Dubai adds 161,000 people in seven months as population hits 4.74 million
Daytime numbers climb to 6.39 million with commuters and tourists
DUBAI – Dubai’s resident population has crossed 4.74 million after the emirate welcomed more than 161,000 new residents since the beginning of 2026, according to live population data released on Thursday.
The latest figures underline the pace of Dubai’s expansion, with authorities also highlighting how the number of people present in the city each day rises far beyond the resident count. The milestone comes as Dubai continues to rely on a new AI-powered real-time census system to monitor demographic changes and support future planning.
The Dubai Population Clock showed the emirate’s resident population stood at 4,741,335 at 1.45pm on July 30, representing an increase of 161,335 people from the 4.58 million residents recorded at the end of 2025.
Daytime surge
While the official figure reflects people who have lived in Dubai for at least six months or intend to remain for that period, the emirate’s daytime population is considerably higher.
On an average day, the number of people physically present in Dubai reaches 6.392 million, including around 1.812 million commuters, tourists, students, shoppers and other short-term visitors.
The additional daytime population is equivalent to about 40 per cent of the resident population, making it a key consideration for planning roads, public transport, healthcare, education, utilities and other public services.
The live figures form part of the Dubai Population Now Real-Time Population Census and Population Growth Monitoring Initiative, approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.
Dubai’s population
Dubai recorded one of its strongest years of population growth in 2025, when the resident population rose by approximately 332,000, increasing from around 4.248 million at the end of 2024 to 4.58 million by year-end.
The annual growth rate of 7.5 per cent ranked among the highest ever recorded in the emirate, surpassed only by the 8.2 per cent recorded during the 1980 census.
Historical records show Dubai had fewer than 12,000 residents in 1881. Over the past 144 years, the population has expanded by nearly 380-fold, reflecting the city’s transformation into one of the world's leading business, tourism and investment destinations.
People aged between 30 and 34 represented the largest age group in 2025, accounting for 15.45 per cent of the resident population, highlighting Dubai’s strong working-age demographic.
Smart census
new monitoring initiative replaces traditional census exercises with a continuously updated digital system that integrates administrative records, government databases and smart technologies.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive analytics are used to analyse demographic trends, mobility patterns and residency movements while supporting planning across housing, transport, healthcare, education and other sectors.
Population data is drawn from multiple government entities responsible for residency, transport, utilities, healthcare, housing, education, tourism and employment, allowing authorities to monitor demographic changes in real time and respond more quickly to the emirate’s rapidly evolving needs.