President, ruler of Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed
Population
6,508,887
5,314,317
Life Expectancy
80.180 years
76.710 years
Capital City
Amman
Abu Dhabi
Largest city
Amman (population: 1,275,860)
Dubai (population: 1,137,350)
Human Development Index
0.769
0.903
GDP per capita
$6,000 US
$48,800 US
Literacy Rate
89.9%
77.9%
Corruption Perception Index
5.1
5.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
8.5%
22.5%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair & family ($7.8bn US)
Unemployment Rate
12.300%
2.400%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
constitutional monarchy
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Independence date
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
2 December 1971 (from UK)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
Languages
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.709 (2008 est.), 0.709 (2007), 0.709 (2006), 0.709 (2005), 0.709 (2004)
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.673 (2008 est.), 3.673 (2007), 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004) note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
8.600%
3.100%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Area
89,342 km sq
83,600 km sq
Coastline
26 km
1,318 km
Climate
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
