The United Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-
Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The federation was formally established on 2 December 1971.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) occupies an area of 83,600 sq km along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar lies to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and Oman to the north and east. The capital and the largest city of the federation, Abu Dhabi, is located in the emirate of the same name.
Four-fifths of the UAE is desert, yet it is a country of contrasting landscapes, from awe-inspiring dunes to rich oases, precipitous rocky mountains to fertile plains.
The United Arab Emirates, one of the world's fastest growing tourist destinations, has all the right ingredients for an unforgettable holiday, sun, sand, sea, sports, unbeatable shopping, top-class hotels and restaurants, an intriguing traditional culture, and a safe and welcoming environment.
Climate: Dubai enjoys an arid subtropical climate, with blue skies and sunshine all year round. The hottest months are between June and September, when temperatures can soar to 113°F (45°C) and more during the day and humidity levels are very high. Even the sea temperature touches on 104°F (40°C) during the summer months, and swimming pools at hotels are usually cooled to be refreshing. Temperatures are only slightly more moderate the rest of the year, the coolest time being between December and March. There is very little rainfall in Dubai, but when showers do fall it is mainly in the cooler months.
Religion: National Religion is Islam; however, all denominations are welcome due to the multicultural population.
Population: The indigenous Arab population of approximately 35% is in fact outweighed by the expatriate population of 65%. The country's total population was estimated at around 4.48 million at the end of 2007 and grew to 6.12 per cent to nearly 4.76 million at the end of 2008 and by 6.31 per cent to 5.06 million at the end of 2009. The population of the UAE has reached 8.19 million and is continuing to grow at a rapid rate despite the global downturn, according to the first comprehensive report on the country's economy, unveiled on the 12th of October 2010.
Emirates | Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. |
Capital | Abu Dhabi. |
National Day | Independence Day (from UK), 2 December (1971). |
President | HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (4 November 2004). |
Vice-President & Prime Minister | HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (5 January 2006). |
Political System | A federation with specific areas of authority constitutionally assigned to the UAE Federal Government and other powers reserved for member emirates. |
Constitution | Adopted provisionally on 2 December 1971, made permanent in 1996. |
Area | 83,600 square kilometres. |
Time | UAE Standard Time is 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+4). |
Daylight Saving Time | UAE Time does not operate Daylight-Saving Time. |
International Dialling Code | +971 |
Currency | Emirati Dirham (Dh or AED), divided into 100 Fils. |
Exchange Rate | US$ 1 = AED 3.6725 The UAE Dirham has been officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002. |
Language | The official language is Arabic. English is widely understood and ranks alongside Arabic as the language of commerce. |