There has been an influx of foreign workers and investment in the UAE which has lead to a rapid growth in the population in the last 4 years.

National Bureau of Statistics has published the figures this month. It has marked that 8.3 million were living in the country by mid-2010, up 65 per cent as compared to mid-2006.

On the other hand there was a drop in the percentage of Emiratis to just 11.5 per cent.  In the year 2006 it was 15.4 per cent.

Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) have said Gulf News that the UAE's population strategy has made plans to make Emiratis the mainstream all over the country. It has planned to rise up to 40 per cent by the year 2021.

Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shahin, a former representative from Ras Al Khaimah, has said that the rise of Emiratis would be good for the country and it would account for the majority or up to 35 per cent of the population by 2021.