World Facts Index
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.
Geography of the United Arab Emirates
|
Location:
|
Middle East, bordering the
Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia |
|
Coordinates:
|
24 00 N, 54 00 E |
|
Area:
|
total: 82,880 sq km
land: 82,880 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:
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1,318 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
contiguous zone: 24
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
|
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:
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petroleum, natural gas |
|
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 |
|
Geography - note:
|
strategic location along
southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world
crude oil
|
Population of the United Arab Emirates
|
Population:
|
4,621,399 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 24.9% (male 331,012/female 317,643)
15-64 years: 71.2% (male 1,125,286/female 726,689)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 74,700/female 27,383) |
|
Median age:
|
28.1 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
1.52% |
|
Infant mortality:
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14.09 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 75.44 years
male: 72.92 years
female: 78.08 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
2.88 children born/woman |
|
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%
note: less than 20% are UAE citizens |
|
Religions:
|
Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu,
and other 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%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: United Arab
Emirates
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
abbreviation: UAE
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States |
|
Government type:
|
federation with specified powers delegated
to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates |
|
Capital:
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Abu Dhabi |
|
Administrative divisions:
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7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu
Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al
Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn |
|
Independence:
|
2 December 1971 (from UK) |
|
National holiday:
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Independence Day, 2 December (1971) |
|
Constitution:
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2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996) |
|
Legal system:
|
federal court system introduced in 1971;
all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah are not fully integrated into the
federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high
courts |
|
Suffrage:
|
none |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid
al-Nuhayyan, ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin
Rashid al-Maktum
head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid
al-Maktum; Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan; Deputy Prime Minister
HAMDAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan
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); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president |
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis
al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states
to serve two-year terms)
elections: President KHALIFA in December 2005 announced that indirect elections
would be held in early 2006 for half of the seats in the FNC; the other half would be
filled by appointment
note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed
by the president) |
Economy
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, nearly 40% of GDP is still directly based on oil and gas
output. 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 utilities to greater private sector involvement. In April
2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with
Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free
Trade Agreement with the US. The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100%
foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors.
Higher oil revenue, strong liquidity, housing shortages, and cheap credit in
2005-07 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 adversely impacting government employees and others on fixed
incomes. Dependence on oil and a large expatriate workforce are significant
long-term challenges. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses
on diversification and creating more opportunities for nationals through
improved education and increased private sector employment.
|
GDP:
|
$164.4 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
6.7% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$43,400 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 4%
industry: 58.5%
services: 37.5% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
10.5% |
|
Labor force:
|
2.8 million
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture: 7%
industry: 15%
services: 78% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $34.93 billion
expenditures: $29.41 billion |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 100% |
|
Industries:
|
petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals,
construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling |
|
Agriculture:
|
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry,
eggs, dairy products; fish |
|
Exports:
|
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports,
dried fish, dates |
|
Export partners:
|
Japan 25.6%, South Korea 9.3%, Thailand 5.8%, India 5.1% |
|
Imports:
|
machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, food |
|
Import partners:
|
China 9.9%, UK 9.7%, US 9.6%, India 8.9%, Germany 6.1%,
Japan 5.5%, France 4.8%, Singapore 4.2% |
|
Currency:
|
Emirati dirham (AED) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |