第 275 页

Geographic coordinates:

24 00 N, 54 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 83,600 sq km

land: 83,600 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:

total: 867 km

border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

Coastline:

1,318 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Terrain:

flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 0.77%

permanent crops: 2.27%

other: 96.96% (2005)

Irrigated land:

760 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.2 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural):

total: 2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%)

per capita: 511 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent sand and dust storms

Environment - current issues:

lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People United Arab Emirates

Population:

4,621,399

note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that included a significantly higher estimate of net inmigration of non-citizens than previous estimates (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.5% (male 484,102/female 462,405)

15-64 years: 78.6% (male 2,663,702/female 970,672)

65 years and over: 0.9% (male 26,244/female 14,274)

note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.1 years

male: 32 years

female: 24.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.833% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.06 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

2.13 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

24.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 2.74 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.84 male(s)/female

total population: 2.19 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.11 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 15.32 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.89 years

male: 73.35 years

female: 78.56 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.18% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Emirati(s)

adjective: Emirati

Ethnic groups:

Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)

note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)

Religions:

Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%

Languages:

Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 77.9%

male: 76.1%

female: 81.7% (2003 est.)

Government United Arab Emirates

Country name:

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

Government type:

federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Capital:

name: Abu Dhabi

geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E

time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn (Quwayn)

Independence:

2 December 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 2 December (1971)

Constitution:

2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996

Legal system:

based on a dual system of Shari'a and civil courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

none

Executive branch:

chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)

head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SULTAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) and HAMDAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power

elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC for five-year terms (no term limits); election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next to be held in 2009); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president

election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan elected president by a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum unanimously affirmed vice president after the 2006 death of his brother Sheikh Maktum bin Rashid al-Maktum

Legislative branch:

unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states, 20 members elected to serve two-year terms)

elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains appointed) held in the UAE on 18-20 December 2006; the new electoral college - a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointed by the rulers of the seven emirates - were the only eligible voters and candidates; 456 candidates including 65 women ran for 20 contested FNC seats; one female from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi won a seat

note: reviews legislation but cannot change or veto

Judicial branch:

Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Saqr Ghobash Said GHOBASH

chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400

FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432

consulate(s): New York, Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Martin R. QUINN

embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi

mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi

telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200

FAX: [971] (2) 414-2603

consulate(s) general: Dubai

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side

Economy United Arab Emirates

Economy - overview:

The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Despite largely successful efforts at economic diversification, nearly 40% of GDP is still directly based on oil and gas output. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE 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. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement with the US. The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. Higher oil revenue, strong liquidity, housing shortages, and cheap credit in 2005-07 led to a surge in asset prices (shares and real estate) and consumer inflation. Rising prices are increasing the operating costs for businesses in the UAE and adversely impacting government employees and others on fixed incomes. Dependence on oil and a large expatriate workforce are significant long-term challenges. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on diversification and creating more opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$167.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$192.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$37,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.8%

industry: 59.3%

services: 38.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.065 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 7%

industry: 15%

services: 78% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.4% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

19.5% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $58.88 billion

expenditures: $38.06 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt:

22.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Agriculture - products:

dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish

Industries:

petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

4.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

57.06 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

52.62 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2005)

Oil - production:

2.54 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption:

372,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.54 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:

137,200 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

97.8 billion bbl (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production:

45.07 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

39.56 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

6.848 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.343 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.823 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$41.67 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$156.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates

Exports - partners:

Japan 25.8%, South Korea 9.6%, Thailand 5.9%, India 4.5% (2006)

Imports:

$101.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports - partners:

US 11.5%, China 11%, India 9.8%, Germany 6.2%, Japan 5.8%, UK 5.5%, France 4.1%, Italy 4% (2006)

Economic aid - donor:

since its founding in 1971, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has given about $5.2 billion in aid to 56 countries (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$5.36 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$76.62 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$57.52 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$44.37 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$14.14 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$138.5 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Emirati dirham (AED)

Currency code:

AED

Exchange rates:

Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.673 (2007), 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004), 3.6725 (2003)

note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications United Arab Emirates

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.31 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.519 million (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai

domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable

international: country code - 971; linked to the international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 AND SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)

Radios:

820,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

15 (2004)

Televisions:

310,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ae

Internet hosts:

6,001 (2007)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

1.709 million (2006)

Transportation United Arab Emirates