“Everything the United Arab Emirates does will prosper!”
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.(Psalm 1:3,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Middle East
Population | 9.91 million
Area | 83,600㎢, located along the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, composed of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah
Capital City | Abu Dhabi (1.54 million), Major Cities: Dubai (2.96 million), Sharjah (1.78 million)
People Groups | Total 36 groups: South Asians 40%, Gulf Arabs 11.6%, Egyptians 10.2%, Pashtuns 4%, Baloch 4%, Filipinos 3%
Unreached People Groups | 31 groups (83.2% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Arabic
Total Languages | 32
Bible Translations | Completed 16, New Testament 3, Partial 8
Religion | Islam 64.9%, Hinduism 27.5%, Christianity 6.3% (Protestant 0.6%, Catholic 3.8%), Buddhism 0.5%, Evangelicals 1.2% (approx. 120,000 people)
》 About The United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates was under British protection starting in the 19th century. When British forces withdrew from the Gulf coast in 1971, the UAE was formed as a federation of seven emirates, each led by its own monarch. While the federal government oversees areas such as foreign affairs, defense, currency, and postal services, each emirate operates as a self-governing monarchy with its own administrative structure. In recent years, the UAE has taken on an increasingly prominent role in regional Middle Eastern affairs. In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement with Israel—the Abraham Accords—brokered by the United States in Washington, D.C. Since 2022, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has served as the ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE.
The economy of the United Arab Emirates has historically been driven by oil wealth, resulting in high national income and substantial trade surpluses. However, successful efforts in economic diversification have reduced the oil and gas sector’s share of GDP to around 30%. As a key hub connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa, the UAE has become a major center for trade and foreign labor mobility.
In response to challenges such as COVID-19 and global oil price fluctuations, the UAE has accelerated investment in emerging industries like digital technology and food security. The Dubai Expo, held from October 2021 for 182 days, attracted 20 million visitors and showcased the country’s economic resilience and global vision.
The United Arab Emirates’ GDP per capita is approximately $49,500.
》 Scripture Focus
| Psalm 1:1-6(NIV) 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Evangelism is forbidden in the United Arab Emirates. As an Islamic nation, websites that criticize Islam are blocked, and it is illegal to publicly share the gospel or attempt to convert Muslims. Those who are caught may face imprisonment or deportation. Yet we give thanks that, though few, the number of local Arab believers is growing, and many South Asians and other foreigners are responding to the gospel.
Let us pray that united prayer networks will continue to grow strategically within the UAE and the wider Gulf region. Pray also that student and campus ministries would bear lasting fruit. Although direct evangelism is restricted, may the churches live as true disciples, walking the path of righteousness approved by God, and boldly proclaiming through the gospel that the way of the wicked will surely perish.
2. Dubai, a major city in the UAE, is seen as a city of dreams and a vision of the future. It serves as a hub for aviation, commerce, finance, tourism, and trade, linking the Middle East with the world. For many Arab youth, it is one of the most desired places to live. Let us pray that its abundance, like an oasis, will not become a tool of fleeting worldliness, but instead that the UAE will rise as a center for gospel proclamation and missions. Let us also pray that God would send workers to the harvest, so the gospel may reach Persians, Baluch Iranians, Punjabis, Pashtuns, Afghans, Somalis, and Sudanese. Let us pray that places of worship would be provided for these people groups, and that churches would be revived and become streams of living water, flowing together as one body of Christ to carry the gospel forward.
3. Although the UAE’s economy is rapidly advancing, foreign workers often suffer from low wages, poor labor conditions, and lack of basic human rights. Yet in the midst of hardship, many are opening their hearts to the gospel. Some even begin to share the gospel beyond their own ethnic groups. Let us pray that migrant workers who came in search of income will encounter the gospel and be transformed by it. May Christian workers take deep root in the gospel, bear fruit in season, and remain strong in faith. Pray that they will rise as bold witnesses who proclaim the gospel with courage and endurance.
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