The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region.
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates
24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references
Middle East
Area
total
83,600 sq km
land
83,600 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries
total
867 km
border countries
Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline
1,318 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
contiguous zone
24 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point
Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas
Land use
arable land
0.77%
permanent crops
2.27%
other
96.96% (2005)
Irrigated land
760 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues
lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Population
4,444,011
note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that included a significantly higher estimate of net inmigration of non-citizens than previous estimates (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
20.6% (male 467,931/female 447,045)
15-64 years
78.5% (male 2,558,029/female 932,617)
65 years and over
0.9% (male 24,914/female 13,475)
note
73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.)
Median age
total
30.1 years
male
32 years
female
24.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
3.997% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
16.09 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
2.16 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
26.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.047 male(s)/female
15-64 years
2.743 male(s)/female
65 years and over
1.849 male(s)/female
total population
2.19 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
13.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male
15.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female
11.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
75.69 years
male
73.16 years
female
78.35 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.43 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.18% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Emirati(s)
adjective
Emirati
Ethnic groups
Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
Religions
Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
Languages
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
77.9%
male
76.1%
female
81.7% (2003 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
United Arab Emirates
conventional short form
none
local long form
Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
local short form
none
former
Trucial Oman, Trucial States
abbreviation
UAE
Government type
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital
name
Abu Dhabi
geographic coordinates
24 28 N, 54 22 E
time difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn (Quwayn)
Independence
2 December 1971 (from UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution
2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996
Legal system
based on a dual system of Shari'a and civil courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
none
Executive branch
chief of state
President KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)
head of government
Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SULTAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) and HAMDAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003)
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
note
there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power
elections
president and vice president elected by the FSC for five-year terms (no term limits); election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next to be held in 2009); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results
KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan elected president by a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum unanimously affirmed vice president after the 2006 death of his brother Sheikh Maktum bin Rashid al-Maktum
Legislative branch
unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states, 20 members elected to serve two-year terms)
elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains appointed) held in the UAE on 18-20 December 2006; the new electoral college - a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointed by the rulers of the seven emirates - were the only eligible voters and candidates; 456 candidates including 65 women ran for 20 contested FNC seats; one female from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi won a seat
note: reviews legislation but cannot change or veto
Judicial branch
Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 243-2400
FAX
[1] (202) 243-2432
consulate(s)
New York, Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Michele J. SISON
embassy
Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi
mailing address
P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
telephone
[971] (2) 414-2200
FAX
[971] (2) 414-2603
consulate(s) general
Dubai
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side
Economy - overview
The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Despite largely successful efforts at economic diversification, about 30% of GDP is still directly based on oil and gas output, and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up its utilities to greater private sector involvement. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. Higher oil revenue, strong liquidity, and cheap credit in 2005-06 led to a surge in asset prices (shares and real estate) and consumer inflation. Rising prices are increasing the operating costs for businesses in the UAE and degrading the UAE's allure to foreign investors. Dependence on a large expatriate workforce and oil are significant long-term challenges to the UAE's economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$129.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$164 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
8.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$49,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
2.3%
industry
61.9%
services
35.8% (2006 est.)
Labor force
2.968 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
7%
industry
15%
services
78% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.4% (2001)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
10% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
24.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$60.3 billion
expenditures
$35.2 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (2006 est.)
Public debt
9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products
Industries
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles
Japan 25.9%, South Korea 10.3%, Thailand 5.9%, India 4.5% (2006)
Imports
$88.89 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners
US 11.4%, China 11%, India 9.8%, Germany 6.2%, Japan 5.8%, UK 5.5%, France 4.1%, Italy 4% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$25.51 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$39.1 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - donor
since its founding in 1971, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has given about $5.2 billion in aid to 56 countries (2004)
Currency (code)
Emirati dirham (AED)
Currency code
AED
Exchange rates
Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004), 3.6725 (2003), 3.6725 (2002)
note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
1.237 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
4.535 million (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
domestic
microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable
international
country code - 971; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Radio broadcast stations
AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)
Radios
820,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
15 (2004)
Televisions
310,000 (1997)
Internet country code
.ae
Internet hosts
337,092 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
1.397 million (2005)
Airports
37 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
23
over 3,047 m
10
2,438 to 3,047 m
2
1,524 to 2,437 m
4
914 to 1,523 m
4
under 914 m
3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
14
over 3,047 m
2
2,438 to 3,047 m
2
1,524 to 2,437 m
3
914 to 1,523 m
3
under 914 m
4 (2006)
Heliports
4 (2006)
Pipelines
condensate 520 km; gas 2,580 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,950 km; oil/gas/water 5 km; refined products 156 km (2006)
Roadways
total
1,088 km
paved
1,088 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (1999)
Merchant marine
total
58 ships (1000 GRT or over) 656,003 GRT/891,837 DWT
by type
bulk carrier 6, cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, container 6, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned
10 (Greece 2, Kuwait 8)
registered in other countries
259 (Bahamas 16, Barbados 1, Belize 5, Cambodia 1, Comoros 6, Cyprus 11, Dominica 2, Georgia 1, Hong Kong 2, India 6, Iran 1, Jordan 11, Kiribati 1, North Korea 6, Liberia 18, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 3, Mexico 1, Mongolia 5, Norway 1, Panama 105, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 19, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 11, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 3, Singapore 7, Somalia 1, Sri Lanka 2, Syria 1, unknown 5) (2006)
Army, Navy (includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense Force, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
653,181
females age 18-49
497,394 (includes non-nationals; 2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
526,671
females age 18-49
419,975 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males
30,706
females age 18-49
29,617 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
3.1% (2005 est.)
Disputes - international
boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies
Trafficking in persons
current situation
the United Arab Emirates is a destination country for men, women, and children trafficked from South and East Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East for involuntary servitude and for sexual exploitation; an estimated 10,000 women from sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, South and East Asia, Iraq, Iran, and Morocco may be victims of sex trafficking in the UAE; women also migrate from Africa, and South and Southeast Asia to work as domestic servants, but may have their passports confiscated, be denied permission to leave the place of employment in the home, or face sexual or physical abuse by their employers; men from South Asia come to the UAE to work in the construction industry, but may be subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as they are coerced to pay off recruitment and travel costs, sometimes having their wages denied for months at a time; victims of child camel jockey trafficking may still remain in the UAE, despite a July 2005 law banning the practice; while all identified victims were repatriated at the government's expense to their home countries, questions persist as to the effectiveness of the ban and the true number of victims
tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List - UAE is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show increased efforts to combat trafficking in 2005, particularly in its efforts to address the large-scale trafficking of foreign girls and women for commercial sexual exploitation
Illicit drugs
the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated
