People group profile · PG012253
The Sinhalese of the United Arab Emirates
The Sinhalese of the United Arab Emirates, numbering about 179,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a culturally rich and historically significant ethnic group in Sri Lanka, known for their Sinhala language, Theravada Buddhist traditions, and influential role in shaping the island's cultural and political landscape.
They are a diaspora people in the Sinhala people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Theravada Buddhism, and they primarily speak Sinhala.
Fast facts
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Population
- 179,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Sinhala
- Primary language
- Sinhala (sin)
- Primary religion
- Theravada Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Sinhalese are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Sinhalese
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Theravada Buddhism · Buddhism
90% adherents
Primary language
Sinhala · Indo-European family
100% speak Sinhala
Gospel resources in Sinhala
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Sinhala)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Sinhalese
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
Sinhalese in other countries
The same people (ROP3 109305) is reported in 10 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinhalese | Sri Lanka | 17,680,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Sri Lanken | Italy | 115,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Sinhalese | Qatar | 56,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Sinhalese | Oman | 53,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Sinhalese | Malaysia | 36,500 | No Longer Unreached |
| Sinhalese | United States | 30,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Sinhalese | Singapore | 23,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Sinhalese | Canada | 18,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Sinhalese | Thailand | 8,200 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Sinhalese | Maldives | 4,000 | No Longer Unreached |
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