The majority of the inhabitants of Abu Dhabi are expatriate workers and professionals from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Philippines, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. English, Urdu are widely spoken.

The native-born population are Arabic-speaking Gulf Arabs who are part of a clan-based society. The al-Nahyan family, part of the al-Falah branch of the Bani Yas tribe, rules the emirate and has a central place in society.