Today, let's visit
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is a country in Asia, home to about 9.6 million people. Its capital is Abu Dhabi.
It covers 82,880 square kilometres (32,000 square miles). That's slightly larger than South Carolina.
A little history
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). Ra's al Khaymah joined in 1972.
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 for 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. In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel – brokered by the US – in Washington, D.C. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.
What's it like there?
The weather is desert.
- Location
-
- Middle East
- Bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf
- Between Oman and Saudi Arabia
- Size
-
- Slightly larger than South Carolina
- Slightly smaller than Maine
- Climate
-
- Desert
- Cooler in eastern mountains
- Landscape
-
- Flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert
- Mountains in east
- Natural resources
-
Petroleum, natural gas
- Land use
-
Agricultural land 5.5%
Arable land 0.7%
Permanent crops 0.6%
Permanent pasture 4.2%
Forest 4.6%
Other 89.7%
2023 estimate
- Good to know
-
- Strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for crude oil
- Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) together account for over 90% of UAE's area and two-thirds of the population
Who lives there?
About 9.6 million people live in the United Arab Emirates, and the biggest city is Dubai.
- Largest cities
-
Dubai 3,790,000 Abu Dhabi Capital 1,807,000 Sharjah 1,800,000 Al Ain City 846,747 Ajman 490,035 Dayrah 400,000 Ras Al Khaimah 351,943 Musaffah 243,341 Jebel Ali 210,000 Business Bay 191,000 - Languages
-
- Arabic (official)
- English
- Hindi
- Malayalam
- Urdu
- Pashto
- Tagalog
- Persian
- Religions
-
Muslim (official) (Sunni 63.3%, Shia 6.7%, other 4.4%) 74.5% Christian 12.9% Hindu 6.2% Buddhist 3.2% Agnostic 1.3% Other 1.9% 2020 estimate
Note: Data represent the total population; as of 2020, immigrants make up about 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data
- Ethnic groups
-
Emirati 11.6% South Asian (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%) 59.4% Egyptian 10.2% Filipino 6.1% Other 12.8% 2015 estimate
Note: Data represent the total population; as of 2019, immigrants make up about 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data
- Where people live
-
- 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
- Cities and towns
-
Urban population 87.8% of total population
2023
Rate of urbanization 1.5% annual rate of change
2020-25 estimate
- Reading and writing
-
Total population 98.8%
Male 99%
Female 98.4%
2024 estimate
- What people are called
-
Noun Emirati(s)
Adjective Emirati
Who's in charge?
Its government is a federation of monarchies.
- Leaders
-
Head of state President Muhammad Bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 14 May 2022)
Head of government Prime Minister and Co-Vice President Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktum (since 5 January 2006)
- Parliament
-
Legislature name Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihadi)
Legislative structure Unicameral
Number of seats 40 (20 indirectly elected; 20 appointed)
Electoral system Other systems
Scope of elections Full renewal
Term in office 4 years
Most recent election date 10/7/2023
Percentage of women in chamber 50%
Expected date of next election October 2027
- Courts
-
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 after approval from the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers
Judges serve until retirement age or the expiration of their appointment terms
Subordinate courts - Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws)
- 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, adjudicate civil and commercial disputes
- Constitution
-
History - Previous 1971 (provisional)
- Latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996
Amendment process - 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
- Legal system
-
Mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law
- Who can vote
-
Limited
Note: Rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that accounts for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens
How does it make a living?
- In short
-
- High-income, oil-driven Middle Eastern economy
- Fastest GDP growth of Gulf states
- Diversification through tourism, construction, and services
- Strong foreign direct investment orientation
- Continued government investment and business-friendly reforms
- Industries
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Petroleum and petrochemicals
- Fishing
- Aluminum
- Cement
- Fertilizer
- Commercial ship repair
- Construction materials
- Handicrafts
- Textiles
- Farming
-
- Dates
- Cucumbers/gherkins
- Camel milk
- Goat milk
- Tomatoes
- Chicken
- Goat meat
- Eggs
- Milk
- Camel meat
2023
Note: Top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- Exports
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- Crude petroleum
- Refined petroleum
- Gold
- Broadcasting equipment
- Natural gas
2023
Note: Top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- Sells most to
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China 11% India 11% Japan 10% Iraq 6% Thailand 4% 2023
Note: Top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- Imports
-
- Gold
- Broadcasting equipment
- Cars
- Refined petroleum
- Diamonds
2023
Note: Top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- Buys most from
-
China 19% India 7% USA 6% Turkey 4% Japan 4% 2023
Note: Top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- Workforce
-
7.09 million
2024 estimate
Note: Number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- Electricity
-
Electrification - total population 100%
2022 estimate
- Government budget
-
Revenues $23.248 billion
Expenditures $19.349 billion
2023 estimate
Note: Central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Want to read more? Try the Wikipedia article, the Wikipedia portal or the Human Rights Watch report.
Have a great day!
I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.
The more we all learn about the world, the better a place it becomes. Thank you for your curiosity!