Edition 2005 — United Arab Emirates

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.3% (male 331,269; female 317,977) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 1,115,826; female 707,058) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 66,404; female 24,678) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish

Airports

35 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 22 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Area

land: 82,880 sq km
total: 82,880 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maine

Background

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

Birth rate

18.78 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $25.45 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.4 billion (2004 est.)
revenues: $23.68 billion

Capital

Abu Dhabi

Climate

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Coastline

1,318 km

Constitution

2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)

Country name

abbreviation: UAE
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: none
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
local short form: none

Currency (code)

Emirati dirham (AED)

Currency code

AED

Current account balance

$6.3 billion (2004 est.)

Death rate

4.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$5.9 billion (2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michele SISON
consulate(s) general: Dubai
embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi
FAX: [971] (2) 414-2469
mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
chief of mission: Ambassador Asri Said Ahmad al-DHAHIRI
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432 note: consulates in New York and Houston
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400

Disputes - international

because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is still unknown; 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 maps showing the alignment have not been published; UAE engage in direct talks and solicit Arab League support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Lesser and Greater Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island

Economic aid - donor

since its founding in 1971, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has given about $5.2 billion in aid to 56 countries (2004)

Economy - overview

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 30% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. 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. 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. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US.

Electricity - consumption

36.51 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

45.12 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

Environment - current issues

lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills

Environment - international agreements

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

Ethnic groups

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)

Exchange rates

Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.6725 (2004), 3.6725 (2003), 3.6725 (2002), 3.6725 (2001), 3.6725 (2000) note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002

Executive branch

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
chief of state: President Sheikh KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004) and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)
election results: Sheikh KHALIFA bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan elected president by a unanimous vote of the FSC; MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum unanimously reaffirmed vice president
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Supreme Council (composed of rulers of the seven emirates) for five-year terms; 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 2009); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
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); Deputy Prime Minister HAMDAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003)

Exports

$69.48 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates

Exports - partners

Japan 24.9%, South Korea 9.9%, India 5.4%, Thailand 5.2% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications United Arab Emirates

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side Economy United Arab Emirates

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 4%
industry: 58.5%
services: 37.5% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $25,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.7% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$63.67 billion (2004 est.)

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 People United Arab Emirates

Government type

federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Heliports

2 (2004 est.) Military United Arab Emirates

Highways

paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways)
total: 1,088 km
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.18% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Illicit drugs

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 This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$45.66 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports - partners

China 10%, India 9.8%, Japan 6.8%, Germany 6.5%, UK 6.2%, France 6.1%, US 6% (2004)

Independence

2 December 1971 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2000)

Industries

petroleum, fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles

Infant mortality rate

female: 11.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
male: 17.05 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 14.51 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.2% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.ae

Internet hosts

56,283 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

1,110,200 (2003) Transportation United Arab Emirates

Investment (gross fixed)

20.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

720 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Labor force

2.36 million note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 7%, industry 15%, services 78% (2000 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
total: 867 km

Land use

arable land: 0.6%
other: 97.15% (2001)
permanent crops: 2.25%

Languages

Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Legal system

federal court system introduced in 1971; applies to all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah, which are not fully integrated into the federal system; all emirates have secular courts to adjudicate criminal, civil, and commercial matters and Islamic courts to review family and religious disputes

Legislative branch

unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) 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

Life expectancy at birth

female: 77.87 years (2005 est.)
male: 72.73 years
total population: 75.24 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 81.7% (2003 est.) Government United Arab Emirates
male: 76.1%
total population: 77.9%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 653,181 note: includes non-nationals (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 526,671 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males: 30,706 (2005 est.)

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

Median age

female: 22.9 years (2005 est.)
male: 35.2 years
total: 27.9 years

Merchant marine

by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 11, chemical tanker 5, container 6, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 21, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 14 (Greece 2, Kuwait 6)
registered in other countries: 200 (2005)
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 578,477 GRT/739,823 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense Force, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.6 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.1% (FY00) Transnational Issues United Arab Emirates

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 December (1971)

Nationality

adjective: Emirati
noun: Emirati(s)

Natural gas - consumption

33.7 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

7.19 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

44.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.06 trillion cu m (2004)

Natural hazards

frequent sand and dust storms

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas

Net migration rate

0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

310,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

2.5 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production

2.335 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

97.8 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Pipelines

condensate 469 km; gas 2,655 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,936 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

2,563,212 note: includes an estimated 1,606,079 non-nationals; the 17 December 1995 census presents a total population figure of 2,377,453, and there are estimates of 3.44 million for 2002 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

1.54% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Al Fujayrah, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Sharjan

Public debt

17.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)

Radios

820,000 (1997)

Religions

Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$18.64 billion (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.58 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.691 male(s)/female
total population: 1.442 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage