Abu Dhabi population grows 7.5% in 2024, exceeds 4 million
The emirate's population has increased by 51 per cent over the past decade, rising from 2.7 million in 2014 to over 4.1 million in 2024. This sustained demographic expansion coincides with significant economic achievements, including GDP growth by 3.8 per cent last year to an all-time high of AED 1.2 trillion, driven by non-oil sectors, which grew by 6.2 per cent to account for 54.7 per cent of the total economic output, demonstrating the emirate's successful diversification strategy.
Ahmed Tamim Hisham Al Kuttab, Chairman of the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi and Chairman of SCAD, said, "Abu Dhabi's sustained population growth reflects the government's success in creating an environment that attracts international talent and investment. Through strategic policy development and infrastructure investment, Abu Dhabi has established itself as a leading destination for professionals seeking growth opportunities in a stable, innovative environment.
He added that the 7.5 per cent population growth validates Abu Dhabi's talent-first strategy. The government and its leadership continue to demonstrate that in today's knowledge economy, communities that offer genuine innovation opportunities - like pioneering AI-native governance -combined with world-class healthcare and safety standards, will attract the world's best professionals.
"Abu Dhabi is not competing in the traditional talent market—the emirate is creating an entirely new category as a global career destination," Al Kuttab stated.
Abu Dhabi's population growth provides the foundation for its development into the world's first AI-native government. Under the Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027, the emirate is pioneering data-driven governance that anticipates citizen needs before they arise and optimises service delivery through advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.
These initiatives are generating demand for specialists in areas including digital governance, policy analytics, service design, and technology integration—fields that combine traditional expertise with advanced technological capabilities. Such roles reflect the evolution of professional opportunities in an increasingly digital economy.
The emirate's workforce expanded by 9.1 per cent in 2024, with growth across all skill levels. Professional roles increased by 6.4 percent, reflecting Abu Dhabi's continued transition toward knowledge-based industries including AI, technology, financial services, and advanced manufacturing. The demographic profile tells the story: 54 per cent of residents are aged 25 to 44 - their peak productive years - "creating one of the world's most economically dynamic talent pools."
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