GCC: Foreign populations in the six GCC states (mid-year figures, 2010-2024)

Bahrain Kuwait* Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia UAE
2010 657,856 2,433,691 816,143 N.A. 9,932,323 6,003,140
2011 610,332 2,514,107 1,530,437 N.A. 10,749,738 6,250,690
2012 609,335 2,611,292 1,530,437 N.A. 11,485,315 6,514,991
2013 638,361 2,722,645 1,683,204 N.A. 12,544,603 6,790,777
2014 683,818 2,816,136 1,732,188 N.A. 12,774,237 7,184,260
2015 722,487 2,931,401 1,814,156 N.A. 13,848,311 7,618,340
2016 759,019 3,073,431 1,986,226 N.A. 14,598,886 7,979,782
2017 823,610 3,130,463 2,054,594 N.A. 14,280,375 8,131,525
2018 813,377 3,218,525 2,013,523 N.A. 13,110,645 8,164,997
2019 781,929 3,344,362 1,962,815 N.A. 12,556,628 8,268,140
2020 758,941 3,210,743 1,858,516 N.A. 13,573,923 8,014,862
2021 784,624 2,897,001 1,712,565 N.A. 12,403,714 8,557,624
2022 835,525 3,276,492 1,894,657 N.A. 13,382,962 8,957,263
2023 849,707 3,367,490 2,183,967 N.A. 14,456,802 N.A.
2024 848,934 3,315,086 2,248,503 N.A. 15,665,022 N.A.

*: end of year figures
N.A.: No data available as of 24 March 2026.

Sources:
(1) Bahrain: for detailed sources and metadata please visit:
https://gulfmigration.grc.net/bahrain-population-estimates-by-nationality-bahraini-non-bahraini-1991-dec-2024/
(2) Kuwait: for detailed sources and metadata please visit:
https://gulfmigration.grc.net/kuwait-population-by-nationality-kuwaiti-non-kuwaiti-1990-dec-2024/
(3) Oman: for detailed sources and metadata please visit:
https://gulfmigration.grc.net/oman-mid-year-population-by-nationality-omani-non-omani-2000-2024/
(4) Qatar: No total population data (all age groups) broken down by nationality are officially published.
(5) Saudi Arabia: for detailed sources and metadata please visit:
https://gulfmigration.grc.net/saudi-arabia-population-by-nationality-saudi-non-saudi-sex-and-age-group-2024-2/
(6) UAE: No population data broken down by nationality are officially published.
These figures are GLMM estimates.
For the methodology of these estimates, see:
https://gulfmigration.grc.net/uae-a-methodology-for-estimating-the-emirati-and-non-emirati-populations-2010-2022/
As of 24 March 2026, no vital statistics (births and deaths data) disaggregated by nationality are available on FCSC’s website for 2023 and 2024.
It is therefore impossible to update our disaggregated population estimates beyond 2022.

Last date of access: 24 March 2026.

GLMM and GRC cannot guarantee that the link to access the source will not change;
that the information will not be removed from the website it was obtained from;
that no geo-blockages will be imposed; or that the information will not be available for any another reason.

Keywords: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Foreign & National Populations