Lebanese people in the United Arab Emirates
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| Total population | |
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| (80,000[1] - 156,000[2]) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. | |
| Languages | |
| Lebanese Arabic, French and English | |
| Religion | |
| Christians and Muslims |
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Lebanese people in the United Arab Emirates have a population exceeding 80,000,[3] closer estimates report a total of 156,000 Lebanese in the Emirates. Lebanese people form one of the largest community of non-citizen Arabs in the UAE. In addition, an increasing number of Lebanese students seeking education and career opportunities opted for the country in light of its relatively reputable institutions across the Middle East, the case that applies mostly to those born in United Arab Emirates.
The Lebanese people tend to be spread out over various emirates of the country, with areas of high concentration being Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Background
Early migration of Lebanese people to the Emirates began during Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) which resulted in a high influx of Lebanese moving their businesses to Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi and continued to do so during the 1990s and the further ongoing civil unrest in Lebanon due to the 2011 Syrian Civil War.
The majority of Lebanese expatriates that fled during the Lebanese Civil War to the UAE are highly educated, fluent in both French and English languages, and affluent as well as being involved in business and the media as beauty surgeons, businessmen, artists, presenters and news anchors.
Economic contributions
There are over fifteen thousand (15,000) Lebanese companies operating in the Jebel Ali Free Zone alone, an economic hub located in Jebel Ali, a city in Dubai.
Lebanese people in the United Arab Emirates
- The Late Antoine Choueiri: owner of the Middle East’s largest media broker (Choueiri Group) that controls Arabian Media Services International, MEMS, Arabian Outdoor, Times International, Audio Visual Media, C Media, Press Media, Digital Media Services, Interadio, Promofair, AMC and SECOMM.
- Elias Bou Saab: the Founder of the American University in Dubai (AUD).
- Pierre Choueiri: Choueiri Group's heir.
- Elie Khouri: Media mogul who runs his advertising empire from the UAE.
- Iskandar Safa: Owner of Privinvest, the major defence contractor in Europe controlling shipyards and facilities.
- Ralph R. Debbas: W Motors's car company owner.
- Kamel Morkos: Owner of Retouche Group, the largest warehouse in the Persian Gulf region.
- Charles Jeha: President of the Lebanese Business Council - Dubai & Northern Emirates.
- Cyba Audi: Entrepreneur and communication expert.
- Rima Maktabi: Al Arabiya news presenter and former presenter of Inside the Middle East on CNN International.
- Taleb Kanaan: Al Arabiya presenter.
- Joe Hawa: Chief Market Analyst and Financial Analyst Reporter at CNBC Arabiya
- Najwa Qassem: Al Arabiya presenter.
- Jessica Kahawaty: Miss World Australia 2012
- Joe Ayoub: Businessman.
- Wissam Rizk: Civil Engineer.
- Ramia Farage: Dubai One news presenter.
- Haitham Berbari: Ambitious Entrepreneur – Managing Partner at SoftWeb a leading digital marketing agency with client base spanning across Africa, GCC, and the Middle East; Co-Founder of EMEA Real Estate.
- Diana Haddad: Lebanese singer (holding the Emirati citizenship) and former wife of the Emirati director, Suhail Al Abdool.
See also
References
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