Page last updated on December 17, 2013
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 Dhabi, '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 high oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. However, in 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE has essentially avoided the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East, though in March 2011, political activists and intellectuals signed a petition calling for greater public participation in governance that was widely circulated on the Internet. In an effort to stem potential further unrest, the government announced a multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern Emirates.
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
total: 83,600 sq km
country comparison to the world: 115
land: 83,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km
slightly smaller than Maine
total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
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
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
arable land: 0.61%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 98.9% (2011)
total: 3.99 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%)
per capita: 739.5 cu m/yr (2005)
frequent sand and dust storms
lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati
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)
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Muslim (Islam - official) 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
5,473,972 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that included a significantly higher estimate of net immigration of non-citizens than previous estimates
0-14 years: 20.6% (male 577,599/female 551,346)
15-24 years: 13.8% (male 449,258/female 306,410)
25-54 years: 61.5% (male 2,570,054/female 798,070)
55-64 years: 3.1% (male 127,569/female 40,996)
65 years and over: 1% (male 33,481/female 19,189) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 18.6 %
youth dependency ratio: 18.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 0.5 %
potential support ratio: 201.7 (2013)
total: 30.3 years
male: 32 years
female: 25 years (2013 est.)
2.87% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
15.65 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
2.01 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
15.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
urban population: 84.4% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
ABU DHABI (capital) 666,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.46 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 3.23 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 3.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.77 male(s)/female
total population: 2.19 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
12 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 147
total: 11.25 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 134
male: 13.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 76.91 years
country comparison to the world: 71
male: 74.31 years
female: 79.63 years (2013 est.)
2.37 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
3.3% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 178
1.93 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
1.9 beds/1,000 population (2008)
0.2% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
32.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 22
1.1% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 171
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 89.5%
female: 91.5% (2005 est.)
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2009)
total: 12.1%
country comparison to the world: 97
male: 7.9%
female: 21.8% (2008)
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
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
name: Abu Dhabi
geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
2 December 1971 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996; amended 2009 (2012)
mixed legal system of Islamic law and civil law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
limited; note - rulers of the seven Emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of the native Emirati population
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 SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 11 May 2009) and MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 11 May 2009)
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) from among the seven FSC members; election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next election NA); 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
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 four-year terms)
elections: last held on 24 September 2011 (next to be held in 2015); note - the electoral college was expanded from 6,689 voters in the December 2006 election to 129,274 in the September 2011 election; elections for candidates rather than party lists; 469 candidates including 85 women ran for 20 contested FNC seats
election results: elected seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; note - number of appointed seats for each emirate are same as elected seats
highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, which includes the rulers of the 7 emirates; judge term NA
subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and local (emirate) levels; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts; each emirate has its own court system
none; political parties are not allowed
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA (since 25 July 2008)
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael H. CORBIN (since 25 July 2011)
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
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification
name: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)
lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia
The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP based on oil and gas output to 25%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the country 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; however, those talks have not moved forward. The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. The global financial crisis, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency. The UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi-based banks bought the largest shares. In December 2009 Dubai received an additional $10 billion loan from the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Dependence on oil, a large expatriate workforce, and growing inflation pressures 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.
$255.8 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$378.6 billion (2012 est.)
4.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$29,200 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
40% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
household consumption: 49.8%
government consumption: 6.9%
investment in fixed capital: 21.9%
investment in inventories: 0.7%
exports of goods and services: 95.2%
imports of goods and services: -74.5%
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 60.5%
services: 38.8% (2012 est.)
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles
4.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
4.337 million
country comparison to the world: 87
note: expatriates account for about 85% of the work force (2012 est.)
agriculture: 7%
industry: 15%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
2.4% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 16
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $136.6 billion
expenditures: $109.4 billion (2012 est.)
36.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
7.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
42.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
0.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$81.46 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$234.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$293.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$93.77 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 41
$66.56 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$350.1 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Japan 15.4%, India 13.4%, Iran 10.7%, Thailand 5.5%, Singapore 5.5%, South Korea 5.3% (2012)
$221.9 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
India 17%, China 13.7%, US 10.5%, Germany 5.1%, Japan 4.2% (2012)
$47.04 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$162.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$92.96 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$58.46 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -
102.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
85.17 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
23.25 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
3.213 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
2.142 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 7
371,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
572,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
382,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
351,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
52.31 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
60.54 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
5.18 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
17.44 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
6.089 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 7
245.4 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
1.967 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 59
13.775 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 61
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; linked to the international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia (2011)
except for the many organizations now operating in Dubai's Media Free Zone, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts (2007)
337,804 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 61
3.449 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
43 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 100
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m:
condensate 533 km; gas 3,277 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 3,287 km; oil/gas/water 24 km; refined products 218 km; water 99 km (2013)
total: 4,080 km
country comparison to the world: 157
paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)
total: 61
country comparison to the world: 65
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 13, chemical tanker 8, container 7, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 24, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 13 (Greece 3, Kuwait 10)
registered in other countries: 253 (Bahamas 23, Barbados 1, Belize 3, Cambodia 2, Comoros 8, Cyprus 3, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 5, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 1, India 4, Iran 2, Jordan 2, Liberia 37, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 12, Mexico 1, Netherlands 4, North Korea 2, Panama 83, Papua New Guinea 6, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 8, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 6, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 10, Tanzania 3, Togo 1, UK 8, Vanuatu 1, unknown 8) (2010)
Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan), Mubarraz Island, Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah)
United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Critical Infrastructure Coastal Patrol Agency (CNIA), Land Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense, Border and Coast Guard Directorate (BCGD) (2012)
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18 years of age for officers and women; no conscription; 16-22 years of age for candidates for the UAE Naval College (2012)
males age 16-49: 2,676,928 (includes non-nationals)
females age 16-49: 981,649 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 2,229,366
females age 16-49: 842,759 (2010 est.)
male: 27,439
female: 24,419 (2010 est.)
6.4% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 9
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
