Dubai Population Reaches 4.74 Million by End of June 2026, Recovering 157,000 Residents Since Start of Year After March War Dip

Dubai's population reached 4.74 million by the end of June 2026, adding 157,000 residents since the start of the year and recovering fully from a 61,000-person drop in March during the height of the Iran war, according to official figures released by Dubai's government on August 4. The population dipped to 4.65 million in March, representing a 1.3 percent decline, before rebounding with nearly 40,000 new residents in June alone. July remained largely stable, with a decline of only 376 people. The data, reported by The National and Dubai Chronicle, shows the emirate's resident base climbed 1.86 percent in the second quarter after a slower 1.55 percent expansion in the first quarter, when regional tensions tied to the US-Iran conflict briefly slowed inflows. Dubai's annual population growth hovered between 6 and 7 percent in recent years, with 2025 recording 7.5 percent growth to reach 4.58 million, among the highest rates on record for the city. The recovery carries direct implications for the real estate market, which saw 27,300 residential units completed in the second quarter, the highest quarterly delivery volume in years, and for broader economic demand tied to trade, finance, and construction sectors. The population figures support the view that while the war caused a short-term pause, the underlying drivers of migration, including skilled worker demand, Golden Visa programs, and business expansion under the Dubai 2033 economic agenda, remain intact and capable of absorbing near-term geopolitical shocks.