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UAE: Religions & Peoples
INTRODUCTION
1. Political situation
2. Defense
2. Economy
3. Health & Education
4. Religions & Peoples
5. History
| RELIGIONS |
Islam
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2,700,000 |
57% |
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Sunnis
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2,050,000 |
44% |
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Shi'is
|
500,000 |
10% |
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Ibadi
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140,000 |
3% |
Christianity
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1,400,000 |
30% |
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Roman Catholics
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1,100,000 |
24% |
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Protestants
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300,000 |
6% |
Hinduism
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500,000 |
10.5% |
Baha'i
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75,000 |
1.6% |
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United Arab Emirates is predominantly a Islamic society, with slightly less than half being Muslims; the distribution between Sunnis and Shi'is is average for this part of the world, but includes the third branch of Islam, the Ibadi. Christians make up a large part of the population, together with Hindus.
The area of the Emirates was quick into embracing Islam, but the people here soon left the Caliphate, returning very much to their old beliefs. But the Caliphate forced them back, and the region has stayed Muslim ever since the 7th century. Most of the Shi'is live in the emirate of Dubai. But the true figures given above are not all too certain; if the numbers of Shi'is are off the official numbers, the real numbers are clearly higher. Still, UAE is one of few countries in this part of the world, where there is a religiously mixed population without an ongoing conflict and suppression from the the largest Muslim group on the minorities.
Only 20% of the total population are natives to the region. The society is dominated by Asians, other Arabs and some Westerners.
The immigrants are really dominating the image of public life in the emirates; of neighbouring peoples, groups considered Omani and Iranian represent 3 and 8% respectively. There are few intermarriages between the different groups, and immigrants do not enjoy all the same rights as the indigenous population, even if they stay here all their life.
39% of the total population live in Abu Dhabi, 29% in Dubai, 17% in Sharjah, 6% in Ras al-Khaima, 5% in Ajman, 3% in Fujairah and 1,5% in Umm al-Qaiwain.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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