Hinduism in the Middle East

Hindus in the Middle EastTotal population

3,062,645
(1.6% of population)
Regions with significant populations
United Arab Emirates| 855,738 (2022)
Saudi Arabia| 451,347 (2020)
Kuwait| 425,950 (2020)
Qatar| 422,118 (2022)
Yemen| 297,103 (2022)
Oman| 279,488 (2022)
Bahrain| 165,706 (2020)
Religions
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Buddhism in the Middle East, Sikhism, Christianity in the Middle East | Hinduism by country

Africa

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Western Sahara
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

Asia

* Afghanistan
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* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
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* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Palestine
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Southeast Asia
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Taiwan
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste
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* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

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There are Hindu communities, mostly of Indian, Nepalese and Sri Lankan heritage in Arab states of the Persian Gulf.[1] Many came due to the migration of Indians and Nepalese expatriates and employees to the area around the Persian Gulf.

Hindu temples have been built in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Oman.[2]

## Demographics

[edit]

Distribution of Hindus among the Middle Eastern countries

1. United Arab Emirates (32.2%)
2. Saudi Arabia (15.0%)
3. Kuwait (14.0%)
4. Qatar (11.0%)
5. Yemen (10.0%)
6. Oman (9.00%)
7. Bahrain (5.40%)
8. Turkey (3.00%)
9. Jordan (0.30%)
10. Lebanon (0.20%)

Hinduism by country in the Middle East Country  | Population (2020E)  | % of Hindus  | Hindu total

|
|
|

United Arab Emirates  | 9,869,000 | 10%[3][4] | 986,900
Saudi Arabia  | 34,719,000 | 1.3%[5][6] | 451,347
Kuwait  | 4,259,500 | 10%[7] | 425,950
Qatar  | 2,113,000 | 15.9%[8][9] | 335,967
Yemen  | 29,710,300 | 1%[10] | 297,103
Oman  | 5,081,600 | 5.5%[11][12][13] | 279,488
Bahrain  | 1,690,900 | 9.8%[14][15] | 165,708
Turkey  | 84,339,067 | 0.1%[16][17] | 84,340
Jordan  | 10,185,500 | 0.1%[18] | 10,186
Lebanon  | 6,830,600 | 0.1%[19][20] | 6,830
Total  | 197,438,267  | 1.6  | 3,062,645

## Egypt

[edit]

There were about 2,700 Hindus in Egypt in 2010.[21] That number decreased to about 1535 in 2020.[22] There are no known Hindu temples in Egypt.

## Oman

[edit]

Main article: Hinduism in Oman

Motishwar temple in Old Muscat is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Middle East.

Oman has an immigrant Hindu minority. The number of Hindus has declined in the 20th century although it is now stable. Hinduism first came to Muscat in 1507 from Kutch. The original Hindus spoke Kutchi. By the early 19th century there were at least 4,000 Hindus in Oman, all of the intermediate merchant caste. By 1900, their numbers had plummeted to 300. In 1895, the Hindu colony in Muscat came under attack by the Ibadhis. By the time of independence, only a few dozen Hindus remained in Oman. The historical Hindu Quarters of al-Waljat and al-Banyan are no longer occupied by Hindus. The most prominent immigrant Hindus, are Visoomal Damodar Gandhi (Aulad Kara), Khimji Ramdas, Dhanji Morarji, Ratansi Purushottam and Purushottam Toprani. The only Hindu crematorium is located in Sohar, northwest of Muscat.[23]

### Temples

[edit]

Hindu temples once located in Ma'bad al Banyan and Bayt al Pir no longer exist after the area's redevelopment in the mid-1970s.[23] The only active Hindu temples today are the Shiva temple complex in Muscat (locally known as Motishwar Mandir),[24] and the Krishna temple located in Darsait.[25]

## Qatar

[edit]

Hindus make up 15.9% of Qatar. There are an estimated 422,118 Hindus in the country.[26][27] They are from South Asia.[28][29]

## United Arab Emirates

[edit]

Main article: Hinduism in the United Arab Emirates

South Asians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) constitute the largest ethnic group in the country.[30] Over 2 million Indian migrants (mostly from the southern Indian states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Coastal Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) are estimated to be living in the UAE, constituting 28% of the total population of the Emirates as of 2017.[31] A majority of Indians live in the three largest cities of the UAE — Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. From the estimated 2 million migrants, 1 million are from Kerala and 450,000 from Tamil Nadu, thus constituting a majority of the Indian community in the UAE. The population of Indian migrants in the UAE had grown from 170,000 in 1975 to an estimated value of 750,000 in 1999. By 2009, this value had grown to an estimated value of 2 million. A majority of Indians in the UAE (approximately 50%—883,313 in 2011) are from the South Indian state of Kerala, followed by migrants from Tamil Nadu. The majority of Indian migrants to UAE are Muslim (50%), followed by Christian (25%) and Hindu (25%). Estimated Hindu population in UAE is between 6-10%.[32]

### Temples

[edit]

In 1958, permission were given to build the Hindu Temple, Dubai in Bur Dubai in a complex that included Shiva Mandir, Krishna Mandir, and Gurudwara. In January 2024, a new Hindu Temple, Dubai opened in Jebel Ali and the existing Shiva Mandir and Gurudwara were moved to this new location. Krishan Mandir is still housed in the original complex in Bur Dubai.[33]

Majority of Hindus living in UAE practice their religion within their homes.[34] The new temple, BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi, had its foundation stone laying ceremony in April, 2019.[35][36] The inauguration ceremony of the temple took place on 14 February 2024.[37]

## Yemen

[edit]

Main article: Hinduism in Yemen

There are about 200,000 Hindus in Yemen.[38] They are from India and Nepal.[39]

## Hindu temples

[edit]

* BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi, UAE
* Motishwar Mandir in Muscat, Oman
* Hindu Temple, Dubai, UAE
* Shrinathji Temple, Bahrain

## See also

[edit]

* Hinduism by country
* Hinduism in Israel
* Buddhism in the Middle East

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Network, India News. "Diaspora: A significant link between India and Gulf countries". India News Network. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
2. ^ "Hindu temples of Gulf countries: more exist than you imagined". catchnews. Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
3. ^ "International Religious Freedom Report: United Arab Emirates". Archived from the original on 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
4. ^ "Country Profiles". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
5. ^ "International Religious Freedom Report: Saudi Arabia". 14 September 2007. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
6. ^ "Religions in Saudi Arabia | PEW-GRF". Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
7. ^ "International Religious Freedom Report: Kuwait". Archived from the original on 2020-10-10. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
8. ^ "International Religious Freedom Report: Qatar". Archived from the original on 2021-03-20. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
9. ^ "CIA World FactBook: Qatar". 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
10. ^ "Global Religious Futures: Yemen". Archived from the original on 2019-01-19. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
11. ^ "Religious Freedom Nation Profile: Oman". Archived from the original on 2007-11-06.
12. ^ "Religious Freedom Nation Profile: Oman". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
13. ^ "Religions in Oman | PEW-GRF". Archived from the original on 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
14. ^ "Global Religious Landscape: Hindus". Pew Research Center. December 18, 2012.[permanent dead link]
15. ^ "Religions in Bahrain | PEW-GRF". Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
16. ^ "Religious Freedom Nation Profile: Turkey". Archived from the original on 2007-12-04.
17. ^ "Religions in Turkey | PEW-GRF". Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
18. ^ "Gloabal Religious Futures: Jordan". Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
19. ^ "International Religious Freedom Report: Lebanon". Archived from the original on 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
20. ^ "Religions in Lebanon | PEW-GRF". Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
21. ^ "India and Egypt". www.shvoong.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
22. ^ "The ARDA website, retrieved 2024-04-29". Archived from the original on 2024-05-07. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
23. ^ a b J.E. Peterson,Oman's diverse society: Northern Oman Archived 2009-06-11 at the Wayback Machine, Middle East Journal, Vol. 58, Nr. 1, Winter 2004
24. ^ "Shri Shiva Temple". Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
25. ^ "Shri Krishna Temple". Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
26. ^ Global Religious Landscape Archived 2013-01-01 at the Wayback Machine. Pew Forum.
27. ^ "Population By Religion, Gender And Municipality March 2004". Qatar Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on 2013-05-18.
28. ^ "Population structure". Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. 31 January 2020. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
29. ^ "Population By Religion, Gender And Municipality March 2020". Qatar Statistics Authority.
30. ^ "UAE´s population – by nationality". bq magazine. April 12, 2015. Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
31. ^ "India is a top source and destination for world's migrants". Pew Research Center. 3 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
32. ^ "Hindu community in UAE supports the global initiative to pray to end pandemic - EasternEye". 2020-05-13. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
33. ^ "Iconic Bur Dubai temple complex to close doors in January 2024". gulfnews.com. 2023-12-08. Archived from the original on 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
34. ^ Al-Jaber, Khalid; Ulrichsen, Kristian Coates (2021-12-31). Political Islam in the Gulf Region. Gulf International Forum. ISBN 979-8-9859177-0-3.
35. ^ "First Hindu Mandir In Abu Dhabi, UAE, To Be Built By BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha | Indo American News". www.indoamerican-news.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
36. ^ "First Hindu Temple's Foundation Ceremony Laying Ceremony in Abu Dhabi". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
37. ^ "PM Modi performs Aarti at the BAPS Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi". 2024-02-14. Archived from the original on 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
38. ^ "Religions in Yemen". Archived from the original on 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
39. ^ "Religious Beliefs In Yemen". 25 April 2017. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.

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