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 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.

Land boundaries:

Coastline: 1,448 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: defined by bilateral boundaries or equidistant line
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm (assumed), 12 nm for Ash Shariqah (Sharjah)

Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Natural resources: crude oil and natural gas

Land use: arable land: NEGL%; permanent crops: NEGL%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 98%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Geography
Note: strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Population: 2,389,759 (July 1991), growth rate 5.7% (1991)

Nationality: noun--Emirian(s), adjective--Emirian

Ethnic groups: Emirian 19%, other Arab 23%, South Asian (fluctuating) 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8%; less than 20% of the population are UAE citizens (1982)

Languages: Arabic (official; Persian and English widely spoken in major cities; Hindi, Urdu

Religions: Muslim 96% (Shia 16%; Christian, Hindu, and other 4%

Birth rate: 30 births/1000 population (1991)

Death rate: 3 deaths/1000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 30 migrants/1000 population (1991)

Environment
Current issues: frequent dust and sand storms; lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991)

Literacy: 68% (male 70%, female 63%) age 10 and over but definition of literacy not available (1980)

Country 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 emirates

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular--imarah; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, Ras al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

Independence: 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

Suffrage: none

Executive branch: Chief of State--President Shaykh Zayid bin Sultan Al NUHAYYAN, (since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Dhabi; Vice President Shaykh Maktum bin Rashid al-MAKTUM (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy; Head of Government--Prime Minister Shaykh Maktum bin Rashid al-MAKTUM (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy; Deputy Prime Minister Sultan bin Zayid Al NUHAYYAN (since 20 November 1990)

Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, Federal Police Force

Judicial branch: Union Supreme Court

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Abdullah bin Zayid Al NUHAYYAN; Chancery at Suite 740, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,037; telephone (202) 338-6,500; US--Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.; Embassy at Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi (mailing address is P. O. Box 4,009, Abu Dhabi; telephone [971] (2) 336,691; there is a US Consulate General in Dubayy (Dubai)

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side United Arab Emirates United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates

Economy overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest incomes per capita outside the OECD nations. 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.

Agriculture products: accounts for 2% of GNP and 5% of labor force; cash crop--dates; food products--vegetables, watermelons, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish; only 25% self-sufficient in food

Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling

Industrial production growth rate: - 9.3% (1986)

Labor force: 580,000 (1986 est.), industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 5%; 80% of labor force is foreign

Unemployment rate: NEGL (1988)

Budget: revenues $3.8 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $15.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
Commodities: crude oil 65%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Partners: US, EC, Japan

Imports: $9.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
Commodities: food, consumer and capital goods
Partners: EC, Japan, US

Debt external: $11.0 billion (December 1989 est.)

Exchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1--3.6710 (fixed rate)

Electricity
Capacity: 5,773,000 kW capacity; 15,400 million kWh produced, 6,830 kWh per capita (1990)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: $1.59 billion, 6.8% of GDP (1988)

Airports: 38 total, 35 usable; 20 with permanent-surface runways; 7 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Pipelines: 830 km crude oil; 870 km natural gas, including natural gas liquids

Merchant marine: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 925,424 GRT/1,543,716 DWT; includes 22 cargo, 8 container, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 20 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 5 bulk

Disputes 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)