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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ae

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

56,283 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

1,110,200 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable international: country code - 971; 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

1,135,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2,972,300 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

15 (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $23.68 billion expenditures: $25.45 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.4 billion (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Emirati dirham (AED)

Current account balance [time series]

$6.3 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$5.9 billion (2004 est.)

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

since its founding in 1971, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has given about $5.2 billion in aid to 56 countries (2004)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 30% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, 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 more than 100 years. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up its utilities to greater private sector involvement. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

36.51 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production [time series]

45.12 billion kWh (2004)

Exchange rates [time series]

Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.6725 (2004), 3.6725 (2003), 3.6725 (2002), 3.6725 (2001), 3.6725 (2000) note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002

Exports [time series]

$69.48 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 24.9%, South Korea 9.9%, India 5.4%, Thailand 5.2% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$63.67 billion (2004 est.)

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

agriculture: 4% industry: 58.5% services: 37.5% (2002 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $25,200 (2004 est.)

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

5.7% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$45.66 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports - partners [time series]

China 10%, India 9.8%, Japan 6.8%, Germany 6.5%, UK 6.2%, France 6.1%, US 6% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4% (2000)

Industries [time series]

petroleum, fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.36 million note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 7%, industry 15%, services 78% (2000 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

33.7 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

7.19 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

44.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

6.06 trillion cu m (2004)

Oil - consumption [time series]

310,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

2.5 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production [time series]

2.335 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

97.8 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

17.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$18.64 billion (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.4% (2001)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 [time series]

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

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

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

24 00 N, 54 00 E

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]

720 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.6% permanent crops: 2.25% other: 97.15% (2001)

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]

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

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 Oman, Trucial States abbreviation: UAE

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Michele SISON embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200 FAX: [971] (2) 414-2469 consulate(s) general: Dubai

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Asri Said Ahmad al-DHAHIRI chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400 FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432 note: consulates in New York and Houston

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Sheikh KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004) 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); Deputy Prime Minister HAMDAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Supreme Council (composed of rulers of the seven emirates) for five-year terms; election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next to be held 2009); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: Sheikh KHALIFA bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan elected president by a unanimous vote of the FSC; MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum unanimously reaffirmed vice president

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider 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, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Legal system [time series]

federal court system introduced in 1971; applies to all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah, which are not fully integrated into the federal system; all emirates have secular courts to adjudicate criminal, civil, and commercial matters and Islamic courts to review family and religious disputes

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) 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]

Independence 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

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 653,181 note: includes non-nationals (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 526,671 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males: 30,706 (2005 est.)

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

Army, Navy (includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense Force, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$1.6 billion (FY00)

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

3.1% (FY00)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 25.3% (male 331,269; female 317,977) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 1,115,826; female 707,058) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 66,404; female 24,678) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.78 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Emirati 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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.18% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 14.51 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.24 years male: 72.73 years female: 77.87 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 77.9% male: 76.1% female: 81.7% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 27.9 years male: 35.2 years female: 22.9 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Emirati(s) adjective: Emirati

Net migration rate [time series]

0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

2,563,212 note: includes an estimated 1,606,079 non-nationals; the 17 December 1995 census presents a total population figure of 2,377,453, and there are estimates of 3.44 million for 2002 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.54% (2005 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: 1.58 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.691 male(s)/female total population: 1.442 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is still unknown; boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and maps showing the alignment have not been published; UAE engage in direct talks and solicit Arab League support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Lesser and Greater Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island

Illicit drugs [time series]

the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to southwest Asian drug producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving

Transportation

Airports [time series]

35 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 22 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,088 km paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 578,477 GRT/739,823 DWT by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 11, chemical tanker 5, container 6, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 21, roll on/roll off 7 foreign-owned: 14 (Greece 2, Kuwait 6) registered in other countries: 200 (2005)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 469 km; gas 2,655 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,936 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Al Fujayrah, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Sharjan