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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 8, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

545,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

677,793 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

15 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

170,000 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $5.4 billion expenditures: $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $350 million (1998 budget est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$14 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

18 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

18 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1--central bank mid-point rate: 3.6725 (January 1999), 3.6725 (1998); fixed rate: 3.6710 (1994-1997)

Exports [time series]

$38 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Japan 36%, South Korea 9%, Singapore 5%, India 5%, Oman 3% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$40 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 3% industry: 52% services: 45% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$17,400 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

-5% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$29.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

US 9%, Japan 9%, UK 9%, Germany 6%, India 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0% (1997 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.3 million (1997 est.) note: 75% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 60%, industry 32%, agriculture 8% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Maine

Climate [time series]

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Coastline [time series]

1,318 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

24 00 N, 54 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

50 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

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 hazards [time series]

frequent sand and dust storms

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Abu Dhabi

Constitution [time series]

2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF 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 consulate(s) general: Dubai

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI chancery: Suite 700, 1255 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

Executive branch [time series]

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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

2 December 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Union Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president

Legal system [time series]

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 [time series]

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 holiday [time series]

National Day, 2 December (1971)

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

none

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

Suffrage [time series]

none

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$2.118 billion (1999)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

5% (1999)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 791,097 (1999 est.) note: includes non-nationals

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 425,248 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 23,358 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 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.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.86 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

3.13 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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 [time series]

14.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.24 years male: 73.83 years female: 76.72 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.2% male: 78.9% female: 79.8% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Emirian(s) adjective: Emirian

Net migration rate [time series]

2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

2,344,402 (July 1999 est.) note: includes 1,576,589 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.78% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at 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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.5 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

41 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 21 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 20 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 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.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

0 km