Our Emirati name database contains 4.304 Emirati surnames and 14.007 Emirati first names categorized by gender and frequency. After payment you can download the Emirati name database in CSV, SQL or JSON format. Asia is not very well organised and only have a few open data initiatives. The list of names from countries like United Arab Emirates have a reasonable quality but are limited. The Emirati names are validated using official governmental databases we received in other countries which contained Emirati names as well. To create the Emirati name database we used 66.990 validated Emirati social media profiles. We have a detailed explanation of our methodology and illustrate our approach with several examples.

Popular Emirati surnames

This table show popular Emirati surnames. In the United Arab Emirates, surnames usually indicate the person's tribe or family name. This can be passed down from the father to the children and is often used in formal situations such as job applications or official documents. It is also common for people to include their father's name as a middle name. Additionally, many UAE citizens will adopt a surname based on their profession or business, in addition to their traditional family name.

Surname Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Khan 2.065 3.1% Pakistani Indian Bangladeshi
Ali 1.025 1.5% Pakistani Egyptian Indian
Ahmed 869 1.3% Egyptian Pakistani Bangladeshi
Ahmad 422 0.6% Pakistani Indian Indonesian
Hussain 364 0.5% Pakistani Indian British
Malik 326 0.5% Pakistani Indian British
Singh 306 0.5% Indian American British
Kumar 274 0.4% Indian American Pakistani
Hassan 246 0.4% Egyptian Pakistani Bangladeshi
Shah 237 0.4% Indian Pakistani American
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 66.990 Emirati social media profiles.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this surname also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Emirati first names

In the United Arab Emirates, parents typically pick a first name for their child that is influenced by religion, family tradition, and cultural influences. Many parents choose a name that has a strong religious significance, such as names that are derived from the Quran or other religious texts. Family tradition also plays a role in naming, as parents may choose a name that has been passed down through generations within the family. Additionally, cultural influences can also affect the choice of a first name, with many parents choosing names that are popular within the local culture or community. Overall, the process of choosing a first name in the UAE is often a combination of religious, familial, and cultural considerations.

Popular Emirati male names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Ahmed 1.110 2.3% Egyptian Dutch Saudi Arabian
Mohamed 892 1.8% Egyptian Dutch Algerian
Muhammad 732 1.5% Pakistani Indonesian Malaysian
Mohammed 620 1.3% Egyptian Saudi Arabian Indian
Ali 595 1.2% Turkish Pakistani American
Mohammad 417 0.8% Indian Pakistani Iranian
Ahmad 375 0.8% Indonesian Pakistani Egyptian
Mahmoud 265 0.5% Egyptian Dutch Saudi Arabian
Omar 251 0.5% Egyptian Mexican American
Imran 217 0.4% Pakistani Indian Bangladeshi
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 66.990 Emirati social media profiles from which 49.067 (73%) is male.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Popular Emirati female names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Sarah 174 1.0% British American Canadian
Rana 141 0.8% Pakistani Egyptian Turkish
Sara 135 0.8% American Spanish Italian
Alaa 106 0.6% Egyptian Saudi Arabian Iraqi
Raja 104 0.6% Indian Pakistani Indonesian
Noor 87 0.5% Pakistani Egyptian Iraqi
Emma 85 0.5% British American Irish
Mariam 74 0.4% Egyptian American British
Maryam 73 0.4% Pakistani American Egyptian
Maria 70 0.4% Spanish American Venezuelan
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 66.990 Emirati social media profiles from which 17.923 (27%) is female.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.