Thai in United Arab Emirates


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Centuries ago the Thai lived north of Yangtzekiang in China. Relentless pressure by the Chinese gradually forced them southward. They conquered many peoples and cultures as they sought a new homeland, and by the 10th century they had settled in central Thailand. A bloodless revolution in 1932, led by Westernized intellectuals, instituted a democratic constitutional monarchy. However, the country has suffered numerous governmental upheavals since then. The Central Thai speak Thai, the official language of the country.

Thai people have gone to other parts of the world for work. Some have gone willingly, while others have been trafficked. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of many destinations for the Thai diaspora.


Where Are they Located?

Most Thai people in the UAE live either in Adu Dhabi or Dubai. There are a smaller number of Thai people in the northern emirates.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Thai people in the UAE are construction workers. They probably do not earn very much money, but like many migrants who go abroad for work, they are trying to send some of their earnings to their families at home. These Thai construction workers are almost all men, who probably don't have their families with them.

Others are fortunate enough to have their families present. In recent years the Thai have been able to celebrate the annual water fight they call Songkran, which especially appeals to the young. Other Thai people have opened Thai massage parlors. For various reasons, these masseuses are suspected of providing sexual services.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Theravada Buddhism was introduced in Thailand in 329 B.C. Almost all of the Thai are devout followers of Buddha ("the enlightened one") and seek to eliminate suffering and improve their future by gaining merit in pursuit of perfect peace, or nirvana. Today, Buddhism is the central and unifying force in Thai society and even maintains social control.

Traditionally, young men enter a Buddhist monastery for three months to study Buddhism. The Tai also attempt to incorporate their Buddhist beliefs with folk animism, a practice in which they seek help through the worship of spirits and objects.


What Are Their Needs?

Thai Buddhists are living in a land that is predominately Sunni Muslim. It is even harder to hear the gospel in the UAE than it is in Thailand.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Thai people in the UAE to knock, seek, and find the true Savior.
Pray for them to be reached with the JESUS Film and gospel recordings in the UAE.
Pray for a spontaneous disciple making movement to emerge for the Thai in the UAE.


Scripture Prayers for the Thai in United Arab Emirates.


References

http://www.thaiembassy.org/abudhabi/en/news/663/35163-Thai-community-in-Abu-Dhabi-extended-assistance-to.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expatriates_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates#Thais
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/11277/AE
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/11277/TH
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/thai-community-celebrates-new-year-in-dubai-1.1169726
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/rubbed-the-wrong-way-thai-spas-organise-1.988267


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Thai
People Name in Country Thai
Pronunciation tye
Alternate Names Bangkok Thai; Central Tai; Khon Tai; Lao Song; Siamese; Siamese Thai; Tai Noi; Thai Khom; Thai Klang; Thai Song
Population this Country 3,100
Population all Countries 24,237,000
Total Countries 29
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 11277
ROP3 Code 101940
ROP25 Code 308102
ROP25 Name Thai

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Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
90.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.50 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
3.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
4.00 %
Non-Religious
2.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Thai (3,100 speakers)
Language Code tha   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Thai (3,100 speakers)
Language Code tha   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Thai

Primary Language:  Thai

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1834-1967)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1843-1977)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1883-2020)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Thai Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Photo Source Deepak Meena - Pixabay 
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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