diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/allow_numeric_values_in_gitlab_ci_yml.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/allow_numeric_values_in_gitlab_ci_yml.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8c7fa53a18b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/allow_numeric_values_in_gitlab_ci_yml.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+title: Allow numeric values in gitlab-ci.yml
+merge_request: 10607
+author: blackst0ne
diff --git a/doc/ci/yaml/README.md b/doc/ci/yaml/README.md
index 16308a957cb..8546a99a022 100644
--- a/doc/ci/yaml/README.md
+++ b/doc/ci/yaml/README.md
@@ -147,6 +147,10 @@ variables:
   DATABASE_URL: "postgres://postgres@postgres/my_database"
 ```
 
+>**Note:**
+Integers (as well as strings) are legal both for variable's name and value.
+Floats are not legal and cannot be used.
+
 These variables can be later used in all executed commands and scripts.
 The YAML-defined variables are also set to all created service containers,
 thus allowing to fine tune them. Variables can be also defined on a
@@ -1152,7 +1156,7 @@ Example:
 
 ```yaml
 variables:
-  GET_SOURCES_ATTEMPTS: "3"
+  GET_SOURCES_ATTEMPTS: 3
 ```
 
 You can set them in the global [`variables`](#variables) section or the
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/legacy_validation_helpers.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/legacy_validation_helpers.rb
index 9b9a0a8125a..a78a85397bd 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/legacy_validation_helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/legacy_validation_helpers.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,13 @@ module Gitlab
 
           def validate_variables(variables)
             variables.is_a?(Hash) &&
-              variables.all? { |key, value| validate_string(key) && validate_string(value) }
+              variables.flatten.all? do |value|
+                validate_string(value) || validate_integer(value)
+              end
+          end
+
+          def validate_integer(value)
+            value.is_a?(Integer)
           end
 
           def validate_string(value)
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/variables.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/variables.rb
index c3b0e651c3a..8acab605c91 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/variables.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/variables.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ module Gitlab
           def self.default
             {}
           end
+
+          def value
+            Hash[@config.map { |key, value| [key.to_s, value.to_s] }]
+          end
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/global_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/global_spec.rb
index cf03acbfd3a..23270ad5053 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/global_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/global_spec.rb
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ describe Gitlab::Ci::Config::Entry::Global do
 
         describe '#variables_value' do
           it 'returns variables' do
-            expect(global.variables_value).to eq(VAR: 'value')
+            expect(global.variables_value).to eq('VAR' => 'value')
           end
         end
 
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ describe Gitlab::Ci::Config::Entry::Global do
                        services: ['postgres:9.1', 'mysql:5.5'],
                        stage: 'test',
                        cache: { key: 'k', untracked: true, paths: ['public/'] },
-                       variables: { VAR: 'value' },
+                       variables: { 'VAR' => 'value' },
                        ignore: false,
                        after_script: ['make clean'] },
               spinach: { name: :spinach,
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/variables_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/variables_spec.rb
index f15f02f403e..84bfef9e8ad 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/variables_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/variables_spec.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@ describe Gitlab::Ci::Config::Entry::Variables do
         it 'returns hash with key value strings' do
           expect(entry.value).to eq config
         end
+
+        context 'with numeric keys and values in the config' do
+          let(:config) { { 10 => 20 } }
+
+          it 'converts numeric key and numeric value into strings' do
+            expect(entry.value).to eq('10' => '20')
+          end
+        end
       end
 
       describe '#errors' do