Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

386,600 telephones; modern system consisting of microwave and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubayy local: NA intercity: microwave and coaxial cable international: 3 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 12 televisions: NA

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $1.59 billion, 4.3% of GDP (1994) UNITED KINGDOM

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 1,072,261; males fit for military service 583,967; males reach military age (18) annually 19,266 (1995 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $4.3 billion expenditures: $4.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils

Economic aid [time series]

donor: pledged in bilateral aid to less developed countries (1979-89) $9.1 billion

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 4,760,000 kW production: 16.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,796 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$24 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: crude oil 66%, natural gas, re-exports, dried fish, dates partners: Japan 35%, South Korea 5%, Iran 4%, Oman 4%, Singapore 4% (1993)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$11.6 billion (1994 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

growing role as heroin transshipment and money-laundering center

Imports [time series]

$20 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, food partners: Japan 12%, UK 10%, US 9%, Germany 7%, South Korea 5% (1993)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 1.7% (1992 est.); accounts for 50% of GDP, including petroleum

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.1% (1994 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $62.7 billion (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$22,480 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

-0.5% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest incomes per capita and with a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 40% 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, crude oil reserves should last for over 100 years. Although much stronger economically than most Gulf states, the UAE faces similar problems with weak international oil prices and the pressures for cuts in OPEC oil production quotas. The UAE government is encouraging increased privatization within the economy.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NEGL% (1988)

Area [time series]

total area: 75,581 sq km land area: 75,581 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine

Climate [time series]

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Coastline [time series]

1,318 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

location and status of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not final; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative Line in far north; claims two islands in the Persian Gulf occupied by Iran (Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg or Greater Tunb, and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek or Lesser Tunb); claims island in the Persian Gulf jointly administered with Iran (Jazireh-ye Abu Musa or Abu Musa); in 1992, the dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the region

Irrigated land [time series]

50 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 867 km, Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 0% other: 98%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

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 resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Abbreviation [time series]

UAE

Administrative divisions [time series]

7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Dubai, Ra's al Khaymah, Sharjah, Umm al Qaywayn

Capital [time series]

Abu Dhabi

Constitution [time series]

2 December 1971 (provisional)

Digraph [time series]

TC

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI chancery: Suite 600, 3000 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 338-6500

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President 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)

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

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

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

2 December 1971 (from UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

Union Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

secular codes are being introduced by the UAE Government and in several member emirates; Islamic law remains influential

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihad); no elections

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: United Arab Emirates conventional short form: none local long form: Al Imarata al Arabiyah al Muttahidah local short form: none former: Trucial States

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 2 December (1971)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

NA

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none

Suffrage [time series]

none

Legislative branch (Supreme Council of Rulers) [time series]

composed of the seven emirate rulers, the council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation, Abu Dhabi and Dubayy rulers have veto power; council meets four times a year cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Government type (Type) [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador William A. RUGH 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) telephone: [971] (2) 436691, 436692

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 35% (female 499,559; male 521,415) 15-64 years: 64% (female 643,819; male 1,229,730) 65 years and over: 1% (female 10,296; male 19,775) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

27.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

3.03 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Emirian 19%, other Arab 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982) note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

21 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.51 years male: 70.42 years female: 74.71 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write but definition of literary not available (1985) total population: 71% male: 72% female: 69%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Emirian(s) adjective: Emirian

Net migration rate [time series]

21.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

2,924,594 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

4.55% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.53 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 41 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 12 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,000 km paved: 1,800 km unpaved: gravel, graded earth 200 km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,128,253 GRT/1,938,770 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 18, chemical tanker 1, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports [time series]

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

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km