Islam is the largest and official state religion of the UAE, and the government maintains a policy of tolerance towards other religions, rarely interfering in the religious activities of non-Muslims. The majority of the Emirati population, about 85%, are Sunni Muslims, while the remaining 15% are Shia Muslims, primarily concentrated in Dubai and Sharjah. Non-citizen residents also consist of a Muslim population, with estimates suggesting that less than 20% are Shia. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is the country’s largest mosque and a popular tourist attraction. Additionally, there are followers of Ibadi and Sufi influences among Omanis in the UAE.

Christians make up approximately 9% of the total population, according to the 2005 census, with estimates in 2010 suggesting a figure of 12.6%. Roman Catholics and Protestants form significant proportions of the Christian minority, and there are over 52 churches in the country. The Christian community in the UAE is diverse, consisting of individuals of Asian, African, and European origin, as well as those from neighboring Middle Eastern countries. The United Arab Emirates is part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, with the Vicar Apostolic Bishop Paul Hinder based in Abu Dhabi.

A small Jewish community exists in the UAE, with one known synagogue in Dubai that has been open since 2008. In 2023, another synagogue, Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue, was completed as part of the Abrahamic Family House complex in Abu Dhabi. It is estimated that there are about 150 families to 3,000 Jews living and worshiping freely in the UAE, according to Rabbi Marc Schneier of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.

South Asians, particularly from India, constitute the largest ethnic group in the UAE, with over 2 million Indian migrants residing in the country. There are currently three Hindu temples in the UAE. Other religions, including Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism, Baháʼís, and Druze, also have followers in the United Arab Emirates.

In 2019, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Abdullah bin Zayed, announced the design and construction plan for the Abrahamic Family House. This interfaith complex, located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, will house a synagogue, mosque, and church, symbolizing the UAE’s commitment to promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding.