OFFICIAL NAME: Imarat al-Arabiya al-Muttahida
CAPITAL CITY: Abu Dhabi
POPULATION: 4,600,000 (Source: COUNTRYaah)
AREA: 80,000 km²
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (S): Arabic, Persian, English, Bengali, Urdu, Tamil, others
RELIGION: Muslims 96% (Shia Muslims 16%), Christians, Hindus and other 4%
COIN: dirham
CURRENCY CODE: AED
ENGLISH NAME: United Arab Emirates
INDEPENDENCE: 1971
POPULATION COMPOSITION: emiri 15%, other Arabs 13%, Iranians 17%, Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis 45%, others 10%
GDP PER residents: $ 27957 (2007)
LIFE EXPECTANCY: men 77 years, women 81 years (2007)
INDEX OF LIVING CONDITIONS, HDI: 0.839
INDEX OF LIVING CONDITIONS, POSITION: 49
INTERNET DOMAIN NAME: .ae
United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates, UAE, union of seven emirates or sheikhs (principalities) on the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf : Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain.
- AbbreviationFinder.org: Find two-letter abbreviation for each independent country and territory, such as AE which stands for United Arab Emirates.
The UAE is among the fastest growing economies in the world, but was until the 1960’s one of the most backward areas in the Middle East. Where one now finds modern cities, five international airports, a well-developed infrastructure and obvious prosperity, only one generation ago there were only scattered Bedouin tribes and poor fishermen. The main occupations were fishing for pearls and fish, a bit of farming in the oases, sheep and goat breeding as well as in Dubai smuggling, trade and piracy. The changes are due to oil; the first was found in 1958, and the area has (2016) approximately 7% of the world’s known oil reserves.
United Arab Emirates – Language
The official language is Arabic, while English is widely used as a language of commerce and instruction. The Arabic written language is modern standard Arabic. The spoken language is East Coast Arabic and is characterized by numerous loanwords from Persian and Portuguese. The large group of guest workers speak Urdu, Bengali, Malayalam and Tamil, among others.
United Arab Emirates – Constitution
The Emirates is a federation of seven states. The interim constitution of 1971 was made permanent in 1996. The executive power lies with the rulers of the seven emirates in the Supreme Council, who from among them elect a president for a five-year term and appoint a Council of Ministers. This introduces bills and draws up a budget, which is submitted to the 40 members of the Federal National Council, who can reject it or propose amendments. The members of the National Council are appointed for two years by the leaders of the respective emirates. There are no political parties. A National Advisory Council has been appointed consisting of citizens who are considered to constitute a representative sample of the population. Check youremailverifier for United Arab Emirates social condition facts.
United Arab Emirates – Social Affairs
In a single generation, the Emirates have established a welfare system that covers the country’s own citizens throughout their lives. Teaching from primary school to university level as well as medical treatment and housing are provided free of charge. The average income per per capita is higher than in Denmark, but the social gaps are very large; Asian guest workers constitute a numerous economic underclass which is almost without rights. Income tax is an unknown concept, but falling oil prices led the government to introduce a 4% import tax in 1994.
