View source for Hinduism in the United Arab Emirates

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Infobox religious group
| group      = Hindus in the United Arab Emirates
| population = 1,240,000 (2022){{increase}}; '''6.6%-15%''' of total population
| religions  = [[Hinduism]]
| related-c = [[Indians in the United Arab Emirates]]
| image = BAPS Abu Dhabi Mandir.jpg
| caption = Visitors at newly constructed [[BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi|BAPS Hindu Mandir]] at [[Abu Dhabi]].
| regions = [[Abu Dhabi]], [[Dubai]], and [[Sharjah]]
}}

'''[[Hinduism]]''' is the third largest religion in the [[United Arab Emirates]] and [[Hindus]] constitute around 6.6%-15% of the population in the nation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=United Arab Emirates|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2007/90223.htm|access-date=2021-05-24|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]|archive-date=4 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204132631/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2007/90223.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Hinduism is followed mainly by the significant Nepali and [[Indians in the United Arab Emirates|Indian population in the United Arab Emirates]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ahuja |first=Akshay |date=2023-04-27 |title=Determinants of cardiovascular diseases among Indian expatriates residing in Ajman, UAE-A Pilot study |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.18332/popmed/165582 |journal=Population Medicine |volume=5 |issue=Supplement |doi=10.18332/popmed/165582 |issn=2654-1459|doi-access=free }}</ref>

== History ==
At the turn of the 20th century, the region that now comprises the UAE experienced an economic boom as a result of the [[pearl hunting|pearling]] industry; the few Indian traders who immigrated to the emirates settled in coastal towns and remained on the fringes of [[Emirati culture|Emirati]] society.<ref name=pearling>Abed, Hellyer. [https://books.google.com/books?id=QcMz3zV0qAMC&pg=PA246 United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective] (page 114). [[Trident Press]]. 2001</ref> Dubai has 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".<ref name=dubai_oman>King, Russel. [https://books.google.com/books?id=nbsNAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA245 Return Migration and Regional Economic Problems] (page 245). Routledge. 1986</ref> After the discovery of crude oil and large-scale industrialization and urbanization in the [[UAE]], many workers and employees came to [[UAE]] for employment purposes in the nation.{{Sfn|Marsh|2015|p=67}} Many [[South Asian ethnic groups|South Asians]] immigrated there for work, and after 2000, [[Dubai]] became a global hotspot, attracting mainly [[South Asians]], many of whom were [[Hindus]].{{Sfn|Marsh|2015|p=71}}

== Demographics ==
Most of the [[Hindu diaspora]] in [[UAE]] are [[Indians in the United Arab Emirates|Indian]], especially from [[Gujarat]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Karnataka]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Kerala]], [[Maharashtra]], and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} The other [[Hindus]] are from [[Nepalis|Nepal]], [[Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates|Pakistan]], [[Bangladeshis in the Middle East|Bangladesh]], [[Sri Lankans in the United Arab Emirates|Sri Lanka]], and [[Bhutanese refugees|Bhutan]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-04-28|title=Centre's intervention sought to help Indians stranded in Nepal|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/centres-intervention-sought-to-help-indians-stranded-in-nepal/article34426182.ece|access-date=2021-07-12|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=12 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712115519/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/centres-intervention-sought-to-help-indians-stranded-in-nepal/article34426182.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Did you know 250,000 Sri Lankans live in the UAE?|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/getting-to-know-sri-lankans-in-the-uae-1.1541417647108|access-date=2021-07-12|website=gulfnews.com|language=en|archive-date=12 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712115519/https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/getting-to-know-sri-lankans-in-the-uae-1.1541417647108|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Hindu temples in the UAE: A symbol of tolerance|work=Maktoob Yahoo|url=https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/hindu-temple-symbol-uae-culture-tolerance-040508995.html|access-date=12 July 2021|archive-date=5 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405104239/https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/hindu-temple-symbol-uae-culture-tolerance-040508995.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the 2007 [[International Religious Freedom Report]], unofficial figures estimate that at least 15 percent of the UAE population is Hindu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United Arab Emirates: International Religious Freedom Report 2007 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90223.htm |publisher=[[United States Department of State]]: [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] |date=2007-09-14 |access-date=2023-04-01 |archive-date=10 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110154648/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90223.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011, the [[Pew Research Center]] estimates that Hindus constitute 6.6% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: United Arab Emirates |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/united-arab-emirates/ |publisher=[[United States Department of State]]: [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] |access-date=2023-04-01}}</ref>

== Temples ==
[[File:Hindu Temple Dubai.jpg|thumb|Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali, Dubai]]
There are currently two temples in Dubai and one temple in Abu Dhabi.
* Hindu Temple, Dubai (1958)
* [[Hindu Temple, Dubai|Hindu Temple Jebel Ali, Dubai]] (2022)
* [[BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Abu Dhabi|BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi]] (2024)

The first Hindu Temple in Dubai is located in [[Bur Dubai]], and is locally referred to as "Shiva and Krishna Mandir." It was built in 1958.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-03|title=First Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi: 8 things you may want to know|url=https://www.cntraveller.in/story/first-hindu-temple-in-abu-dhabi-8-things-you-may-want-to-know-baps-hindu-mandir/|access-date=2021-05-24|publisher=Condé Nast Traveller India|language=en-IN}}</ref> The Shiv temple closed in 2024 due to lack of space and was relocated to Jebel Ali. The Krishna Temple continues to exist there.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

The second temple, [[Hindu Temple, Dubai]], is in [[Jebel Ali Village]] next to the Sikh Gurudwara and Churches Complex. The temple was opened on October 5, 2022.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

In August 2015, the UAE government allocated land for the construction of a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. The construction of the [[BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi|BAPS Hindu Mandir]] in Abu Dhabi commenced in December 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Ashwani |title=‘Dream come true’: 30 days left for Abu Dhabi Hindu temple grand opening |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dream-come-true-30-days-left-for-abu-dhabi-hindu-temple-grand-opening |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Khaleej Times |language=en |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221190534/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dream-come-true-30-days-left-for-abu-dhabi-hindu-temple-grand-opening |url-status=live }}</ref> Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] inaugurated the temple on 14 February 2024.<ref name="The Economic Times 2024 z715">{{cite web | title=PM Modi performs Aarti at the BAPS Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi | website=The Economic Times | date=2024-02-14 | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/pm-modi-performs-aarti-at-the-baps-mandir-the-first-hindu-temple-in-abu-dhabi/videoshow/107696957.cms?from=mdr | access-date=14 February 2024 | archive-date=14 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214201200/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/pm-modi-performs-aarti-at-the-baps-mandir-the-first-hindu-temple-in-abu-dhabi/videoshow/107696957.cms?from=mdr | url-status=live }}</ref> 

In addition to temples, there are community centers where Hindus can gather for prayer, religious ceremonies, and cultural activities.<ref>{{Citation |last=Divya |first=Vaid |title=Caste and Contemporary Hindu Society |date=2019-06-27 |work=The Oxford History of Hinduism: Modern Hinduism |pages=216–243 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198790839.003.0013 |access-date=2024-09-03 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-879083-9 |last2=Ankur |first2=Datta}}</ref>

== Cremation facilities for Hindus ==
There are two operating cremation facilities for the Hindu community, one in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=Ashwani|title=Look: Abu Dhabi Hindu temple rising 'at great pace'|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/look-abu-dhabi-hindu-temple-rising-at-great-pace|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Khaleej Times|language=en|archive-date=24 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524135134/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/look-abu-dhabi-hindu-temple-rising-at-great-pace|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Religion in the United Arab Emirates]]
* [[Hinduism in Bahrain]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{Cite book|last=Marsh |first=Donna |year=2015 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_brBQAAQBAJ|title=Doing Business in the Middle East|publisher=Brown Book Group |isbn=9781472135674}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1079186/download United Arab Emirates 2017 International Religious Freedom Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412003833/https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1079186/download |date=12 April 2022 }} (PDF)

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[[Category:Hinduism in the United Arab Emirates| ]]
[[Category:Hinduism and Islam]]