Expatriates in The United Arab Emirates - Koreans

Koreans

There are approximately 3,100 Koreans in the United Arab Emirates. The United Arab Emirates received a small contingent of Korean migrant workers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but it was never a major destination However, due to rapid growth since 2005, the country has come to have the Arab world's largest Korean population. As of 2008, there were roughly 2,500 South Koreans living in Dubai alone, largely businessmen working at the 90 Korean companies which operated in the country. There were also many flight attendants working for Emirates Airlines; the number of Koreans working for Emirates Airlines increased from 15 in 1998 to 620 as of 2007, mostly based out of Dubai. Dubai has the UAE's largest community of South Koreans. However, a consulate was not opened in Dubai until March 2008.

There are also believed to be roughly 1,300 North Korean workers in the UAE, primarily in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They earn between US$300 and $500 per month, but have to make so-called "loyalty payments" of $150 to $250 to the North Korean government. This has sparked discontent among the workers; in response, the North Korean government has sent security agents to patrol North Korean work camps and keep an eye out for people making critical comments.

Won Ho Chung is a famous Arabic language comedian of Korean origin who is based in Dubai. In 2010, Chung was appointed goodwill ambassador for the Korea Tourism Organization in the Middle East.