2015 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 Dhabi, '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 high oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. However, 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 has essentially avoided the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East, though in March 2011, political activists and intellectuals signed a petition calling for greater public participation in governance that was widely circulated on the Internet. In an effort to stem potential further unrest, the government announced a multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates and aggressively pursued advocates of political reform.

Area

land

83,600 sq km

total

83,600 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine

Climate

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Coastline

1,318 km

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

739.5 cu m/yr (2005)

total

3.99 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%)

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

920 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

border countries (2)

Oman 609 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

total

1,066 km

Land use

arable land 0.5%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 3.6%

agricultural land

4.6%

forest

3.8%

other

91.6% (2011 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; mountains in east

Total renewable water resources

0.15 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

20.85% (male 616,669/female 588,546)

15-24 years

13.57% (male 466,663/female 317,735)

25-54 years

61.38% (male 2,704,889/female 842,852)

55-64 years

3.18% (male 137,753/female 46,214)

65 years and over

1.01% (male 36,725/female 21,714) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

15.43 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

1.97 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

1.3%

potential support ratio

74.6% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

17.8%

youth dependency ratio

16.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 99.6% of population

urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

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)

Health expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

12.35 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.04 years (2015 est.)

male

74.67 years

total population

77.29 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.8% (2005 est.)

male

93.1%

total population

93.8%

Major urban areas - population

Dubai 2.415 million; Sharjah 1.279 million; ABU DHABI (capital) 1.145 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

25.1 years (2015 est.)

male

32.1 years

total

30.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Emirati

noun

Emirati(s)

Net migration rate

12.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

34.5% (2014)

Physicians density

2.53 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

5,779,760

note

the UN estimates the country's total population to be 9,445,624 as of mid-year 2014; immigrants make up more than 80% of the total population, according to 2013 UN data (2014) (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.58% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim (Islam; official) 76%, Christian 9%, other (primarily Hindu and Buddhist, less than 5% of the population consists of Parsi, Baha'i, Druze, Sikh, Ahmadi, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra Muslim, and Jewish) 15%

note

represents the total population; about 85% of the population consists of noncitizens (2005 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98% of population

rural: 95.2% of population

total: 97.6% of population

urban: 2% of population

rural: 4.8% of population

total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.47 male(s)/female

25-54 years

3.21 male(s)/female

55-64 years

2.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.69 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

2.18 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.35 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

21.8% (2008 est.)

male

7.9%

total

12.1%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.87% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

85.5% of total population (2015)

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

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

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

Constitution

previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996; amended 2009 (2015)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Barbara A. LEAF (since 30 December 2014)

consulate(s) general

Dubai

embassy

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

FAX

[971] (2) 414-2603

mailing address

P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi

telephone

[971] (2) 414-2200

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA (since 25 July 2008)

FAX

[1] (202) 243-2432

telephone

[1] (202) 243-2400

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

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)

election results

KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan reelected president; FSC 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); election last held 3 November 2009 (next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan, MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (both since 11 May 2009)

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 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power

Flag description

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

Government type

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

Independence

2 December 1971 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges)

judge selection and term of office

judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, which includes the rulers of the 7 emirates; judge term NA

subordinate courts

Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and local (emirate) levels; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts; each emirate has its own court system

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic law and civil law

Legislative branch

description

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

election results

elected FNC seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; note - only 1 woman (from Ras Al Khaimah) won an FNC seat

elections

last held on 3 October 2015 (next to be held in 2019); note - the electoral college was expanded from 129,274 electors in the December 2011 election to 224,279 in the October 2015 election; elections for candidates rather than political parties; 347 candidates including 78 women ran for 20 contested seats in the 40-member FNC; 80,000 voters, or 35% of eligible voters, turned out to vote and 19 men and one woman were elected

National anthem

lyrics/music

AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

name

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

note

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 December (1971)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

none; political parties are banned

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$130.9 billion

note

the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (2014 est.)

revenues

$150.8 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Current account balance

$54.63 billion (2014 est.)

$71.38 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$171.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$167.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP based on oil and gas output to 25%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the country 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. The country's free trade zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. The global financial crisis of 2008, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency and ultimately a $20 billion bailout from the UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi-emirate government that was refinanced in March 2014. Dependence on oil, a large expatriate workforce, and growing inflation pressures are significant long-term challenges. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on economic diversification and creating more job opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.

Exchange rates

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -

3.673 (2014 est.)

3.673 (2013 est.)

3.67 (2012 est.)

3.673 (2011 est.)

3.6725 (2010 est.)

Exports

$370.6 billion (2014 est.)

$374.2 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates (2012 est.)

Exports - partners

Japan 14.8%, Iran 11.4%, India 9.6%, South Korea 5.7%, China 5.5%, Singapore 5.4%, Thailand 4.5% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

98%

government consumption

7.5%

household consumption

48.1%

imports of goods and services

-77.9%

investment in fixed capital

23.7%

investment in inventories

0.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.7%

industry

55.1%

services

44.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$66,300 (2014 est.)

$63,400 (2013 est.)

$60,800 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.6% (2014 est.)

4.3% (2013 est.)

7.2% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$399.5 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$617.1 billion (2014 est.)

$590.2 billion (2013 est.)

$565.7 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

38.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

41.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

44.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$239.8 billion (2014 est.)

$230 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports - partners

China 15.7%, India 13.4%, US 8.9%, Germany 5.3% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

4.5% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2014 est.)

1.1% (2013 est.)

Labor force

4.891 million

note

expatriates account for about 85% of the work force (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

7%

industry

15%

services

78% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$67.95 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$71.33 billion (31 December 2011)

$77.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.5% (2003 est.)

Public debt

45.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

44.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$79.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$78.42 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$343.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$287.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$81.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$72.59 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$116.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$103.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$331.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$320.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$118.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$103.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

37.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.4% (2001 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

234.1 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

2.5 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

2.82 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

93.28 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

27.23 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

100.5 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

66.69 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

7.4 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

19.49 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

54.6 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.089 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

694,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

364,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

341,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

487,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

except for the many organizations now operating in Dubai's Media Free Zone, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts (2007)

Internet country code

.ae

Internet users

percent of population

93.2% (2014 est.)

total

5.2 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)

Telephone system

domestic

microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable

general assessment

modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai

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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

2.1 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

299 (2014 est.)

total

16.8 million

Television broadcast stations

15 (2004)

Airports

43 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

2,438 to 3,047 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

3

over 3,047 m

12

total

25

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

6 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

6

over 3,047 m

1

total

18

Heliports

5 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 3, cargo 13, chemical tanker 8, container 7, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 24, roll on/roll off 4

foreign-owned

13 (Greece 3, Kuwait 10)

registered in other countries

253 (Bahamas 23, Barbados 1, Belize 3, Cambodia 2, Comoros 8, Cyprus 3, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 5, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 1, India 4, Iran 2, Jordan 2, Liberia 37, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 12, Mexico 1, Netherlands 4, North Korea 2, Panama 83, Papua New Guinea 6, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 8, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 6, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 10, Tanzania 3, Togo 1, UK 8, Vanuatu 1, unknown 8) (2010)

total

61

Pipelines

condensate 533 km; gas 3,277 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 3,287 km; oil/gas/water 24 km; refined products 218 km; water 99 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Dubai Port (12,617,595), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (3,234,101)

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Das Island

major seaport(s)

Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan), Mubarraz Island, Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah)

Roadways

paved

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

total

4,080 km

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

981,649 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,676,928 (includes non-nationals)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

842,759 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,229,366

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

24,419 (2010 est.)

male

27,439

Military branches

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Critical Infrastructure Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA), Land Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense, Presidential Guard (2015)

Military expenditures

NA% (2012)

5.5% of GDP (2011)

NA% (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men, optional service for women; 17 years of age for male volunteers with parental approval; 2-year general obligation, 9 months for secondary school graduates; women may train for 9 months regardless of education (2014)

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