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  United Arab Emirates  
Flag of United Arab Emirates
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2002
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2002.


This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


Map of United Arab Emirates

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing
   Introduction    United Arab Emirates
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 not far below 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    United Arab Emirates
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East
Area:
Definition Field Listing
total: 82,880 sq km
land: 82,880 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
1,318 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0.48%
permanent crops: 0.49%
other: 99.03% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
720 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
   People    United Arab Emirates
Population:
Definition Field Listing
2,445,989
note: includes 1,576,472 non-nationals (July 2002 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 27.7% (male 345,077; female 331,545)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 1,069,443; female 635,275)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 45,989; female 18,660) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.58% (2002 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing
18.3 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing
3.9 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.68 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.46 male(s)/female
total population: 1.48 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing
16.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing
total population: 74.52 years
female: 77.1 years (2002 est.)
male: 72.06 years
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing
3.16 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.18% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.2%
male: 78.9%
female: 79.8% (1995 est.)
   Government    United Arab Emirates
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: none
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
abbreviation: UAE
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
local short form: none
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Abu Dhabi
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
2 December 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
none
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 6 August 1966) and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)
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
head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC (a group of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held 2 December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results: ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan reelected president; percent of FSC vote - NA%, but believed to be unanimous; MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum elected vice president; percent of FSC vote - NA%, but believed to be unanimous
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Federal National Council or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states to serve two-year terms)
elections: none
note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Asri Said Ahmad al-DHAHIRI
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcelle M. WAHBA
embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi
mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
telephone: [971] (2) 4436691
FAX: [971] (2) 4435441
consulate(s) general: Dubai
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side
   Economy    United Arab Emirates
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 33% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, 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. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves should last for more than 100 years. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up its utilities to greater private sector involvement.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $51 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
5.6% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $21,100 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 3%
industry: 46%
services: 51% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing
4.5% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing
1.6 million
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 2002 est.) (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
services 78%, industry 15%, agriculture 7% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $20 billion
expenditures: $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
4% (2000)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing
38.7 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing
35.991 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Exports:
Definition Field Listing
$47.6 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Japan 30%, India 7%, Singapore 6%, South Korea 4%, Oman, Iran (1999)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing
$28.6 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Japan 9%, UK 8%, US 8%, Italy 6%, Germany, South Korea (1999)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing
$12.6 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Emirati dirham (AED)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
AED
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Emirati dirhams per US dollar - central bank mid-point rate: 3.6725 (since 1997), 3.6710 (1995-96)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    United Arab Emirates
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing
915,223 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing
1 million (1999)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: modern system of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
domestic: microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
international: 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:
Definition Field Listing
AM 13, FM 7, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
Definition Field Listing
820,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
15 (1997)
Televisions:
Definition Field Listing
310,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ae
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
1 (2000)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing
900,000 (2002)
   Transportation    United Arab Emirates
Railways:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Highways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 4,835 km
paved: 4,835 km
unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil 830 km; natural gas, including natural gas liquids, 870 km
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 833,401 GRT/1,251,015 DWT
ships by type: cargo 13, chemical tanker 3, container 7, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 25, roll on/roll off 6
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 2, Italy 1, Kuwait 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
38 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 19 22
over 3,047 m: 8 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 3
under 914 m: 4 4 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 4
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 19 19
under 914 m: 5 5 (2002)
over 3,047 m: 1 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 3
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
2 (2002)
   Military    United Arab Emirates
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army, Navy (including Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force, Air Defense, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)
Military manpower - military age:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 773,938
note: includes non-nationals (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 419,851 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males: 25,482 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing
$1.6 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing
3.1% (FY00)
   Transnational Issues    United Arab Emirates
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Oman signed boundary treaty with the UAE in 1999, and the UAE-Oman boundary line was formally recognized in June 2000;; because details of 1974 and 1977 treaties have not been made public, the exact location of the Saudi Arabia-UAE boundary is unknown and status is considered de facto; UAE seeks United Arab League and other international support against Iran's occupation of Greater Tunb Island (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran) and Lesser Tunb Island (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and attempts to occupy completely a jointly administered island in the Persian Gulf (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran)
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
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 legislation was signed into law by the president on 25 January 2002

This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


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