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United Arab Emirates Find a premier Hotel & Resort at
Hilton Hotels.
or book
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
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الإمارات العربيّة المتّحدة
Al-Imārāt al-‘Arabīyah al-Muttahidah
Dubai
Abu Dhbai |
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The United Arab Emirates (also called the UAE) is a
Middle Eastern country situated in the southeast of the
Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf,
comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajmān, Dubai,
Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaiwain.
Before 1971, they were known as the Trucial States or
Trucial Oman, in reference of a nineteenth-century truce
between the British and some Arab Sheikhs. It borders Oman
and Saudi Arabia. The country is rich in oil.
Dubai
History
Main article: History of the United Arab Emirates
The seven Trucial Sheikdom States of the Persian Gulf coast
granted the United Kingdom control of their defense and
foreign affairs in nineteenth-century treaties. In 1971, six
of these states — Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah,
Dubai, and Umm al-Qaiwain — merged to form the United Arab
Emirates. They were joined in 1972 by Ras Al Khaimah.
Economy
Arab oil producing states such as the UAE use revenue from
oil to finance national development. This view shows urban
expansion in Dubai.Main article: Economy of the United Arab
Emirates
The UAE's wealth is largely based on oil and gas output,
some 33% of GDP. It is the third largest oil producer in the
Persian Gulf after Saudi Arabia and Iran (Iraq's oil output
has fluctuated due to war). Since 1973, 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 country's per capita GDP is
not far below the GDPs of the leading West European nations.
Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate foreign
policy stance have allowed it to play a vital role in the
affairs of the region. In recent years the government has
sought to diversify its sources of income and lessen its
dependence on finite oil reserves. One result of these
efforts is a steadily developing tourism industry, centered
on coastal, desert and sporting resorts and infrastructure.
The success of these ventures, along with other factors like
the relatively low price of commodities, the warm
temperatures that prevail for most of the year, the
engineering marvels such as Burj Al Arab and The Palm
Islands, and friendliness to the West have led many to call
it the Hong Kong of the Middle East.
Human rights and labor issues
It is common practice for employers in the UAE to retain
employees' passports for the duration of the employment
contract to prevent expatriate employees from changing jobs.
This is an illegal practice, but it is almost never
investigated, let alone punished by the government. On
termination of an employment contract, certain categories of
expatriates are banned from obtaining a work permit in the
country for six months.
The United States Department of State has cited widespread
instances of blue collar labor abuse in the general context
of the United Arab Emirates [1].
The government has been criticized by human rights agencies
such as Human Rights Watch for its inaction in addressing
the discrimination against Asian workers in the emirate.
Salary structures based on nationality, sex, age, and race
rather than on qualification are common [2].
According to Ansar Burney Trust, an illegal sex industry
thrives in the emirates, especially in Dubai. This
complements the tourism and hospitality industry, a major
part of Dubai's economy [3]. Antislavery.org accuses the UAE
of illegally using child jockeys in camel racing, and
further accuses the industry of violating child sex laws.
The UAE's human rights record, particularly in relation to
migrant workers, was widely criticised during the trials of
Sarah Balabagan in 1995.
A website www.mafiwasta.com is campaigning to pressure the
government of the UAE into signing up to International
Labour Organisation core conventions on freedom of
association. Strikes and unions are currently banned in the
UAE and many labourers are virtual prisoners, having paid
huge agents' fees in order to obtain jobs and visas.
Airlines history
The national airline of the UAE was formerly Gulf Air,
operated jointly with Bahrain and Oman. On September 13,
2005, the UAE announced that they were withdrawing from Gulf
Air to concentrate on Etihad Airways, their new national
carrier established in 2003.
In 1985, Dubai established a local airline called Emirates,
which has become one of the most popular in the world.
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Background:
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The Trucial States of the Persian
Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense
and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In
1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al
Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn -
merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They
were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's
per capita GDP is not far below those of leading
West European nations. Its generosity with oil
revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have
allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs
of the region. |
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Location:
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Middle East, bordering the Gulf of
Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi
Arabia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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24 00 N, 54 00 E |
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Map references:
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Middle East |
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Area:
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total:
82,880 sq km
land: 82,880 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Maine
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Land boundaries:
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total: 867
km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia
457 km |
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Coastline:
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1,318 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone:
24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of
the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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desert; cooler in eastern mountains
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Terrain:
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flat, barren coastal plain merging
into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland;
mountains in east |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati |
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Ethnic groups:
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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)
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Religions:
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Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian,
Hindu, and other 4% |
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Languages:
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Arabic (official), Persian, English,
Hindi, Urdu |
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Currency:
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Emirati dirham (AED) |
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Currency code:
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AED |
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Exchange rates:
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Emirati dirhams per US dollar -
central bank mid-point rate: 3.6725 (since 1997),
3.6710 (1995-96) |
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Internet country code:
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.ae
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Destination Guides > Africa
& Middle East
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