United Arab Emirates

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). Ra's al Khaymah joined in 1972. The UAE's per-capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. 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 did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates for political reform. The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel -- brokered by the US -- in Washington, D.C. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.

land

83,600 sq km

total

83,600 sq km

water

0 sq km

slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

1,318 km

highest point

Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

mean elevation

149 m

24 00 N, 54 00 E

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) together account for over 90% of the area of the country and two-thirds of the population

898 sq km (2020)

border countries

Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km

total

1,066 km

agricultural land

4.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.6% (2018 est.)

forest

3.8% (2018 est.)

other

91.6% (2018 est.)

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Middle East

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

frequent sand and dust storms

petroleum, natural gas

population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population

flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east

0-14 years

16.4% (male 842,577/female 802,302)

15-64 years

81.4% (male 5,812,470/female 2,353,750)

65 years and over

2.2% (2024 est.) (male 169,084/female 52,030)

beer

0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

2.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

10.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

NA

5.5% of GDP (2020)

72.4% (2023 est.)

1.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

2.1

potential support ratio

47.3 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

20.3

youth dependency ratio

18.2

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

3.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Filipino 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.)

note

note: data represent the total population; as of 2019, immigrants make up about 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data

0.78 (2024 est.)

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)

female

4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian

major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

female

81.4 years

male

78.6 years

total population

79.9 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.2% (2021)

male

98.8%

total population

98.1%

3.008 million Dubai, 1.831 million Sharjah, 1.567 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2023)

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

29.8 years

male

38.1 years

total

35.8 years (2024 est.)

adjective

Emirati

noun

Emirati(s)

-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

31.7% (2016)

2.6 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

female

3,208,082 (2024 est.)

male

6,824,131

total

10,032,213

population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population

0.6% (2024 est.)

Muslim 74.5% (official) (Sunni 63.3%, Shia 6.7%, other 4.4%), Christian 12.9%, Hindu 6.2%, Buddhist 3.2%, agnostic 1.3%, other 1.9% (2020 est.)

note

note: data represent the total population; as of 2020, immigrants make up about 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

female

17 years (2020)

male

15 years

total

16 years

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

2.47 male(s)/female

65 years and over

3.25 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

2.13 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

1.61 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

87.8% of total population (2023)

7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

etymology

in Arabic, abu means "father" and dhabi refers to "gazelle"; the name may derive from an abundance of gazelles that used to live in the area, as well as a folk tale involving the "Father of the Gazelle," Shakhbut BIN DHIYAB AL NAHYAN, whose hunting party tracked a gazelle to a spring on the island where Abu Dhabi was founded

geographic coordinates

24 28 N, 54 22 E

name

Abu Dhabi

time difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

30 years

amendments

proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council president; amended 2009

history

previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996

abbreviation

UAE

conventional long form

United Arab Emirates

conventional short form

none

etymology

self-descriptive country name; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"; "emirates" derives from "amir" the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince"

former

Trucial Oman, Trucial States

local long form

Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah

local short form

none

chief of mission

Ambassador Martina A. STRONG (since 4 October 2023)

consulate(s) general

Dubai

email address and website

abudhabiacs@state.govhttps://ae.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi

FAX

[971] (2) 414-2241

mailing address

6010 Abu Dhabi Place, Washington DC 20521-6010

telephone

[971] (2) 414-2200

chancery

3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Yousif AL OTAIBA (since 28 July 2008)

consulate(s) general

Houston, Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

info@uaeembassy-usa.orghttps://www.uae-embassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 243-2408

telephone

[1] (202) 243-2400

cabinet

Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president

chief of state

President MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al Nuhayyan (since 14 May 2022)

election results

2022: MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al-Nuhayyan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote - NA

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council - composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates - for a 5-year term (no term limits); unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, following the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (next election expected in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister and Co-Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al Maktum (since 5 January 2006)

note

note: the Federal Supreme Council (FSC) is composed of the 7 emirate rulers and is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; the FSC establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power

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

federation of monarchies

2 December 1971 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s)

Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases)

judge selection and term of office

judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiry of their appointment terms

subordinate courts

Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and emirate level; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts); the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system; note - the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts, the country’s two largest financial free zones, both adjudicate civil and commercial disputes.

mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law

description

unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members indirectly elected using single non-transferable vote by an electoral college whose members are selected by each emirate ruler proportional to its FNC membership, and 20 members appointed by the rulers of the 7 constituent states; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; composition - 13 men, 7 women, percentage elected women 35%; note - to attain overall FNC gender parity, 13 women and 7 men were appointed; total FNC percentage of women 50%

elections

last held for indirectly elected members on 7 October 2023 (next to be held in October 2027); last held for appointed members in October 2023 (next appointments expected in late 2027)

lyrics/music

AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

name

"Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)

note

note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia

selected World Heritage Site locales

Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas)

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)

golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red

none; political parties are banned; all candidates run as independents

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 Emirati citizens

dates, cucumbers/gherkins, camel milk, goat milk, tomatoes, eggs, goat meat, milk, chicken, camel meat (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

0.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

13.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$19.483 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$20.165 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

AA- (2020)

Moody's rating

Aa2 (2007)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

AA (2007)

Current account balance 2016

$13.23 billion (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

$26.47 billion (2017 est.)

historically oil-driven Middle Eastern economy; diversifying into a trade-oriented logistics and supply chain leader; strong foreign direct investment orientation; building trade and investment ties through partnership agreements; growing banking sector; recent economic linkages with Israel slowing due to Gaza conflict

Currency

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

3.673 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

3.673 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3.673 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

3.673 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

3.673 (2023 est.)

Exports 2018

$392.863 billion (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$404.046 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$335.238 billion (2020 est.)

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

India 13%, Japan 10%, China 8%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Iraq 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

95.9% (2020 est.)

government consumption

14.5% (2020 est.)

household consumption

40.2% (2020 est.)

imports of goods and services

-70.6% (2020 est.)

investment in fixed capital

20.2% (2020 est.)

investment in inventories

2.6% (2020 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

0.8% (2022 est.)

industry

51.5% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

47.7% (2022 est.)

$504.173 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

26 (2018 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

20% (2018 est.)

lowest 10%

4% (2018 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2018

$281.536 billion (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$295.6 billion (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$246.886 billion (2020 est.)

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, diamonds, cars (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 18%, India 10%, US 6%, UK 4%, Saudi Arabia 3% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

8.49% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

-2.08% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

-0.01% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

4.83% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

6.668 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2017

19.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$645.376 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$696.041 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$719.733 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.35% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

7.85% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$68,900 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$73,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$75,600 (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$131.117 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$138.433 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$189.491 billion (2023 est.)

0.57% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

3.11% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

2.87% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.71% (2023 est.)

female

22.9% (2023 est.)

male

6.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

10.7% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

8.274 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

129.653 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

130.114 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

268.041 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

3.273 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

99,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

3.538 million metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

161.89 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

657 million kWh (2022 est.)

imports

868 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

39.915 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

7.524 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

84.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

nuclear

11.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

496.365 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

66.091 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

6.991 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

19.29 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

56.683 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

6.091 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

5.32GW (2023 est.)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

4 (2023)

Percent of total electricity production

19.7% (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

939,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

4.146 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

33 (2020 est.)

total

3,245,123 (2020 est.)

except for the many organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts; restrictions since June 2017 on some satellite channels and websites originating from or otherwise linked to Qatar, but in early 2023 Abu Dhabi unblocked several sites, including Al Jazeera (2022)

.ae

percent of population

100% (2021 est.)

total

9.4 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line is 24 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 190 per 100 (2021)

general assessment

the UAE has a strong mobile market; while the 5G penetration rate is the second highest globally after China; this has underpinned growth in the mobile broadband sector, and has enabled the strong development in the take-up of rich content and applications, as well as m-commerce; to help increase the capacity of 5G networks in coming years, and so keep up with data demand, the government has allowed for the GSM networks to be closed down and for spectrum and other assets to be re-purposed for 5G by the end of 2022; the fixed-broadband network in the UAE is dominated by fiber, with DSL having a minor and declining presence; this focus on a fully fiber infrastructure has also facilitated growth in e-commerce, and has supported the government’s long-term aim of transitioning the economy from its dependence on oil to being knowledge-based and supported by digital services; the country stands to benefit from having signed the Abraham Accord Declaration with Israel, which aims to normalize relations between the two countries; such benefits can be seen in the agreement to enable local ISPs to access Bezeq International’s submarine cable infrastructure, and so improve direct connectivity to Europe, South East Asia, and Africa; the UAE’s ISPs can also access Bezeq International’s data center in Tel Aviv, improving internet services (2022)

international

country code - 971; landing points for the FLAG, SEA-ME-WE-3 ,-4 & -5, Qater UAE Submarine Cable System, FALCON, FOG, Tat TGN-Gulf, OMRAN/EPEG Cable System, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FEA, GBICS/MENA, IMEWE, Orient Express, TEAMS, TW1 and the UAE-Iran submarine cables, linking to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

24 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

2.286 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

212 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

20.036 million (2022 est.)

42 (2024)

A6

203 (2024)

by type

bulk carrier 2, container ship 3, general cargo 122, oil tanker 16, other 512

total

655 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

15,962,900,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

95,533,069 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

497

number of registered air carriers

10 (2020)

533 km condensate, 3,277 km gas, 300 km liquid petroleum gas, 3287 km oil, 24 km oil/gas/water, 218 km refined products, 99 km water (2013)

key ports

Abu Zaby, Jabal Az Zannah/Ruways, Khawr Fakkan, Mina Jabal Ali, Zirkuh

large

1

medium

4

ports with oil terminals

17

small

9

total ports

20 (2024)

very small

6

paved

4,080 km (2008) (includes 253 km of expressways)

total

4,080 km

the UAE Armed Forces (UAEAF) are responsible for external defense and supporting the UAE’s foreign policy objectives; the military’s primary concerns include terrorism, regional instability, particularly in neighboring Yemen, and Iran, including a territorial dispute over three islands in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian support to proxy forces in the region; in recent years, the UAE has undertaken a large military modernization program to go along with an assertive security policy which has included military involvments in Libya, Syria, and Yemen, as well as peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Somalia; the UAEAF has organized, trained, and equipped tens of thousands of militia forces in Yemen and offered training and equipment to several countries in Africa; the UAE also hosts the region’s first military school for women, which has trained female peacekeepers for deployment in Africa and Asiathe UAE has close security ties to France and the US; it hosts a multi-service French military base, which includes the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and hosts thousands of US military troops, mostly air and naval personnel; it also has defense ties with a variety of other countries, including Australia, China, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea, and the UK, as well as NATO and fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, particularly Saudi Arabiathe UAEAF traces its origins to the establishment of the Trucial Oman Scouts in 1951, a joint UK-Abu Dhabi organization modeled after Jordan’s Arab Legion, which became the Abu Dhabi Defense Force in 1965; the modern UAEAF were formed in 1976 and are considered to be one of the best-trained and most capable forces in the Persian Gulf region (2024)

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy Forces, Air Force, Presidential Guard (includes special operations forces)Ministry of Interior: Coast Guard Forces, Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA) (2024)

note

note: each emirate maintains a local police force called a general directorate, which is officially a branch of the federal Ministry of Interior; all emirate-level general directorates of police enforce their respective emirate’s laws autonomously; they also enforce federal laws within their emirate in coordination with one another under the federal ministry; the State Security Directorate (SSD) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai State Security (DSS) have primary responsible for counterterrorism law enforcement efforts; local, emirate-level police forces, especially the Abu Dhabi Police and Dubai Police, are the first responders in such cases and provide technical assistance to SSD and DSS

approximately 65,000 active personnel (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2024)

continues to maintain a small force in Yemen; also maintains some troops at military bases in Eritrea and Somalia (Somaliland) (2023)

note

note: in 2015, UAE intervened militarily in Yemen as part of the Saudi-led coalition in support of the Republic of Yemen Government with an estimated 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC)

the military's inventory is comprised of a wide variety of mostly modern imported weapons and equipment, and a small, but expanding amount of domestically-produced items; major foreign suppliers have included China, France, Italy, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and the US; the UAE has a  growing domestic defense industry which produces or co-produces such items as armored vehicles, naval vessels, precision munitions, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones (2024)

Military Expenditures 2019

5.4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

5.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

4% of GDP (2023 est.)

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men (compulsory service initiated in 2014); 18-40 for voluntary service; 36-month service obligation for men without a secondary education and 11 months for secondary school graduates; women may volunteer (11-month service obligation regardless of education) (2023)

note

note 1: compulsory service may be completed in the uniformed military, the Ministry of Interior, or other security institutions designated by the military leadershipnote 2: the UAE military employs a considerable number of foreign personnel on contracted service

major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

stateless persons

5 (mid-year 2021)

UAE Space Agency (created in 2014); Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC; established 2006); in 2015, MBRSC combined with the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST; established 2006) (2024)

has an ambitious and growing space program and is recognized as one of the leading programs in the region; focused on satellite development, including communications, remote sensing, and navigational; also placing emphasis on building expertise, infrastructure, ground stations, technology, and research and development capabilities to support its space program domestically; rather than building its own launch capabilities, has elected to utilize foreign partners to launch payloads from spaceports abroad; has looked to invest heavily in foreign commercial space companies and  encourage global partnerships; has a foreign-assisted astronaut training program; seeking to establish UAE as an international hub for space education; has signed more than 25 cooperation agreements or memorandums of understanding with major global and regional players in the space sector, including the Arab Space Cooperation Group, China, the European Space Agency (ESA), France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and the US; sees the development of its commercial space industry as a key pillar for diversifying and developing the country’s non-oil economy; dozens of space companies and entities operate in the UAE, including international and start-ups, plus several space science research centers (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

206.32 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

56.55 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

41.75 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

air pollution; rapid population growth and high energy demand contribute to water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

agricultural land

4.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.6% (2018 est.)

forest

3.8% (2018 est.)

other

91.6% (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

2.32 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

69 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

2.63 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

87.8% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

5,413,453 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

1,082,691 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

20% (2015 est.)