Iraqis in the United Arab Emirates
Total population
250,000
Regions with significant populations
Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
Languages
Mesopotamian Arabic, Kurdish (Sorani, Feyli and Kurmanji dialects), and Neo-Aramaic (Chaldean, Ashuri
Religion
Islam, Syriac Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Arabs, Armenians, Assyrians, Azeris, Iranians, Mizrahim, Turkmen

Iraqis in the United Arab Emirates have a population exceeding 200,000,[1] closer estimates report a total of 250,000[2] Iraqis in the Emirates. Since its independence, Iraqis have contributed in the development of UAE, as engineers, politicians and in other fields. Most notably Adnan Pachachi who was appointed as Minister of State in the first Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Pachachi is known for his role in submitting the UAE's application for membership in the United Nations. In a meeting with Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that "Iraqis have contributed in building the UAE, and there are many of them who worked, built, developed and helped build the Emirates, and we mention this credit to them, whether engineers, doctors, or even politicians and others. There are still many Iraqis living in the UAE, and they are credited.”[3]

The Iraqi people tend to be spread out over various emirates of the country, with areas of high concentration being Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Background

Early migration of Iraqi people to the Emirates began after Abdul Salam Arif's 1968 Arab nationalist revolution in Baghdad[4] which resulted in a high influx of Iraqis moving their businesses to Dubai[4] and continued to do so during the 1970s,[5] as well as throughout the Iran–Iraq War, the first Gulf war and the further civil unrest in Iraq due to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the ensuing war, and the renewed war involving the Islamic State lasting until 2017.[4]

The majority of Iraqi expatriates that fled to the UAE are educated and affluent[6] peoples who are now active in Emirati society, from being engineers to teachers and jewellers,[5] as well as being involved in business and the media as presenters and news anchors.

Economic contributions

There are 500 Iraqi companies[7] operating in the Jebel Ali Free Zone alone, an economic hub located in Jebel Ali, a city in Dubai.

Iraqi people in the United Arab Emirates

See also

References

  1. ↑ "BuzzFlash > World Media Watch > 1/21/05". Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  2. ↑ http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/uae-iraqis-restricted-by-passport-delays?pageCount=0 UAE Iraqis restricted by passport delays
  3. ↑ وام, أبوظبي ـ. "محمد بن زايد: عراقنا غالٍ على قلوبنا والإمارات دائماً إلى جانبه". www.albayan.ae (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  4. 1 2 3 Dubai: the vulnerability of success By Christopher M. Davidson
  5. 1 2 http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/iraqi-expats-try-to-keep-their-traditions-alive-in-abu-dhabi-1.98498 Iraqi expats try to keep their traditions alive in Abu Dhabi
  6. ↑ NBC News Many talented Iraqis are leaving: Violence, political instability triggers exodus
  7. ↑ http://www1.albawaba.com/en/business/500-iraqi-companies-established-jebel-ali 500 Iraqi companies established in Jebel Ali
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