Statistical information United Arab Emirates 1989

United Arab Emirates in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries:
1,016 km total
Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 586 km, Qatar 20 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: defined by bilateral boundaries or equidistant line
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
ElevationNatural resources: crude oil and natural gas
Land use: NEGL% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 2% meadows and pastures; NEGL% forest and woodland; 98% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil geoad0.gif" border="0" geoad1
top of pagePopulation: 2,115,109 (July 1989), growth rate 6.4% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Emirian(s), adjective - Emirian
Ethnic groups: 19% Emirian, 23% other Arab, 50% South Asian (fluctuating), 8% other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians; less than 20% of the population are UAE citizens (1982)
Languages: Arabic (official; Farsi and English widely spoken in major cities; Hindi, Urdu
Religions: 96% Muslim (16% Shia; 4% Christian, Hindu, and other
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 32 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 4 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 36 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: frequent dust and sand storms; lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 29 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 72 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 68%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: United Arab Emirates (no short-form name; abbreviated UAE
Government type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central government and other powers reserved to member shaykhdoms
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah; Abu Zaby, Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, Ras al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Dependent areasIndependence: 2 December 1971 (from UK; formerly Trucial States)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution: 2 December 1971 (provisional)
Legal system: secular codes are being introduced by the UAE Government and in several member shaykhdoms; Islamic law remains influential
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: none
Executive branchLegislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, Central Military Command, Federal Police Force
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: Arab League, CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB - Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Ahmed S. AL-MOKARRAB; Chancery at Suite 740, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,037; telephone (202) 338-6,500; US - Ambassador David L. MACK; Embassy at Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi (mailing address is P. O. Box 4,009, Abu Dhabi; telephone Õ971å (2) 336,691; there is a US Consulate General in Dubai
Flag description
: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The UAE has one of the world's higher levels of income per capita. This wealth is based on oil and gas, and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, when petroleum prices shot up, 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, crude oil reserves should last for over 100 years.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: some dates, alfalfa, vegetables, fruit, tobacco; most food imported;
Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Industrial production growth rate: - 9.3% (1986)
Labor force:
580,000 (1986 est.), 85%
industry and commerce, 5% agriculture, 5%
services, 5% government; 80% of labor force is foreign
Unemployment rate: NEGL (1987)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $3.0 billion; expenditures $3.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $0.27 billion (1987)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $11.6 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: crude oil 75%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Partners: US, EC, Japan
Imports: $6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: food, consumer and capital goods
Partners: EC, Japan, US
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $9.3 billion (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1 - 3.6710 (fixed rate)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 5,520,000 kW capacity; 14,503 million kWh produced, 7,320 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $1.59 billion, 40% of central government budget (1987)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 39 total, 33 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways; 7 with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelines: 830 km crude oil; 870 km natural gas, including natural gas liquids
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 46 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 721,485 GRT/1,171,268 DWT; 13 cargo, 8 container, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 20 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 3 bulk
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: boundary with Qatar is in dispute; no defined boundary with Saudi Arabia; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative Line in far north; claims three islands in the Persian Gulf occupied by Iran (Jazireh-ye Abu Musa or Abu Musa, Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg or Greater Tunb, and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek or Lesser Tunb)
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs