Birth rates fall among Emiratis as families cite rising costs, career, health concerns

As birth rates among Emiratis have declined over the past decade, several families have shared the reasons behind their decisions to limit the number of children and refrain from expanding their families.

- Sara AlKuwari

According to statistics published by Emarat Al Youm, based on official data from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the number of Emirati births in the country declined by 13.55 per cent over 10 years, between 2014 and 2023. The number of Emirati newborns dropped from 34,618 births in 2014 to 29,926 births in 2023.

The reasons vary, ranging from life pressures and rising living costs to the desire to maintain a certain quality of life among many couples who have three children or fewer.

Maryam Hamad, an Emirati from Dubai, became a mother six months after her 2014 marriage. Over 10 years of marriage, she has had three children, with a gap of four years or less between each. “Parenting is a major responsibility, especially when living independently away from grandparents. In today’s era, raising children has become even more demanding. A healthy family is not about numbers, but about the quality of upbringing,” she said.

Maryam also suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), for which there is no definitive treatment other than following a specific lifestyle. “When I think about pregnancy, I have to commit beforehand to a strict diet and exercise routine to lose weight to conceive, as recommended by my doctor, even though I am not overweight,” she explained.

In addition to allocating sufficient time for each child to receive proper care and attention, Maryam said that living costs have played a role in her decision to delay further pregnancies.

“I was recently employed. Previously, we relied solely on my husband’s income, which was difficult due to the high cost of living, including housing, household needs, children’s expenses and what we consider necessary lifestyle comforts.”

She is considering having another child once her youngest turns six.