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Country information: United Arab Emirates
| Official Name: | United Arab Emirates |
| Population: | 4,7 million (UN, 2010) |
| Capital: | Abu Dhabi (Dubai is the largest city) |
| Government: | A federation of seven states, each with a degree of autonomy. Other powers lie with the Supreme Coun |
| Leaders: | Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed (President, ruler of Abu Dhabi), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (Prime Minister and Vice President, ruler of Dubai) |
| Religion: | Muslim 96% |
| Languages: | Arabic (official), English widely used, other minority languages are Persian, Hindu and Urdu |
| GDP: | $246.8 billion (CIA 2010 est.) |
| GDP/Capita: | $49,600 (CIA 2010 est.) |
| Main exports: | Crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates |
| Time zone: | GMT + 4 |
| International dialing code: | +971 |
| Currency: | 1 UAE Dirham (AED) = USD 0.2723 |
Country briefing
Formed in 1971 as a federation of the former Trucial States (previously partly under British control), driven by oil revenues the UAE has transformed itself from a traditional society, based on fishing and a less profitable pearl industry, to the financial hub of the Middle East.
Founded by the six states Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, and Umm al Qaiwain, the Emirates was joined a year later by Ras al Khaimah. Abu Dhabi was the first state to export oil in the early 1960s, and has since been able to generate vast revenues from its oil resources. Dubai, most well-known in the popular eye, has been keen to diversify its economy (much due to the fact that it has less oil than Abu Dhabi) and has managed to become a hotspot of finance and tourism. Dubai has received a great deal of media attention, mainly because of extravagant five-star hotels and spectacular construction projects such as the Burj Khalifa – the tallest man-made structure on earth.
Having been one of the strongest economies of the Middle East with a GDP per capita equal to leading West European countries, the UAE saw increasing challenges in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008-2009. Dubai was hit hardest, unable to deal with its own debt, and was ultimately rescued by neighbor Abu Dhabi.
Socially, the Emirates are traditionally conservative, but along with a growing influx of expatriates and non-natives, who now make up roughly three quarters of the population, the UAE has become increasingly liberal. The political realm, however, remains in the hands of the Emirs. While holding its first elections for an advisory council in 2006, Emirati politics are strictly governed by the ruling families, and is still considered an authoritarian state.
