Ajam Emiratis

Ajam Emiratis (Standard Arabic: الإماراتيون العجم), also referred to as Eyam Emiratis (Gulf Arabic: الإماراتيين العيم), Achomi Emiratis (Achomi: خُودمونی), Persian Emiratis, or Iranian Emiratis, are Emiratis of Persian and Iranian descent. The majority trace their ancestral roots to southern Iran, particularly the historical Irahistan, including the provinces of Fars and Hormozgan and the native Achomi people. Many Ajam are also of Afro-Iranian, Balochi, and Huwala origin and constitute the majority of the Bedoon population, many whom hold Comoran passports due to a deal between the governments of the UAE and Comoros. Some accounts estimate up to 40% - 60% of the Emirati population being of Persian origin, of which most are settled in Dubai.

Persian migration to Eastern Arabia—including the area that is now the United Arab Emirates—has occurred over centuries and reflects deep, longstanding ties shaped by geography, commerce, and imperial history. In antiquity, the region was known as Magan and later Mazun, and it came under the influence or direct control of various Persian empires, including the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanian dynasties. The area was also an active trading partner of ancient Elam. Persian influence in the region extended far beyond military or political domination, encompassing trade, seafaring, and cultural exchange. These connections were further reinforced by the Kingdom of Hormuz, a powerful maritime state that dominated both shores of the Persian Gulf, and the Qawasim which helped solidify the economic and cultural integration of Persian and Eastern Arabian communities.