People walking to COP28 venue in Dubai, UAE

Country Portal

United Arab Emirates

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been an ILO member state since 1972 and has ratified nine ILO Conventions, including six core Conventions. The UAE hosts some 8.7 million migrant workers – equivalent to over 80 per cent of the country’s resident population – making it one of the largest foreign labour-receiving countries in the world. With Emirati nationals mainly employed in the public sector, migrant workers constitute the bulk of private sector employment. The ILO and UAE are collaborating across topics such as social protection, labour migration corridors, just transition, and building institutional capacities to enable it to create and maintain safe and healthy workspaces in all sectors of the economy.

Latest news and stories

Ageing migrant populations require new approaches to social protection
General shots of shopkeepers and street hawkers in different markets in Delhi, India.

Voices and insights on social protection and migration in the South Asia–Gulf corridor

Ageing migrant populations require new approaches to social protection

Sri Lanka moves to shield migrant workers from crises through enhanced social protection
A worker wearing a high-visibility vest sweeps a paved road in a vast desert landscape, with towering sandstone cliffs in the background.

Sri Lanka moves to shield migrant workers from crises through enhanced social protection

Projects and programmes

STREAM - Extending Social Protection to migrant workers and their families in the South Asia-Gulf Corridor

Project

STREAM - Extending Social Protection to migrant workers and their families in the South Asia-Gulf Corridor

The FAIRWAY programme

The FAIRWAY programme

Publications

Gender and statistics in the world of work in the Arab States Region

Gender and statistics in the world of work in the Arab States Region

Regional report of the integration of just transition themes in the Nationally Determined Contributions across the Arab States

NDC 2.0 Review in the Arab States

Regional report of the integration of just transition themes in the Nationally Determined Contributions across the Arab States

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Picture of a book case.
All resources

All resources

Browse our catalogue of resources from or about United Arab Emirates and filter by topic or sector.

Work with us

Contact

Mette Grangaard Lund

Just Transitions Specialist
ILO Regional Office for Arab States

ILO activities in the United Arab Emirates are coordinated by the ILO in the Arab States Office, based in Beirut.

Aresco Centre - Justinien Street - Kantari
P.O.Box 11-4088 Riad Solh 1107-2150
Beirut – Lebanon