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  United Arab Emirates  
Flag of United Arab Emirates
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January, 2004
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2004.


This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004


Map of United Arab Emirates

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    United Arab Emirates
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 not far below 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
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 82,880 sq km
land: 82,880 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
1,318 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0.48%
permanent crops: 0.49%
other: 99.03% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
720 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
   People    United Arab Emirates
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,523,915
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 2004 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 25.9% (male 333,661; female 320,368)
15-64 years: 70.9% (male 1,103,385; female 685,281)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 58,862; female 22,358) (2004 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 27.7 years
male: 35.7 years
female: 22.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.57% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18.65 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.14 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.61 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.63 male(s)/female
total population: 1.46 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 15.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 17.71 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 74.99 years
male: 72.51 years
female: 77.6 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.02 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.18% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
   Government    United Arab Emirates
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: none
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
abbreviation: UAE
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
local short form: none
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Abu Dhabi
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
2 December 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah are not fully integrated into the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
none
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 6 August 1966) and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)
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
head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC (a group of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held 2 December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results: ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan reelected president; percent of FSC vote - NA%, but believed to be unanimous; MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum elected vice president; percent of FSC vote - NA%, but believed to be unanimous
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Federal National Council or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states to serve two-year terms)
elections: none
note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Al Asri Said Ahmad al-DHAHRI
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcelle M. WAHBA
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
FAX: [971] (2) 414-2469
consulate(s) general: Dubai
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side
   Economy    United Arab Emirates
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 33% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves should last for 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.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $57.7 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $23,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 4%
industry: 58.5%
services: 37.5% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.1 million
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
services 78%, industry 15%, agriculture 7% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.4% (2001)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $15.6 billion
expenditures: $23.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.4 billion (2002 est.)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4% (2000)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
37.74 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
35.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.566 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
310,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
80.31 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
44.94 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
37.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.892 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$56.73 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Japan 27.3%, South Korea 9.9%, Iran 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$37.16 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Japan 8.7%, China 8.2%, US 7.7%, UK 7.4%, Germany 7.1%, India 6.7%, France 6.6%, South Korea 5.3%, Italy 5.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$20.7 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Emirati dirham (AED)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
AED
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.67 (2003), 3.67 (2002), 3.67 (2001), 3.67 (2000), 3.67 (1999)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    United Arab Emirates
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,093,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,428,100 (2002)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: modern system of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
domestic: microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
international: country code - 971; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 13, FM 7, shortwave 2 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
15 (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ae
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
52,332 (2002)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,175,600 (2002)
   Transportation    United Arab Emirates
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 km
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,088 km
paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
condensate 383 km; gas 1,765 km; liquid petroleum gas 186 km; oil 1,266 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 59 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 578,477 GRT/739,823 DWT
by type: cargo 12, chemical tanker 5, container 7, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 21, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea/passenger 4, specialized tanker 1 (2003 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
35 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2003 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 14
under 914 m: 4 (2003 est.)
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
2 (2003 est.)
   Military    United Arab Emirates
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army, Navy (including Marines and Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense Force, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)
Military manpower - military age:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 751,707
note: includes non-nationals (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 412,490 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males: 29,183 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.6 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.1% (FY00)
   Transnational Issues    United Arab Emirates
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is still unknown and labeled approximate; boundary agreement signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves; 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
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
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 11 May, 2004


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