The World Factbook CIA Home CIA Home About CIA Careers Offices of CIA News & Information Library Kid’s Page Contact CIA CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

         
  United Arab Emirates  
Flag of United Arab Emirates
Click to enlarge
Categories Banner
 Introduction
 Geography
 People
 Government
 Economy
 Communications
 Transportation
 Military
 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of United Arab Emirates



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    United Arab Emirates Top of Page
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 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    United Arab Emirates Top of Page
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 Rank Order
total: 83,600 sq km
land: 83,600 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
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:
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: 0.77%
permanent crops: 2.27%
other: 96.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
760 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
0.2 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%)
per capita: 511 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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 Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,621,399
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 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 484,102/female 462,405)
15-64 years: 78.6% (male 2,663,702/female 970,672)
65 years and over: 0.9% (male 26,244/female 14,274)
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 30.1 years
male: 32 years
female: 24.6 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.833% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
16.06 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.13 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.74 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.84 male(s)/female
total population: 2.19 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 13.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 75.89 years
male: 73.35 years
female: 78.56 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.18% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 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: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.3% of GDP (2005)
   Government    United Arab Emirates Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
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 (Quwayn)
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
based on a dual system of Sharia and civil courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
none
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
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, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Yousef bin Mani Saeed al-OTAIBA
chancery: 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:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard OLSON
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:
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 Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$164.4 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$192.6 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$37,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 60.6%
services: 37.6% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.065 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 7%
industry: 15%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.4% (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $68.27 billion
expenditures: $38.06 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
21.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$49.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$104.6 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$155.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
62.76 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
57.88 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.948 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
381,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.703 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
232,300 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
48.79 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
43.11 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.848 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.343 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.071 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$34.53 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$178.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Japan 23.6%, South Korea 9.2%, Thailand 5%, India 4.8% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$116.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
China 12.8%, India 10%, US 8.7%, Japan 6.1%, Germany 5.9%, UK 5.3%, Italy 4.6% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$77.24 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$61.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$44.37 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$14.14 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$138.5 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Emirati dirham (AED)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.673 (2007), 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004), 3.6725 (2003)
note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002
   Communications    United Arab Emirates Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.385 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.595 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
15 (2004)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ae
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
381,915 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.3 million (2007)
   Transportation    United Arab Emirates Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
39 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
5 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
condensate 520 km; gas 2,908 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,950 km; oil/gas/water 5 km; refined products 156 km (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 4,080 km
paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 58
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 9, chemical tanker 4, container 8, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 24, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 14 (Denmark 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 10)
registered in other countries: 313 (Bahamas 23, Bahrain 1, Belize 5, Cambodia 2, Comoros 7, Cyprus 9, Dominica 1, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 3, Hong Kong 1, India 6, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Jordan 13, North Korea 8, Liberia 23, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 15, Mexico 1, Netherlands 5, Panama 109, Papua New Guinea 6, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 18, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 8, Singapore 12, Somalia 1, Turkey 1, UK 9, unknown 6) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Mina' Zayid (Abu Dhabi), Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah), Khawr Fakkan (Sharjah)
   Military    United Arab Emirates Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force and Air Defense, National Coast Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; 18 years of age for officers and women; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 2,405,884 (includes non-nationals)
females age 16-49: 884,853 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 2,004,558
females age 16-49: 760,637 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 25,856
female: 23,085 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    United Arab Emirates Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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
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 controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Bottom Banner