7 years of births data across the 7 emirates
Understanding what the data reveals about citizen birth trends across the past seven years
The demographic landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is fascinating, as it is potentially one of the most culturally diverse nations on the planet, however the Nation’s roots emerge from the Emirati culture and values laid out five decades back.
Out of curiosity, over the weekend, I looked at the latest UAE FCSC data of Citizen (Emirati) births from 2015 to 2021, and it is interesting to note that while some Emirates have had a upswing in Emirati births, there are some emirates that have seen a significant decline in Citizen births, notably Dubai, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
As an example, a decline of ~25% in absolute number of births in Dubai, could completely reshape the demographic population structure significantly within the next decade, and the implications for labor markets, economic stablity, social services and public policy are profound and need careful consideration.
This is where initiatives like Abu Dhabi’s “Family friendly Cities” and UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative are critical, as they would help foster an environment that supports families and enhance their quality of life, through not only green recreational spaces, but also innovative community engagement strategies which prioritize children’s needs.
As I was reflecting on the data surrounding absolute Emirati births in the UAE and its emirates, i was feeling concerned about the future; but within these numbers likes an opportunity for growth and understanding. It got me thinking on how can we build a brighter tomorrow for generations to come and keep this Nation thriving.