Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]
total: 3,245,123 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)
Broadcast media [time series]
except for the many organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts; restrictions since June 2017 on some satellite channels and websites originating from or otherwise linked to Qatar (2018)
Internet country code [time series]
.ae
Internet users [time series]
total: 9,890,400 (2020 est.) percent of population: 100% (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems [time series]
general assessment: the UAE has a strong mobile market; while the 5G penetration rate is the second highest globally after China; this has underpinned growth in the mobile broadband sector, and has enabled the strong development in the take-up of rich content and applications, as well as m-commerce; to help increase the capacity of 5G networks in coming years, and so keep up with data demand, the government has allowed for the GSM networks to be closed down and for spectrum and other assets to be re-purposed for 5G by the end of 2022; the fixed-broadband network in the UAE is dominated by fiber, with DSL having a minor and declining presence; this focus on a fully fiber infrastructure has also facilitated growth in e-commerce, and has supported the government s long-term aim of transitioning the economy from its dependence on oil to being knowledge-based and supported by digital services; the country stands to benefit from having signed the Abraham Accord Declaration with Israel, which aims to normalize relations between the two countries; such benefits can be seen in the agreement to enable local ISPs to access Bezeq International s submarine cable infrastructure, and so improve direct connectivity to Europe, South East Asia, and Africa; the UAE s ISPs can also access Bezeq International s data center in Tel Aviv, improving internet services (2022) domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic and coaxial cable; fixed-line roughly 24 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 186 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 971; landing points for the FLAG, SEA-ME-WE-3 ,-4 -5, Qater UAE Submarine Cable System, FALCON, FOG, Tat TGN-Gulf, OMRAN/EPEG Cable System, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FEA, GBICS/MENA, IMEWE, Orient Express, TEAMS, TW1 and the UAE-Iran submarine cables, linking to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 2,380,866 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total subscriptions: 19,602,800 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 200.63 (2019)
Economy
Agricultural products [time series]
dates, cucumbers, tomatoes, goat meat, eggs, milk, poultry, carrots/turnips, goat milk, sheep milk
Budget [time series]
revenues: 110.2 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 111.1 billion (2017 est.) note: the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Credit ratings [time series]
Fitch rating: AA- (2020) Moody's rating: Aa2 (2007) Standard & Poors rating: AA (2007) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Current account balance [time series]
$26.47 billion (2017 est.) $13.23 billion (2016 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$237.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $218.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Economic overview [time series]
The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP from the oil and gas sector to 30%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE nearly 60 years ago, the country has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. The country's free trade zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. The global financial crisis of 2008-09, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency and ultimately a $20 billion bailout from the UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi Government that was refinanced in March 2014. The UAE s dependence on oil is a significant long-term challenge, although the UAE is one of the most diversified countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Low oil prices have prompted the UAE to cut expenditures, including on some social programs, but the UAE has sufficient assets in its sovereign investment funds to cover its deficits. The government reduced fuel subsidies in August 2015, and introduced excise taxes (50% on sweetened carbonated beverages and 100% on energy drinks and tobacco) in October 2017. A five-percent value-added tax was introduced in January 2018. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on economic diversification, promoting the UAE as a global trade and tourism hub, developing industry, and creating more job opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.
Exchange rates [time series]
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.67315 (2020 est.) 3.67315 (2019 est.) 3.67315 (2018 est.) 3.673 (2014 est.) 3.673 (2013 est.)
Exports [time series]
$308.5 billion (2017 est.) $298.6 billion (2016 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, jewelry, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Exports - partners [time series]
India 11%, Japan 10%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Switzerland 6%, China 6%, Iraq 6% (2019)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$421.077 billion (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 34.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.8% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 100.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -72.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 0.9% (2017 est.) industry: 49.8% (2017 est.) services: 49.2% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income [time series]
32.5 (2014 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Imports [time series]
$229.2 billion (2017 est.) $226.5 billion (2016 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
gold, broadcasting equipment, jewelry, refined petroleum, diamonds (2019)
Imports - partners [time series]
China 15%, India 12%, Untied States 7% (2019)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
1.8% (2017 est.)
Industries [time series]
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
-1.9% (2019 est.) 3% (2018 est.) 1.9% (2017 est.)
Labor force [time series]
5.344 million (2017 est.) note: expatriates account for about 85% of the workforce
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 7% industry: 15% services: 78% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
19.5% (2003 est.)
Public debt [time series]
19.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 20.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]
$655.79 billion (2019 est.) $644.97 billion (2018 est.) $637.384 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate [time series]
0.8% (2017 est.) 3% (2016 est.) 5.1% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita [time series]
$67,100 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $67,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $67,184 (2017 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$95.37 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $85.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
28.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
1.6% (2016 est.) 3.6% (2014 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 14% male: 12.5% female: 18.7% (2020 est.)
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]
276.236 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.032 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 126.524 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 144.681 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 2.563 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 2,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 2.565 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Electricity [time series]
installed generating capacity: 35.173 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 122.386 billion kWh (2019 est.) exports: 257 million kWh (2019 est.) imports: 245 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 7.011 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity generation sources [time series]
fossil fuels: 95.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Energy consumption per capita [time series]
471.788 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Natural gas [time series]
production: 62,889,064,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 73,750,936,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 7,673,768,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 20,041,951,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 6,090,887,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Petroleum [time series]
total petroleum production: 3,769,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 863,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 2,427,200 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 172,900 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
817,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
392,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
943,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Environment
Air pollutants [time series]
particulate matter emissions: 39.44 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 206.32 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 56.55 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate [time series]
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Environment - current issues [time series]
air pollution; rapid population growth and high energy demand contribute to water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 4.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.6% (2018 est.) forest: 3.8% (2018 est.) other: 91.6% (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout UAE; as of 9 December 2022, UAE has reported a total of 1,045,040 cases of COVID-19 or 10,566.2 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 2,348 cumulative deaths or a rate of 23.74 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population
Revenue from coal [time series]
coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources [time series]
forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total renewable water resources [time series]
150 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total water withdrawal [time series]
municipal: 617 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 69 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3.312 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling [time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,413,453 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,082,691 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2015 est.)
Geography
total: 83,600 sq km land: 83,600 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine
Climate [time series]
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Coastline [time series]
1,318 km
Elevation [time series]
highest point: Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m mean elevation: 149 m
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]
898 sq km (2020)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 1,066 km border countries (2): Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 4.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.6% (2018 est.) forest: 3.8% (2018 est.) other: 91.6% (2018 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]
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
Population distribution [time series]
population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population
Terrain [time series]
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; 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]
name: Abu Dhabi geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: in Arabic, abu means "father" and dhabi refers to "gazelle"; the name may derive from an abundance of gazelles that used to live in the area, as well as a folk tale involving the "Father of the Gazelle," Shakhbut BIN DHIYAB AL NAHYAN, whose hunting party tracked a gazelle to a spring on the island where Abu Dhabi was founded
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years
Constitution [time series]
history: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996 amendments: proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council president; amended 2009
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 etymology: self-descriptive country name; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"; "emirates" derives from "amir" the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince"
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sean MURPHY (since January 2021) embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi mailing address: 6010 Abu Dhabi Place, Washington DC 20521-6010 telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200 FAX: [971] (2) 414-2241 email address and website: abudhabiacs@state.gov https://ae.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Dubai
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Yousif Mana Saeed Ahmed ALOTAIBA (since 28 July 2008) chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400 FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432 email address and website: info@uaeembassy-usa.org https://www.uae-embassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Los Angeles, New York
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President MUHAMMAD bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan (since 14 May 2022); Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (since 5 January 2006); note - MUHAMMAD bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan elected president by the Federal Supreme Council following the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan on 13 May 2022 head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan, MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan (both since 11 May 2009), and MAKTOUM bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum (since 25 September 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council - composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates - for a 5-year term (no term limits); unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, following the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan (next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: MUHAMMAD bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote NA note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the 7 emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power
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; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification
Government type [time series]
federation of monarchies
Independence [time series]
2 December 1971 (from the UK)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation [time series]
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiry of their appointment terms subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and emirate level; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts); the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system; note - the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts, the country s two largest financial free zones, both adjudicate civil and commercial disputes.
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members indirectly elected using single non-transferable vote by an electoral college whose members are selected by each emirate ruler proportional to its FNC membership, and 20 members appointed by the rulers of the 7 constituent states; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held for indirectly elected members on 5 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023) election results: all candidates ran as independents; seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; composition (preliminary) - 13 men, 7 women, percent of elected women 35%; note - to attain overall FNC gender parity, 13 women and 7 men will be appointed; overall FNC percent of women 50%
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE) lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia
National heritage [time series]
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas)
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)
National symbol(s) [time series]
golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
none; political parties are banned
Suffrage [time series]
limited; note - rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens
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 Dhabi, '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. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates of political reform. The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat-ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. On 15 September 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel brokered by the US in Washington DC. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
the UAE hosts a multi-service French military base, which includes the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and hosts about 3,500 US troops, mostly air and naval personnel in 2015, UAE intervened militarily in Yemen as part of the Saudi-led coalition in support of the Republic of Yemen Government with an estimated 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC) the UAE's military traces its origins to the establishment of the Trucial Oman Scouts in 1951, a joint UK-Abu Dhabi organization modeled after Jordan s Arab Legion, which became the Abu Dhabi Defense Force in 1965; the modern Emirati armed forces were formed in 1976 (2022)
Military and security forces [time series]
United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy Forces, Air Force, Presidential Guard (includes special operations forces); Ministry of Interior: Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA) (2022) note: each emirate maintains a local police force called a general directorate, which is officially a branch of the federal Ministry of Interior; all emirate-level general directorates of police enforce their respective emirate s laws autonomously; they also enforce federal laws within their emirate in coordination with one another under the federal ministry
Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]
approximately 65,000 active personnel (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2022)
Military deployments [time series]
estimates vary; reportedly a few hundred remain in Yemen; has maintained some troops at military bases in Eritrea and Somalia (Somaliland) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]
the military's inventory is comprised of wide variety of mostly modern imported equipment; since 2010, the UAE has acquired military equipment from more than 20 countries with France, Russia, and the US as the leading suppliers; in recent years, the UAE has tried to boost its domestic defense industry (2022)
Military expenditures [time series]
5.6% of GDP (2020 est.) 5.4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $29 billion) 5.5% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $28.7 billion) 5.2% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $26.9 billion) 6% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $30 billion)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men (compulsory service initiated in 2014); 17 years of age for volunteers with parental approval; men can volunteer up to age 40; 24-month general service obligation, 16 months for secondary school graduates; women can volunteer to serve for 9 months regardless of education (2022) note 1: compulsory service may be completed in the uniformed military, the Ministry of Interior, the State Security Service, or other institutions designated by the military leadership note 2: the UAE military employs a considerable number estimates range from a low of about 30% to as much as 70% of the force of foreign personnel on contract; the UAE has also hired foreign mercenaries for some operations during its intervention in Yemen
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 14.45% (male 745,492/female 698,330) 15-24 years: 7.94% (male 431,751/female 361,804) 25-54 years: 68.03% (male 5,204,618/female 1,592,987) 55-64 years: 7.68% (male 658,892/female 108,850) 65 years and over: 1.9% (male 146,221/female 43,138) (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita [time series]
total: 2.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
10.81 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
NA
Current health expenditure [time series]
4.3% of GDP (2019)
Death rate [time series]
1.56 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 20.3 youth dependency ratio: 18.2 elderly dependency ratio: 2.1 potential support ratio: 47.3 (2021 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
3.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Filipino 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.) note : data represent the total population; as of 2019, immigrants make up about 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
Hospital bed density [time series]
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Languages [time series]
Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 79.56 years male: 78.21 years female: 80.99 years (2022 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.6% male: 98% female: 96.9% (2019)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout UAE; as of 9 December 2022, UAE has reported a total of 1,045,040 cases of COVID-19 or 10,566.2 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 2,348 cumulative deaths or a rate of 23.74 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population
Major urban areas - population [time series]
3.008 million Dubai, 1.831 million Sharjah, 1.567 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio [time series]
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 38.4 years male: 40.4 years female: 31.5 years (2020 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Emirati(s) adjective: Emirati
Net migration rate [time series]
-3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
31.7% (2016)
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
2.6 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Population [time series]
9,915,803 (2022 est.) note: the UN estimated the country's total population was 10,082,000 as of 2022; immigrants make up 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data (2020)
Population distribution [time series]
population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population
Population growth rate [time series]
0.58% (2022 est.)
Religions [time series]
Muslim (official) 76%, Christian 9%, other (primarily Hindu and Buddhist, less than 5% of the population consists of Parsi, Baha'i, Druze, Sikh, Ahmadi, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra Muslim, and Jewish) 15% (2005 est.) note : data represent the total population; as of 2020, immigrants make up about 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2020)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 3.32 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 5.41 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.86 male(s)/female total population: 2.21 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.64 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 14% male: 12.5% female: 18.7% (2020 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
UAE-Oman : 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 detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published UAE-Iran : Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island near the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has occupied since 1971 UAE-Saudi Arabia : t he UAE has differences with Saudi Arabia over their border and the sharing of a major oilfield there, although the issue is seldom mentioned publically
Illicit drugs [time series]
a transshipment point for illegal narcotics and a pass-through for drug proceeds; numerous exchange houses and general trading companies increase potential for money laundering; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
stateless persons: 5 (mid-year 2021)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
total: 43 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 25 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 6 (2021)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
A6
Heliports [time series]
5 (2021)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 623 by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 3, general cargo 117, oil tanker 19, other 483 (2021)
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 10 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 497 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 95,533,069 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 15,962,900,000 (2018) mt-km
Pipelines [time series]
533 km condensate, 3,277 km gas, 300 km liquid petroleum gas, 3287 km oil, 24 km oil/gas/water, 218 km refined products, 99 km water (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah), Mubarraz Island (Abu Dhabi), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah) container port(s) (TEUs): Dubai Port (14,111,000) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (export): Das Island
Roadways [time series]
total: 4,080 km (2008) paved: 4,080 km (2008) (includes 253 km of expressways)