| I | INTRODUCTION |
United Arab
Emirates (UAE), federation of seven independent states located in the
southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, part of the Middle East region.
Once known as the Trucial States, the UAE became an independent country in 1971.
Each emirate (small state ruled by a
hereditary chief called an emir) is centered on a coastal settlement and named
for that settlement. The seven member emirates are Abu Dhabi (also known as Abū
Zaby), ‘Ajmān, Dubai, Al Fujayrah, Ra’s al Khaymah, Ash Shāriqah, and Umm al
Qaywayn. The city of Abu Dhabi is the federal capital, and Dubai is the largest
city in the country.
The UAE is a desert country about the size of
South Carolina. The nation is bordered by the Persian Gulf to the north, Saudi
Arabia to the south and west, and Oman and the Gulf of Oman to the east.
Before the discovery of petroleum in the
1950s, the UAE was a group of largely undeveloped states under the protection of
the British government. The oil industry brought rapid growth and modernization
to the area, which helped the emirates break away from the control of the United
Kingdom in the early 1970s. The bulk of the country’s oil is found in Abu Dhabi,
making it the wealthiest and most powerful of the seven emirates. With a stable
economy buoyed by the oil industry, the UAE boasts one of the highest standards
of living in the world.
| II | LAND AND RESOURCES |
The UAE is roughly crescent-shaped, extending
for about 420 km (about 260 mi) from north to south and, at its widest, for
about 480 km (about 300 mi) from east to west. The total land area, including
its islands, is 83,600 sq km (32,300 sq mi). The country has a coastline, broken
by inlets and dotted with islands and coral reefs, that extends 1,318 km (819
mi) along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Much of the UAE’s international border,
running through empty desert, is undefined or disputed, and some minor border
issues between the emirates are still unresolved. Most of the country is
uninhabited desert, with a flat coastal plain consisting mostly of tidal salt
flats. The land slopes down from the Al Ḩajar al Gharbī mountain range in the
northeastern extremity of the country to an elevated desert plateau. The plateau
slopes gently northward to the coast and westward to the Sabkhat Maţţī, a huge,
sterile salt flat spreading into Saudi Arabia. The UAE’s highest point, at 1,527
m (5,010 ft), is Jabal Yibir. Some natural vegetation grows on parts of the
plateau, sustained by rainfall runoff from the mountains.
| A | Climate |
Except in the mountains, the climate of
the UAE is very hot and humid during the summer, with interior temperatures
reaching 49°C (120°F). In winter, however, temperatures are relatively cool,
ranging between 20° and 35°C (68° and 95° F). Rainfall is infrequent and scant
and is largely confined to the mountains, where sudden storms can cause great
damage and interrupt communications. The annual rainfall varies from an average
of 43 mm (1.7 in) in Abu Dhabi to 130 mm (5.1 in) in Ra’s al Khaymah, with great
variations from year to year. Sandstorms occur frequently and are associated
with both the shimal, a powerful wind from the north or west, and the hot
khamsin, coming from the south in summer.
| B | Water Sources |
There are no rivers or lakes in the UAE,
but underground water deposits are found at several desert oases, including Al
‘Ayn and Līwā. Wells tap these natural aquifers (underground layers of
earth or stone that hold water) to irrigate crops and provide drinking water.
Some processed wastewater is also used for irrigation.
Along the flat Persian Gulf coast there
are few wells—past pumping from the water table has greatly lowered it,
rendering the water salty—and there are almost no cultivated areas west of the
palm groves of Abu Dhabi. Ocean desalination plants, which convert saltwater to
fresh water, are a main source of water for drinking, agricultural, and
industrial needs in these areas.
| C | Plant and Animal Life |
The soil of the UAE is almost entirely
sandy, limiting the varieties of plants that can grow. Palm, acacia, and
tamarisk trees grow naturally in the oases and along the coast, and hardy shrubs
and grasses survive in the desert. Irrigation around the major oases and cities
supports the growth of eucalyptus trees, decorative plants such as
bougainvillea, and fruits and vegetables.
In addition to livestock, such as camel,
sheep, and some cattle, the UAE has numerous birds, including trained falcons
for hunting. The desert oryx and gazelle have been preserved through
conservation efforts, along with other wildlife previously hunted almost to
extinction. The waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman contain a
variety of fish and crustaceans. The dugong, or sea cow, is also found along the
coast.
| D | Natural Resources |
The UAE’s proven oil reserves make up
almost one-tenth of the world’s total, with about 85 percent of the oil located
in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Dubai and Ash Shāriqah also have significant
reserves. Estimated natural gas reserves amount to about 3 percent of the
world’s total, with Abu Dhabi again possessing the largest share. Other mineral
resources include modest deposits of chrome, iron, copper, and uranium.
| E | Environmental Issues |
The government of the UAE has sponsored a
massive forestation scheme designed to reduce soil erosion, protect crops from
wind damage, and beautify cities. Although some endangered species have been
protected, the country is a major exporter of reptile skins and a hub for the
trade in illegal wildlife.
The UAE is a contributor to the increasing
levels of air pollution in the Persian Gulf region. The country derives 100
percent of its electricity from thermal plants that burn fossil fuels, thereby
releasing pollutants into the atmosphere. The UAE also has one of the world’s
highest per capita rates of carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes,
as well as of petroleum consumption per capita. Pollution from petroleum
processing facilities and oil spills also affect the coast. The government has
ratified international environmental agreements pertaining to global warming,
desertification, endangered species, hazardous wastes, water pollution, and
ozone layer protection.
| III | PEOPLE |
Most people living in the UAE (known as
Emiris) are Arabs, a large majority of whom are city and town dwellers. A small
number are nomadic (having no permanent home). The population has grown
dramatically since the mid-1960s, largely due to the influx of oil workers to
the country. Four-fifths of the UAE’s inhabitants are foreign workers and their
families. The UAE also has a very youthful population, due to the large numbers
of young foreign workers, a cultural preference for large families, and improved
medical care.
The UAE had an estimated population of
4,621,399 in 2008, with a density of 55 persons per sq km (143 per sq mi). Some
86 percent of the country’s population is urban.
Abu Dhabi is the country’s capital and
second largest city. The metropolis serves as the financial, transportation, and
communications center of this major oil-producing area. The city is also a
significant port and is home to a majority of the federal government ministries.
The emirate of Abu Dhabi as a whole contains nearly 40 percent of the UAE’s
total population.
Dubai, located in the emirate of the same
name, is the largest city in the UAE and the main trading center of the entire
Persian Gulf. It is home to the principal port facilities in the UAE as well as
the country’s busiest airport, along with the headquarters of several federal
ministries. Other major cities in the UAE include Ash Shāriqah, an important
port and industrial hub in that emirate, and Al `Ayn, an educational and
cultural center in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
| A | Ethnic Groups |
The native Emiris are Arabs, and
generally a different tribe dominates each emirate. About half of the UAE’s
non-native population are Asians (largely Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans,
Bangladeshis, and Filipinos), and most of the rest are Iranians or Arabs
(primarily Jordanians, Palestinians, and Egyptians). A much smaller percentage
comes from Europe and the United States. Although the disproportionate ratio of
expatriates to Emiris has caused concern over the possible impact on the
country’s security and social and cultural values, the level of tensions between
the various ethnic communities is slight.
| B | Language and Religion |
Arabic is the official language of the
UAE. English is also widely spoken, as are Hindi—the language of commerce—Urdu,
and Persian. Islam is the country’s official religion, and all UAE natives and a
majority of the expatriates are Muslim. More than 80 percent follow the Sunni
branch of Islam, with the rest belonging to the Shia branch. The constitution
guarantees religious freedom and other religions are represented, including
Hinduism and Christianity.
| C | Education |
Primary and secondary education is free
to UAE nationals and primary education is compulsory between the ages of 6 and
14. Most teachers, at all levels, are from other Arab countries. In 2005 adult
literacy rates were estimated to be 79 percent. This represents a dramatic
increase since the introduction of universal public education under the UAE’s
1971 constitution. The United Arab Emirates University in Al ‘Ayn has grown
rapidly since it opened in 1977. A network of technical colleges opened in the
late 1980s.
| D | Way of Life |
The culture and society of the UAE are a
blend of traditional and modern elements. The religion of Islam and the heritage
of a traditional, tribal society form the basis of a stable and essentially
conservative social structure. There is, however, a decidedly tolerant and
cosmopolitan atmosphere—most notable in the emirate of Dubai—that gives resident
non-Emiris opportunities to enjoy their own cultural and religious
organizations. For most older women the home remains the sphere of activity;
younger women, benefiting from their access to modern education, are playing an
ever-wider role in the society. An estimated 15 percent of the UAE’s labor force
is female, and women are increasingly represented in government posts.
Reflecting the mix of modern and
traditional influences, clothing styles in the UAE are both Western and
indigenous. Most Emiri men wear the dishdasha, a white, loose-fitting
garment that is comfortable in hot weather. Most women wear the enveloping black
abaya and a face mask called the burka, although this tradition is
beginning to be abandoned by younger, educated women.
Most of the population enjoys modern
air-conditioned housing, either in apartments or villa-style houses. The small
rural population lives in a more traditional style, and some Bedouins still live
nomadically in tents. Similarly, cuisine represents a blend of traditional Arab
dishes, such as grilled lamb with spiced rice, with increasingly popular
American and European foods.
Even though traditional sports such as
falconry and camel racing remain popular in the UAE, newer sports, particularly
soccer, have an enthusiastic following. The country also has a strong horse
racing tradition; the annual Dubai World Cup is one of the richest events in the
sport.
| E | Culture |
Traditional social rituals remain
important, especially the Eid al-Fitr and the Eid al-Adha, the festivals that
mark the end of Ramadan (the month of fasting) and the conclusion of the
hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) on the Islamic calendar. On special occasions
Emiris perform traditional dances to musical accompaniment.
The commitment to preserving traditional
arts and culture is evident at both the popular and governmental levels. Each
emirate devotes considerable resources to maintaining museums and libraries. The
Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation sponsors major events on artistic, social, and
other themes featuring Arab and other cultural traditions throughout the year.
The foundation’s Center for Documentation and Research is a national archive
where scholars from around the world can research the history of the UAE back to
the earliest times. Ash Shāriqah has a fine arts museum and is home to a lively
theater and literary scene. See also Arab Music; Arabic Literature.
| F | Social Issues |
Although disparities in the standard of
living do exist between the emirates, there is almost no poverty in the UAE
because its leadership has devoted a large part of Abu Dhabi’s wealth to the
welfare of the poorer emirates. Drug trafficking and other crimes are not
uncommon but confined mainly to the expatriate community.
| IV | ECONOMY |
Since the 1960s the UAE has progressed from
a largely subsistence economy—mostly farming, fishing, and pearl harvesting—to a
developed one that provides a very high standard of living. The main engine for
the extraordinary growth and development of the economy has been the petroleum
sector, although the non-oil trade has played a significant role and all the
emirates have begun to diversify their economies. The 2005 gross domestic
product (GDP) was $129.7 billion. The total workforce of the UAE was estimated
at 2,664,251 in 2006, with 59 percent working in services.
A unique feature of the UAE’s economy is its
dependence on foreign labor. More than 90 percent of the workforce is made up of
people from other countries.
| A | Mining |
The UAE is rich in both oil and natural
gas. Proven reserves amount to approximately 100 billion barrels of oil and
about 5.7 trillion cu m (about 200 trillion cu ft) of natural gas. At present
rates of production—858 million barrels of oil per year—the UAE’s oil will last
for more than 100 years. Its gas will last for more than 200 years. These
resources directly contribute about one-third of the country’s GDP.
| B | Manufacturing and Services |
In addition to petrochemical production,
other manufacturing has become important, with rapid growth in aluminum
production, paint and clothes manufacturing, and food processing. There is a
very active private commercial sector, and trading services and other businesses
in Dubai are a major factor in the country’s economy. Community and social
services such as teaching and government employment are significant sources of
jobs.
Tourism has grown rapidly in the country
over past few decades; many Europeans and other foreigners are attracted by the
mild winter weather, extensive beaches, areas of scenic and historic interest,
and opportunities for shopping in the suqs (markets). Hotels and other
tourist facilities are modern and equipped with all the latest amenities.
| C | Agriculture |
Agriculture and livestock raising make up
only 2 percent of the GDP. These pursuits are important, however, because the
UAE has achieved a significant level of self-sufficiency in several food
categories, including vegetables, eggs, and dairy products. The country is a
major producer of dates for both domestic consumption and export. Many of the
farms are small, but since agriculture is supported by generous government
subsidies it is no longer considered a subsistence activity.
| D | Energy |
Due to its vast petrochemical resources,
the UAE obtains its electricity almost exclusively from oil- and gas-burning
power plants. The UAE’s plentiful fuel supply has made extensive desalination
facilities and other energy-intensive activities possible.
| E | Transportation |
The UAE has rapidly developed a highly
efficient transportation infrastructure. With a total of 1,088 km (676 mi) of
roads, modern highways connect all the emirates with each other and with Oman
and Saudi Arabia. Dubai International Airport is the largest of the UAE’s six
international airports. The country has numerous ports, including Mīnā’ Jabal
‘Alī in Dubai, one of the largest artificial deepwater ports in the world.
Automobiles are the most commonly used form of transportation.
| F | Foreign Trade |
The UAE revolutionized its economy when it
began exporting oil in 1962. Today, oil and gas exports amount to less than half
of all export earnings, indicating the country’s success in diversifying its
economy. In addition to oil, gas, and petrochemical products, exports include
aluminum, paint, and various fruits and vegetables. Principal purchasers of UAE
exports are Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Oman, and Iran; chief sources
for imports are the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, South
Korea, and India. In 2000 the UAE earned $53.5 billion from exports, while
imports cost $35.6 billion.
Through its membership in the powerful
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) the UAE has supported a
moderate oil-pricing policy calculated to maximize its long-term benefit. The
country also belongs to the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OAPEC) that seeks to coordinate Arab oil policy. It is a founding member of the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which allows it to work with other member
nations—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman—to increase economic
cooperation.
| G | Currency and Banking |
The currency of the UAE is the
dirham, which can be divided into 100 fils. Its official exchange
rate is fixed to the United States dollar, and was set at 3.6725 dirhams in
1997. The UAE Central Bank in Abu Dhabi is the bank of issue.
| V | GOVERNMENT |
The UAE’s constitution, provisionally adopted
at independence in 1971 and made permanent in 1996, established a federal
government that leaves much power to the emirates. The government has executive,
legislative, and judicial branches, but the executive branch dominates the
political system. There are no political parties and no popular elections.
Although the governmental institutions are
modern in form, the essence of political power is traditional and hereditary,
with the ruling family of each emirate representing its dominant tribe. Politics
is largely a process of satisfying the claims to power of ruling families and
their factions as well as merchants and religious leaders.
| A | Executive and Legislative |
The highest political authority in the UAE
is the Supreme Federal Council (SFC), sometimes called the Supreme Council of
the Union (SCU), which consists of the seven emirate rulers. This council
establishes general UAE policy. It usually meets four times a year, and it
elects the president to indefinitely renewable five-year terms. Each ruler has a
vote, but on substantive matters the dominant emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai
can exercise veto power.
The Council of Ministers, appointed by the
president, is both the federal cabinet and principal source of legislative
authority. The SFC ratifies laws enacted by the Council of Ministers.
The Federal National Council (FNC) is the
country’s nominal legislature, but this body has only an advisory role in the
government. It does, however, have a significant function as a forum for
discussion of important national issues. The 40 members of the FNC represent the
various emirates. In December 2006 the first elections to the FNC were held.
About 6,700 voters were hand-selected to pick 20 representatives to the FNC. The
remaining 20 members were appointed. The constitution permits a popularly
elected FNC.
| B | Judiciary |
The UAE’s judiciary consists of a supreme
court and lower courts that preside over the different emirates. The legal
system is based on the Sharia (Islamic law), but incorporates elements of
Western legal systems in such areas as commercial law. Many legal disputes are
decided by local customary practices under the supervision of the ruler of each
emirate.
| C | Social Services |
Because of the UAE’s oil wealth, citizens
pay no taxes but receive generous social welfare benefits, including free
medical care. Modern hospitals and health centers are concentrated in the larger
cities, although most people across the country have access to at least basic
care.
| D | Defense |
The armed forces of the UAE, called the
Union Defense Forces (UDF), numbered 50,500 in 2004, with an army of 44,000
members, a navy of 2,500, and an air force of 4,000. A paid, professional force,
the UDF relies heavily on officers and technicians from the United Kingdom,
Jordan, and Pakistan, with many Omanis in the ranks of the ground forces.
| E | International Organizations |
The UAE joined the Arab League immediately
after declaring independence in December 1971 and in the weeks following became
a member of the United Nations (UN). It also belongs to the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC).
| VI | HISTORY |
Recent archaeological research indicates the
presence of an advanced trading culture in the early 3rd millennium bc in the region that is now the UAE.
The small trading states that emerged along the Persian Gulf coast were later
overwhelmed by Persian empires—the Achaemenid Empire from the 6th to the 4th
centuries bc and the Sassanian
Empire from the 3rd to the 7th centuries ad. These empires took over and
controlled the extensive maritime trade that the small states had already
carried as far as China.
In the early centuries ad, Arab tribes flocked to the region.
They came first from the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, then from the
north, helping to make it receptive to the religion of Islam before the death of
the prophet Muhammad in 632.
| A | The Trucial States |
Trade with India and China expanded in the
early Islamic period, with Julfar in present-day Ra’s al Khaymah as one of the
leading ports. European intervention in the gulf began with the Portuguese in
the early 16th century. From the mid-17th century the British and Dutch competed
for domination, with Britain the winner in the late 18th century. By about 1800
the Qawasim, the ruling clans of Ash Shāriqah and Ra’s al Khaymah today, had
become a maritime power in the lower gulf, attacking ships from British-ruled
India. The British defeated the Qawasim navy in 1819 and in 1820 imposed the
first of several treaties that created and sustained a maritime truce, giving
the name Trucial States to the emirates that now form the UAE.
By 1892 the British had assumed
responsibility for the states’ foreign relations and external security. The
emirates remained under British protection until 1971. The British, who were
principally concerned with the security of Persian Gulf maritime commerce,
rarely intervened in the area’s internal affairs. The most significant results
of British domination of the area were the establishment of general peace, the
introduction of the Western concept of territorial states, and the creation in
1952 of the Trucial States Council to promote cooperation among the seven
emirates. This council provided the basis for the Supreme Federal Council of the
UAE.
In 1968 the British announced plans to
withdraw before the end of 1971, and the Trucial States, Bahrain, and Qatar
announced plans to federate. These plans collapsed when, as British troops
withdrew from the region in September 1971, Bahrain and Qatar declared
independence separately. On December 2, 1971, six of the seven Trucial States
announced their unification as the United Arab Emirates. The seventh emirate,
Ra's al Khaymah, joined the union in 1972.
| B | Independence |
From the very beginning the UAE faced
challenges that many felt would doom the new federation to failure. There were
border disputes with Saudi Arabia and Oman and strong rivalries among the
emirates. Also during 1971, Iran seized the islands of Abū Mūsá, Ţunb al Kubrá
(Greater Tunb), and Ţunb aş Şughrá (Lesser Tunb) in the Persian Gulf, all of
which had previously been claimed by the UAE.
Threats to regional stability since that
time have included the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution, the Iran-Iraq War
(1980-1988), and Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The UAE survived these
dangers and prospered largely because it has used the oil wealth of Abu Dhabi to
the benefit of all Emiris as well as to promote the UAE’s security in the
international arena.
The UAE has also been a force for
moderation in the politically turbulent Middle East, cooperating closely with
the United States and its allies to defeat aggression by Iraq in the 1991
Persian Gulf War. In 1993, along with the other Persian Gulf Arab states, the
UAE supported the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord.
In domestic affairs, the UAE became
involved in a major financial scandal in 1991 when international regulators
closed down worldwide operations of the Bank of Credit and Commerce
International (BCCI) on fraud and forgery charges. UAE president Zayed was a
founding shareholder of BCCI, and Abu Dhabi businesses and investors lost
approximately $2 billion. In late 1993 the government of Abu Dhabi filed a civil
suit against BCCI and 13 of its top officials. In 1994 the former chief
executive of the bank pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to charges of fraud,
conspiracy, and racketeering.
Politically, the country has been stable
for decades, with Abu Dhabi emir Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan leading the
country from its inception until his death in late 2004. His eldest son, Sheikh
Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, succeeded his father as ruler of Abu Dhabi and
became the new president of the UAE.
In 2005 al-Nahyan announced that political
reforms would eventually lead to an elected parliament. In December 2006 the
first elections since the UAE was founded were held in three stages of
balloting. About 6,700 citizens, representing less than 1 percent of the
citizenry, were hand-selected to vote for 20 representatives to the Federal
National Council (FNC), the advisory panel that is the country’s nominal
legislature. The remaining 20 representatives in the 40-member FNC were
appointed. All of the candidates for the FNC were selected by the government.
About 1,000 women were among the voters, and at least one female candidate was
elected. The council was expected to debate a new constitution, which would
reportedly pave the way for wider participation in elections.
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