2008 Edition

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.

Area

total: 83,600 sq km land: 83,600 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 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%) per capita: 511 cu m/yr (2000)

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

760 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 0.77% permanent crops: 2.27% other: 96.96% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

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

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

Total renewable water resources

0.2 cu km (1997)

Age structure

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.)

Birth rate

16.06 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

2.13 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2005)

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.18% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

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.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.89 years male: 73.35 years female: 78.56 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 30.1 years male: 32 years female: 24.6 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Emirati(s) adjective: Emirati

Net migration rate

24.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

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.)

Population growth rate

3.833% (2008 est.)

Religions

Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2003)

Sex ratio

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.)

Total fertility rate

2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

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 (Quwayn)

Capital

name: Abu Dhabi geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 Oman, Trucial States abbreviation: UAE

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

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

FAX

[1] (202) 243-2432 consulate(s): New York, Houston

[971] (2) 414-2603 consulate(s) general: Dubai

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider 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, 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

Judicial branch

Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Legal system

based on a dual system of Sharia and civil courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 December (1971)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

none

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $68.27 billion expenditures: $38.06 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA

Currency (code)

Emirati dirham (AED)

Currency code

AED

Current account balance

$34.53 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$61.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

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)

Economic aid - recipient

$5.36 million (2004)

Economy - overview

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.

Electricity - consumption

57.88 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

62.76 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

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

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$178.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Japan 23.6%, South Korea 9.2%, Thailand 5%, India 4.8% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.8% industry: 60.6% services: 37.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.5% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$192.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$164.4 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$116.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports - partners

China 12.8%, India 10%, US 8.7%, Japan 6.1%, Germany 5.9%, UK 5.3%, Italy 4.6% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

4.3% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

3.065 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$138.5 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

43.11 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

6.848 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.343 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - production

48.79 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.071 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

381,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

2.703 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports

232,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

2.948 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.5% (2003)

Public debt

21.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$77.24 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$14.14 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$44.37 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$155.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$49.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$104.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

2.4% (2001)

Internet country code

.ae

Internet hosts

381,915 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

2.3 million (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)

Radios

820,000 (1997)

Telephone system

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

Telephones - main lines in use

1.385 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7.595 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

15 (2004)

Televisions

310,000 (1997)

Airports

39 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

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

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

5 (2007)

Merchant marine

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)

Pipelines

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)

Ports and terminals

Mina' Zayid (Abu Dhabi), Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah), Khawr Fakkan (Sharjah)

Roadways

total: 4,080 km paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,405,884 (includes non-nationals) females age 16-49: 884,853 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,004,558 females age 16-49: 760,637 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 25,856 female: 23,085 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; 18 years of age for officers and women; no conscription (2008)

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force and Air Defense, National Coast Guard (2008)

Disputes - international

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

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