Hindus are a significant minority in the United Arab Emirates and constituting around 6.6%-15% of the population in the nation. Hinduism is followed mainly by the significant Nepali and Indian population in the United Arab Emirates.
History
At the turn of the 20th century, the region that now comprises the UAE experienced an economic boom as a result of the pearling industry; the few Indian traders emigrating to the emirates moved to the coastal towns and remained on the fringes of Emirati society. Dubai had traditionally served as an entrepôt for trade between the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent and was dominated by Hindu merchants in both gold and textile trade. After the discovery of crude oil and large-scale industrialization and urbanization in the UAE many workers and employees came to UAE for work and employment purposes in the nation. Many South Asians immigrated there for work and employed and after 2000, Dubai became a global hotspot for mainly South Asians, many of them were Hindus.
Demographics
Most of the Hindu diaspora in UAE are Indian, especially from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Punjab. The other Hindus are from Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
According to the 2007 International Religious Freedom Report, unofficial figures estimate that at least 15 percent of the UAE population is Hindu. In 2011, the Pew Research Center estimates that Hindus constitute 6.6% of the population.
Temples
There are currently two temples in Dubai and one temple in Abu Dhabi. Hindu Temple, Dubai Hindu temple, Jebel Ali BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Abu Dhabi
The Hindu Temple, Dubai , located in Bur Dubai , is locally referred to as "Shiva and Krishna Mandir". It was built in 1958.
The second Hindu Temple of Dubai is in Jebel Ali Village next to the Sikh Gurudwara and Churches Complex. The temple was opened on October 5, 2022.
In July 2013, an Arab businessman donated land for setting up a temple just outside the city of Abu Dhabi. In August 2015, the UAE government announced permission for building a Hindu temple on it. The announcement was made during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UAE. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi is currently under construction. It had its foundation stone laying ceremony in April 2019.
Cremation Facilities for Hindus
There are two operating cremation facilities for the Hindu community, one in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai.
See also
Religion in the United Arab Emirates
Sikhism in the United Arab Emirates
References
Citations
General bibliography
External links
United Arab Emirates 2017 International Religious Freedom Report (PDF)