Arab, Palestinian in United Arab Emirates

Map Source:  Bethany World Prayer Center
People Name: Arab, Palestinian
Country: United Arab Emirates
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 98,000
World Population: 11,592,800
Primary Language: Arabic, Levantine
Primary Religion: Islam
Christian Adherents: 4.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.50 %
Scripture: Portions
Ministry Resources: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: Arab, Levant
Affinity Bloc: Arab World
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Palestinian Arabs are a subset of the larger Levant Arab peoples. Only about half of the total population of Palestinian Arabs live in Palestine. Many have migrated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The leaders of the UAE have used their oil and natural gas earnings to diversify the economy. This had led to some of the highest salaries in the world. It has also resulted in a great deal of immigration. Some of the immigrants are Palestinian Arabs. The majority of people living in this Persian Gulf nation today are not originally from the UAE.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Since many of the Palestinian Arabs living in the UAE are educated, they are able to get middle and lower-management jobs in the oil, tourist, and manufacturing industries. They can read and write Arabic, and many also speak English and French. Some bring their families to the UAE and purchase small homes or affordable apartments if they can obtain government permission. Uneducated Palestinians must take lower-paying, unskilled jobs. These include digging ditches, cleaning streets and sewers, and taking care of animals. These workers are not allowed to bring their families to the UAE. They send their earnings home and often live in squalid conditions, with a dozen or more living in one apartment.

What Are Their Beliefs?

A large majority of the Palestinian Arabs in the UAE are Sunni Muslim. There are only a few Christians. Sunnis believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam they will attain heaven when they die. However, they believe that Allah, the supreme God of

What Are Their Needs?

Many of the Palestinian Arabs living in the UAE have not heard the gospel message. They believe Isa (as they call Jesus) was a human prophet. The Palestinians working in lower-level jobs in the UAE would benefit by having Christian medical teams show them

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to raise up a movement to Christ among the UAE Palestinians.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to produce a hunger for spiritual things among Palestinians in the UAE and for them to tune into Christian TV and radio programs.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among them this year.

Text Source:   Joshua Project