were estimated to be 15 @.@ 54 births and 1 @.@ 99 deaths per 1 @,@ 000 people . 
