United Arab Emirates

Agriculture-products

dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish

Budget

revenues: $5.1 billion expenditures: $5.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $294 million (1997 est.)

Currency

1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils

Debt-external

$14 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

$NA

Economy-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, and industrial development is expected to pick up in 1997-98.

Electricity-capacity

5.29 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

6,155 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

18 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

total value: $33.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: crude oil 66%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates partners: Japan 38%, South Korea 7%, Singapore 7%, India 6%, Oman 4%, Iran 3% (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$54.2 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 3% industry: 55% services: 42% (1996 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$24,000 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

5% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $23.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food partners: US 10%, Japan 9%, UK 8%, Italy 6%, South Korea 6%, India 6% (1996)

Industrial production growth rate

6.1% (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

3.6% (1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 1.05 million (1996 est.) by occupation: services 65%, industry and commerce 30%, agriculture 5% (1996 est.) note: 75% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios

545,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone 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

Telephones

677,793 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

12

Televisions

170,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 82,880 sq km land: 82,880 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly smaller than Maine

Climate

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Coastline

1,318 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m

Environment-current issues

lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills

Environment-international agreements

party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

24 00 N, 54 00 E

Geography-note

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

Irrigated land

50 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 867 km border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 0% other: 98% (1993 est.)

Location

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

frequent sand and dust storms

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas

Terrain

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

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

Constitution

2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)

Country name

conventional 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

Data code

TC

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador David C. LITT embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch); note-work week is Saturday through Wednesday telephone: [971] (2) 436691, 436692

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI chancery: Suite 700, 1255 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 955-7999

Executive branch

chief 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

FAX

[971] (2) 434771 consulate(s) general: Dubai

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side

Government type

federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Independence

2 December 1971 (from UK)

International 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, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Union Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president

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

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

National capital

Abu Dhabi

National holiday

National Day, 2 December (1971)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

none

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Federal Police Force)

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$1.59 billion (1994)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

4.3% (1994)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 791,770 (1998 est.) note: includes non-nationals

Military manpower-fit for military service

males: 425,373 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 22,040 (1998 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 32% (male 372,413; female 356,834) 15-64 years: 66% (male 995,798; female 535,014) 65 years and over: 2% (male 29,169; female 13,860) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

18.61 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

3.06 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

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)

Infant mortality rate

14.77 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.93 years male: 73.5 years female: 76.44 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write but definition of literacy not available total population: 79.2% male: 78.9% female: 79.8% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Emirian(s) adjective: Emirian

Net migration rate

2.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

2,303,088 (July 1998 est.) note: includes 1,561,840 non-nationals (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.78% (1998 est.)

Religions

Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.1 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.56 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Disputes-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

Illicit 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 UNITED KINGDOM

Airports

40 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways

total: 22 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways

total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 5 (1997 est.)

Heliports

2 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 4,835 km paved: 4,835 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 67 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 945,320 GRT/1,592,164 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 18, chemical tanker 3, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6 (1997 est.)

Pipelines

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

Ports and harbors

'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn

Railways

0 km