1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 82,880 sq km land: 82,880 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly smaller than Maine
Climate
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Coastline
1,318 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Environment--current issues
lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment--international agreements
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates
24 00 N, 54 00 E
Geography--note
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Irrigated land
50 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 867 km border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 0% other: 98% (1993 est.)
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Map references
Middle East
Maritime claims
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
Natural hazards
frequent sand and dust storms
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas
Terrain
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 31% (male 368,844; female 353,183) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,015,690; female 558,902) 65 years and over: 2% (male 32,935; female 14,848) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
18.86 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
3.13 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Emiri 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)
Infant mortality rate
14.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.24 years male: 73.83 years female: 76.72 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.2% male: 78.9% female: 79.8% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Emirian(s) adjective: Emirian
Net migration rate
2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
2,344,402 (July 1999 est.) note: includes 1,576,589 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.78% (1999 est.)
Religions
Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.22 male(s)/female total population: 1.53 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.5 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
7 emirates (imarat, singular--imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Capital
Abu Dhabi
Constitution
2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)
Country name
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 States abbreviation: UAE
Data code
TC
Executive branch
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) 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 note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) which is composed of the seven emirate rulers; the council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation, Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power; meets four times a year elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC (a group of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held NA October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); 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
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side
Government type
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Independence
2 December 1971 (from UK)
International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI chancery: Suite 700, 1255 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch); note--work week is Saturday through Wednesday consulate(s) general: Dubai
Judicial branch
Union Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: none Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
Legal system
federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah have joined the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts
Legislative branch
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
National holiday
National Day, 2 December (1971)
Suffrage
none
Economy
Agriculture--products
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Budget
revenues: $5.4 billion expenditures: $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $350 million (1998 budget est.)
Currency
1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils
Debt--external
$14 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$NA
Economy--overview
The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest per capita incomes and with 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 over 100 years. The UAE Government is encouraging increased privatization within the economy. Industrial development has picked up in 1997-98, but lower world oil prices caused GDP to drop 5% in 1998.
Electricity--consumption
18 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
18 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1--central bank mid-point rate: 3.6725 (January 1999), 3.6725 (1998); fixed rate: 3.6710 (1994-1997)
Exports
$38 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports--partners
Japan 36%, South Korea 9%, Singapore 5%, India 5%, Oman 3% (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$40 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 3% industry: 52% services: 45% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$17,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
-5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$29.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports--partners
US 9%, Japan 9%, UK 9%, Germany 6%, India 6% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
0% (1997 est.)
Industries
petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5% (1997 est.)
Labor force
1.3 million (1997 est.) note: 75% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
services 60%, industry 32%, agriculture 8% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 8, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios
545,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system
modern system consisting 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
Telephones
677,793 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations
15 (1997)
Televisions
170,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
41 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Heliports
2 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 4,835 km paved: 4,835 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 74 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,093,795 GRT/1,757,189 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 20, chemical tanker 4, container 8, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 830 km; natural gas, including natural gas liquids, 870 km Ports and harbors: 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, paramilitary (includes Federal Police Force)
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$2.118 billion (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
5% (1999)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 791,097 (1999 est.) note: includes non-nationals Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 425,248 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 23,358 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
location and status of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative Line in far north; claims two islands in the Persian Gulf occupied by Iran: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran); claims island in the Persian Gulf jointly administered with Iran (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran)--over which Iran has taken steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has garnered significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting these Iranian actions
Illicit drugs
growing role as heroin transshipment and money-laundering center due to its proximity to southwest Asian producing countries and the bustling free trade zone in Dubai