CIA - The World Factbook

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. 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.

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

slightly smaller than Maine

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

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

petroleum, natural gas

frequent sand and dust storms

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

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

15.98 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

2.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

21.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

2.41 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)

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

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

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

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)

2 December 1971 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 2 December (1971)

2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996

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

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)

Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

none; political parties are not allowed

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, 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, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

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 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, however, those talks have not moved forward. The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. The global financial crisis, tight international credit, falling oil prices, and deflated asset prices caused GDP to drop nearly 4% in 2009. UAE authorities have 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. In February 2009, Dubai launched a $20 billion bond program to meet its debt obligations. The UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi-based banks bought the largest shares. In December 2009 Dubai received an additional $10 billion loan from the emirate of Abu Dhabi. 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.

$201.4 billion (2009 est.)

$208.7 billion (2008 est.)

$194.2 billion (2007 est.)

$231.3 billion (2009 est.)

28.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

47.2% of GDP (2009 est.)

40.7% of GDP (2008 est.)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$49.5 billion (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$104.6 billion (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$155.4 billion (31 December 2007)

$97.85 billion (31 December 2008)

$224.7 billion (31 December 2007)

$138.5 billion (31 December 2006)

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

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

71.54 billion kWh (2007 est.)

65.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)

3.046 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

463,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

2.7 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

192,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

50.24 billion cu m (2008 est.)

59.42 billion cu m (2008 est.)

7.567 billion cu m (2008 est.)

16.75 billion cu m (2008 est.)

6.071 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

$2.558 billion (2009 est.)

$22.31 billion (2008 est.)

$174 billion (2009 est.)

$239.2 billion (2008 est.)

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

Japan 26.5%, South Korea 10.9%, India 10.7%, Iran 7.5%, Thailand 6.1% (2008)

$141 billion (2009 est.)

$176.3 billion (2008 est.)

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

China 12.9%, India 12%, US 8.6%, Germany 6.4%, Japan 6%, Turkey 4.4%, Italy 4.2% (2008)

$33.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$31.69 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$128.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$134.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$67.69 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$62.69 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$30.95 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$28.95 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.673 (2009), 3.6725 (2008), 3.6725 (2007), 3.6725 (2006), 3.6725 (2005)

1.508 million (2008)

9.358 million (2008)

AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)

2.922 million (2008)

condensate 458 km; gas 2,152 km; liquid petroleum gas 220 km; oil 1,310 km; refined products 212 km (2009)

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

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force and Air Defense, National Coast Guard (2008)

18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; 18 years of age for officers and women; no conscription (2009)

3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

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

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