Statistical information United Arab Emirates 2000
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 pageLocation: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map reference:
Middle EastAreaTotal: 82,880 km²
Land: 82,880 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundariesTotal: 867 km
Border countries: (2) Oman 410 km;
, Saudi Arabia 457 kmCoastline: 1,318 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Extremes highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas
Land useArable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 2%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 50 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
GeographyNote: strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
top of pagePopulation: 2,344,402 (July 1999 est.)
Note: includes 1,576,589 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 1.78% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Emirian(s)
Adjective: Emirian
Ethnic groups: Emiri 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)
Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Religions: Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 31% (male 368,844; female 353,183)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,015,690; female 558,902)
65 years and over: 2% (male 32,935; female 14,848) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.78% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.86 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.13 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.03 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
International agreements party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.22 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.53 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 14.1 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 75.24 years
Male: 73.83 years
Female: 76.72 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (1999 est.)
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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 79.2%
Male: 78.9%
Female: 79.8% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: United Arab Emirates
Conventional short form: none
Local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
Local short form: none
Former: Trucial States
Abbreviation: UAE
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
Dependent areasIndependence: 2 December 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: National 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 have joined the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: none
Executive branchChief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 6 August 1966) and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)
Head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) which is composed of the seven emirate rulers; the council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation, Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power; meets four times a year
Elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC (a group of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held NA October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); 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 appointed by the president
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI
In the us chancery: Suite 700, 1255 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20,037
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 955-7,999
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF
From the us embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 4,009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20,521-6,010 (pouch); note_work week is Saturday through Wednesday
From the us telephone: [971] (2) 436,691, 436,692
From the us FAX: [971] (2) 434,771
From the us consulates general: 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 an open economy with one of the world's highest per capita incomes and with a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 33% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, 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, oil and gas reserves should last for over 100 years. The UAE Government is encouraging increased privatization within the economy. Industrial development has picked up in 1997-98, but lower world oil prices caused GDP to drop 5% in 1998.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 3%
Industry: 52%
Services: 45% (1996 est.)
Agriculture products: dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Industrial production growth rate: 0% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1997 est.)
Note: 75% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
By occupation services: 60%
By occupation industry: 32%
By occupation agriculture: 8% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $5.4 billion
Expenditures: $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $350 million (1998 budget est.)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Current account balanceInflation 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: $38 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Commodities: crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Partners: Japan 36%, South Korea 9%, Singapore 5%, India 5%, Oman 3% (1997)
Imports: $29.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Partners: US 9%, Japan 9%, UK 9%, Germany 6%, India 6% (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $14 billion (1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1_central bank mid-point rate:3.6725 (January 1999), 3.6725 (1998; fixed rate:3.6710 (1994-1997)
top of pageElectricity accessElectricity production: 18 billion kWh (1996)
By source fossil fuel: 100%
By source hydro: 0%
By source nuclear: 0%
By source other: 0% (1996)
Electricity consumption: 18 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone system: modern system consisting of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Domestic: microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
International: 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
Broadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $2.118 billion (1999)
Percent of gdp: 5% (1999)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 41 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 21
With paved runways over 3047 m: 8
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 20
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 9
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports with paved runwaysTotal: 21
Over 3047 m: 8
2438 to 3047 m: 3
15-24 to 2437 m: 3
914 to 1523 m: 3
Under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports with unpaved runwaysTotal: 20
Over 3047 m: 1
2438 to 3047 m: 1
15-24 to 2437 m: 4
914 to 1523 m: 9
Under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 830 km; natural gas, including natural gas liquids, 870 km
Railways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 74 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,093,795 GRT/1,757,189 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 20, chemical tanker 4, container 8, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: location and status of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative Line in far north; claims two islands in the Persian Gulf occupied by Iran:Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran; claims island in the Persian Gulf jointly administered with Iran (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran)_over which Iran has taken steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has garnered significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting these Iranian actions
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: growing role as heroin transshipment and money-laundering center due to its proximity to southwest Asian producing countries and the bustling free trade zone in Dubai