People walking to COP28 venue in Dubai, UAE

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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

STREAM Diploma strengthens capacities on social protection for migrant workers along the South Asia–Gulf corridor
Construction worker in Dubai. A general image of a worker busy fixing a floor in a construction site in Dubai on 12th Feb 2012.

STREAM

STREAM Diploma strengthens capacities on social protection for migrant workers along the South Asia–Gulf corridor

South Asia–Gulf consultations build momentum for migrant workers’ social protection
Participants at a cross-regional consultation organized by the ILO STREAM programme to advance dialogue on social protection for migrant workers across the South Asia–Gulf migration corridor. Colombo, Sri Lanka- 2 October 2026

STREAM

South Asia–Gulf consultations build momentum for migrant workers’ social protection

Projects and programmes

Estimating living wages in RBA member sourcing countries

Living Wage Programme - LWP

Estimating living wages in RBA member sourcing countries

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

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

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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