Hindus in the United Arab Emirates
Priests of BAPS Abu Dhabi temple showing the Temple Literature to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince of Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Total population
1,239,600 (2022); 6.6%-15% of total population
Regions with significant populations
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah
Religions
Hinduism
Languages
Related ethnic groups
Indians in the United Arab Emirates

Hindus are the third largest Religious group in the United Arab Emirates and constitute around 6.6%-15% of the population in the nation.[1] Hinduism is followed mainly by the significant Nepali and Indian population in the United Arab Emirates.

History

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.[2] Dubai had traditionally served as an entrepôt for trade between the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent and was dominated by Hindu merchants in both gold and textile trade.[3] After the discovery of crude oil and large-scale industrialization and urbanization in the UAE many workers and employees came to UAE for work and employment purposes in the nation.[4] Many South Asians immigrated there for work and employed and after 2000, Dubai became a global hotspot for mainly South Asians, many of them were Hindus.[5]

Demographics

Most of the Hindu diaspora in UAE are Indian, especially from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Punjab.[6] The other Hindus are from Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.[7][8][9]

According to the 2007 International Religious Freedom Report, unofficial figures estimate that at least 15 percent of the UAE population is Hindu.[10] In 2011, the Pew Research Center estimates that Hindus constitute 6.6% of the population.[11]

Temples

Hindu Temple, Jabel Ali, Dubai

There are currently two temples in Dubai and one temple in Abu Dhabi.

The Hindu Temple, Dubai , located in Bur Dubai , is locally referred to as "Shiva and Krishna Mandir". It was built in 1958.[12]

The second Hindu Temple of Dubai is in Jebel Ali Village next to the Sikh Gurudwara and Churches Complex. The temple was opened on October 5, 2022.

In July 2013, an Arab businessman donated land for setting up a temple just outside the city of Abu Dhabi.[13] In August 2015, the UAE government announced permission for building a Hindu temple on it. The announcement was made during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UAE.[14][15][16] BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi is currently under construction.[17] It had its foundation stone laying ceremony in April 2019.[18][19]

Cremation Facilities for Hindus

There are two operating cremation facilities for the Hindu community, one in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai.[20]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "United Arab Emirates". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Abed, Hellyer. United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective (page 114). Trident Press. 2001
  3. ↑ King, Russel. Return Migration and Regional Economic Problems (page 245). Routledge. 1986
  4. ↑ Marsh 2015, p. 67.
  5. ↑ Marsh 2015, p. 71.
  6. ↑ Said, Luxrai27; October 29, on; Pm, 2015 at 6:18 (22 March 2009). "The Hindu Diaspora In The Middle East". Kashmir Blogs. Retrieved 24 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "Centre's intervention sought to help Indians stranded in Nepal". The Hindu. 28 April 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "Did you know 250,000 Sri Lankans live in the UAE?". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  9. ↑ "Hindu temples in the UAE: A symbol of tolerance". Maktoob Yahoo. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "United Arab Emirates: International Religious Freedom Report 2007". United States Department of State: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: United Arab Emirates". United States Department of State: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  12. ↑ "First Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi: 8 things you may want to know". Condé Nast Traveller India. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Arab donates land for Swaminarayan temple in UAE". The Times of India.
  14. ↑ "UAE takes a 'landmark' decision, allots land for building first temple in Abu Dhabi". 17 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "UAE allots land for temple on Modi visit". 16 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "UAE decides to allot land for temple in Abu Dhabi". The Times of India.
  17. ↑ Bhattacherjee, Kallol (6 February 2018). "PM to lay foundation stone of temple in UAE". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  18. ↑ "First Hindu Mandir In Abu Dhabi, UAE, To Be Built By BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha". Indo American News. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  19. ↑ Ahmad, Anwar f. "Video: First Hindu temple's foundation stone laying ceremony in Abu Dhabi". Gulf News. Dubai. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  20. ↑ Kumar, Ashwani. "Look: Abu Dhabi Hindu temple rising 'at great pace'". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 24 May 2021.

General bibliography

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