2023 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. 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 of 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. On 15 September 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel – brokered by the US – in Washington DC. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.

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

highest point

Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

mean elevation

149 m

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; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) together account for over 90% of the area of the country and two-thirds of the population

Irrigated land

898 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

border countries

Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km

total

1,066 km

Land use

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.)

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

Population distribution

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

16.23% (male 829,266/female 789,187)

15-64 years

81.77% (male 5,840,920/female 2,314,683)

65 years and over

2% (2023 est.) (male 15,1340/female 48,053)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

10.8 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

5.5% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

72.4% (2023 est.)

Death rate

1.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

2.1

potential support ratio

47.3 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

20.3

youth dependency ratio

18.2

Drinking water source

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

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.79 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

4.5 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Languages

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.2 years

male

78.4 years

total population

79.8 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.2% (2021)

male

98.8%

total population

98.1%

Major urban areas - population

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

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

29.9 years

male

37.9 years

total

35.7 years (2023 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Emirati

noun

Emirati(s)

Net migration rate

-3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

31.7% (2016)

Physicians density

2.6 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

9,973,449 (2023 est.)

note

note: the UN estimated the country's total population was 10,082,000 as of 2022; immigrants make up 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data (2020)

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

0.58% (2023 est.)

Religions

Muslim (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% (2005 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

Sanitation facility access

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2020)

male

15 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

2.52 male(s)/female

65 years and over

3.15 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

2.16 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.62 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

87.8% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

19.9%

male

7.9%

total

10.7% (2021 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

Capital

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

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

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

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Yousif Mana Saeed Ahmed AL OTAIBA (since 28 July 2008)

consulate(s) general

Boston, 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

Executive branch

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); Co-Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Co-Vice President MANSUR bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 29 March 2023); Crown Prince KHALID bin Muhammad Al Nuhayyan, the eldest son of the monarch, born 14 November 1982; note - MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al Nuhayyan elected president by the Federal Supreme Council following the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al nNuhayyan on 13 May 2022

election results

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 and deputy prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister and Co-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), and MAKTUM bin Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktum (since 25 September 2021)

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

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 of monarchies

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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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.

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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

all candidates ran as independents; seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; composition (preliminary) - 13 men, 7 women, percent of elected women 35%; note - to attain overall FNC gender parity, 13 women and 7 men will be appointed; overall FNC percent 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 2019 (next appointments expected in late 2023)

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

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

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

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

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

none; political parties are banned

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

Agricultural products

dates, cucumbers, tomatoes, goat meat, eggs, milk, poultry, carrots/turnips, goat milk, sheep milk

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.4% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on food

13.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$127.262 billion (2019 est.)

note

note: the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

revenues

$129.741 billion (2019 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

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

Current account balance 2016

$13.23 billion (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

$26.47 billion (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$218.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$237.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Economic overview

historically oil-driven Middle Eastern economy; diversifying into a trade-oriented logistics and supply chain leader; weak domestic business growth; declining real estate sector; new Israeli technology trade improving resilience; key aid donor

Exchange rates

Currency

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

3.673 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

3.673 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

3.673 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

3.673 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3.673 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2016

$298.6 billion (2016 est.)

Exports 2017

$308.5 billion (2017 est.)

Exports 2020

$335.238 billion (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, diamonds, natural gas, jewelry, aluminum (2021)

Exports - partners

India 14%, Japan 8%, China 8%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Iraq 5% (2021)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

100.4% (2017 est.)

government consumption

12.3% (2017 est.)

household consumption

34.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-72.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.8% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.9% (2017 est.)

industry

49.8% (2017 est.)

services

49.2% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$421.077 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

26 (2018 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2016

$226.5 billion (2016 est.)

Imports 2017

$229.2 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2020

$246.886 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - commodities

gold, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, jewelry, computers (2021)

Imports - partners

China 17%, India 9%, United States 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Germany 3% (2021)

Industrial production growth rate

2.54% (2021 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

3.07% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

-1.93% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

-2.08% (2020 est.)

Labor force

6.074 million (2021 est.)

note

note: expatriates account for about 85% of the workforce

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

7%

industry

15%

services

78% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.5% (2003 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

20.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

19.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$661.233 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$628.455 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$653.067 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

1.11% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-4.96% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

3.92% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2019

$71,800 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$67,700 (2020 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$69,700 (2021 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$108.359 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$106.702 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$131.117 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

0.68% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2019

2.23% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

3.19% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

3.36% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

19.9%

male

7.9%

total

10.7% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

5.032 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

144.681 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

126.524 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

276.236 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

2.563 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

2,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

2.565 million metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

122.386 billion kWh (2019 est.)

exports

257 million kWh (2019 est.)

imports

245 million kWh (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity

35.173 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

7.011 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

95.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

471.788 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

73,750,936,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

7,673,768,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

imports

20,041,951,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

production

62,889,064,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves

6,090,887,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

4.01GW (2023)

Number of nuclear reactors under construction

1

Number of operational nuclear reactors

3 (2023)

Percent of total electricity production

1.3% (2021)

Percent of total energy produced

0.17% (2021)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

2,427,200 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

172,900 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

863,700 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

3,769,100 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

817,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

392,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

943,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

33 (2020 est.)

total

3,245,123 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.ae

Internet users

percent of population

100% (2021 est.)

total

9.4 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

24 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

2.2 million (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

190 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

18 million (2021 est.)

Airports

43 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

25

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

18

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A6

Heliports

5 (2021)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, container ship 3, general cargo 121, oil tanker 16, other 494

total

636 (2022)

National air transport system

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)

Pipelines

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)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Dubai Port (13,742,000) (2021)

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Das Island

major seaport(s)

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

Roadways

paved

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

total

4,080 km (2008)

Military - note

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 3 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 interventions 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 strong 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 about 3,500 US 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 fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, particularly Saudi Arabia, and NATOthe 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; today, the UAE’s military is considered to be one of the best-trained and most capable forces in the Persian Gulf region; the Land Forces have approximately 5 brigades of armored, light infantry, and mechanized forces, plus supporting artillery units; the Presidential Guard, considered the elite of the Land Forces, has a mechanized brigade and a special operations command; the Air Forces and the Joint Aviation Command together have nearly 150 French- and US-made combat aircraft with more advanced US multipurpose fighters on order; the Navy’s principal warships include nearly 15 corvettes and offshore patrol vessels, also with more on order (2023)

Military and security forces

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) (2023)

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 65,000 active personnel (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2023)

Military deployments

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)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is comprised of a wide variety of mostly modern imported equipment; over the past decade, the UAE has acquired military equipment from more than 20 countries with the US as the leading supplier; in recent years, the UAE has tried to boost its domestic defense industry (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2018

5.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

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 service age and obligation

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

Disputes - international

UAE-Oman: 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 UAE-Iran: Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island near the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has occupied since 1971 UAE-Saudi Arabia: the UAE has differences with Saudi Arabia over their border and the sharing of a major oilfield there, although the issue is seldom mentioned publically

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

5 (mid-year 2021)

Space agency/agencies

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)  (2023)

Space program overview

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; invests heavily in foreign commercial space companies and has sought to  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; approximately 60 space companies and entities operate in the UAE, including international and start-ups, and five space science research centers (2023)

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 Appendix S

Air pollutants

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.)

Climate

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Land use

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.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

2.32 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

69 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

2.63 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

87.8% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

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.)