UAE’s 1.2 billion NRBs drive economy and remittance flow with 150,000 establishments

As many as 150,000 Bangladeshi-owned companies employ nearly 500,000 professionals and labourers among 1.2 billion Non-Resident Bangladeshis residing in the UAE. This offers a deeper picture to delve into: through entrepreneurship and employment, NRBs form the third-largest expat community which is fuelling the UAE’s flourish into a US$537 billion economic powerhouse in the Middle East, while enriching the country’s multicultural diaspora.

The entrepreneurial mindset is evident by the prevalence of expat Bangladeshis in different sectors. As many as 150,000 businesses are owned by them, facilitating job opportunities and supporting local industries like retail, construction, domestic work, hospitality, and transportation. Through retail, they initiate the export of Bangladeshi goods to the UAE, particularly agro-products, apparel, and edible FMCG, further spotlighting the Bangladeshi trademark in the country.

The growth of companies is exponential, and it surpasses its record every year. NRBs ranked fourth among the expat communities at Dubai Chamber of Commerce last year. They established 2,721 companies under the chamber, registering 15 percent annual growth from 2024 and constituting 3.8 percent of the total 71,830 new companies formed. The NRB dominance is observed in industries like automotive, particularly in auto parts trading and repair industry

From roles as managers and executives in some of the most renowned institutions in the country to constituting a large proportion among labourers in sectors like construction, NRBs have become a driving force behind the UAE’s growth. They generate over US$68 billion, which accounts for more than 12 percent of the economy.

The community also forms an indispensable source for remittance in Bangladesh, being the second largest after the NRBs in Saudi Arabia, according to Trading Economics.

At the Dubai-Bangladesh Business Forum organised by Dubai Chambers last year, Taskeen Ahmed, President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), said, “Bangladeshi nationals constitute one of the largest expatriate communities in the UAE, accounting for 17 percent of Bangladesh's total overseas employment, making the UAE the second-largest destination after Saudi Arabia.”

Bangladesh receives US$4.5 billion in remittance from the UAE, that helps bolster foreign exchange reserves, strengthens exchange rate, and checks inflation.