| World Regions |
|
Africa Middle East Europe Asia North America Central America The Caribbean South America Oceania World Map Cities Maps Flags Embassies Consulates |
| |
| Introduction | United Arab Emirates |
| 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 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. |
| People | United Arab Emirates |
| Population: | 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: | 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: | total: 27.7 years male: 35.7 years female: 22.4 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.57% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 18.65 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 4.14 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | 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: | 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: | total population: 74.99 years male: 72.51 years female: 77.6 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 3.02 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.18% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Emirati(s) adjective: Emirati |
| 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) |
| Religions: | Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4% |
| Languages: | Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu |
| Literacy: | 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: | 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: | federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates |
| Capital: | Abu Dhabi |
| 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 |
| Independence: | 2 December 1971 (from UK) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 2 December (1971) |
| Constitution: | 2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996) |
| Legal system: | 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: | none |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Sheikh KHALIFA ibn Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004) 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 HAMDAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003) 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: | 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: | Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president) |
| Political parties and leaders: | none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA |
| International organization participation: | 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: | chief of mission: Ambassador Asri Said Ahmad al-DHAHRI FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432 telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400 chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Michele SISON 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: | three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side |
| Communications | United Arab Emirates |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 1,135,800 (2003) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 2,972,300 (2003) |
| Telephone system: | 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: | AM 13, FM 7, shortwave 2 (1998) |
| Radios: | 820,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 15 (1997) |
| Televisions: | 310,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .ae |
| Internet hosts: | 56,283 (2004) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 1,110,200 (2003) |
| Transportation | United Arab Emirates |
| Highways: | total: 1,088 km paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.) |
| Pipelines: | condensate 469 km; gas 2,655 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,936 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2004) |
| Ports and harbors: | 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn |
| Merchant marine: | 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: | 35 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 22 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 13 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.) over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 |
| Heliports: | 2 (2003 est.) |
| Military | United Arab Emirates |
| Military branches: | Army, Navy (including Marines and Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense Force, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force) |
| Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 764,413 note: includes non-nationals (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 412,490 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 29,183 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $1.6 billion (FY00) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 3.1% (FY00) |
| Transnational Issues | United Arab Emirates |
| Disputes - international: | 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: | 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 16 December, 2004 |
| Categories | |
|