About the UAE

December 17, 2009

Established in 1971, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a relatively young Arab country that has experienced a huge surge in prosperity in recent years. Guided by wise leadership, the economic boom has fostered a stable, cosmopolitan society that has successfully integrated traditional Islamic values into a determined development programme, enabling the country to take its place amongst the emerging nations of the world.

Situated at the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa on the south-eastern tip of the Arabian peninsula, the territory of the UAE forms a roughly triangular landmass with coastlines along the south and south-eastern shores of the Arabian Gulf and part of the western shores of the Gulf of Oman. The UAE also has land borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The country's total land area is about 82,880 square kilometres, 87 per cent of which is occupied by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Physically, the UAE is a land of contrasts: massive sand-dunes, fertile palm-filled oases, vast stretches of mesmerising desert, low-lying coastal plains, sandy beaches, hundreds of natural islands, and rugged rocky mountains are just some of the dramatic landscapes encountered in its territory.

The UAE's estimated population of 4.76 million comprises roughly 20 per cent Emirati nationals with the rest accounted for by immigrants from all over the world who have come to participate in the country's economic renaissance. Two-thirds of the country's total population are in the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
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Politically, the UAE is a federation of seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ra's al-Khaimah and Fujairah) with a constitutionally-based political system that is a unique blend of the traditional and modern. Abu Dhabi City is the capital of the UAE and the seat of the federal government. HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, is the current President of the UAE and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, is Vice President and Prime Minister.

The Supreme Council, made up of the hereditary rulers of the seven emirates, is the top policy-making body in the state, whilst a Council or Cabinet of ministers, four of whom are women, acts as the executive authority for the federation. The UAE's parliament, the Federal National Council, a section of which is indirectly elected and nine of whose members are women, has both a legislative and supervisory role. In addition, each of the seven emirates has its own local government, the complexity of which differs according to the size and population of individual emirates.

Although a comparatively young nation, the UAE has taken its place on the world stage, guided by a principled foreign policy that is based on support for and engagement with international institutions such as the United Nations. In addition to the UN, the UAE is a member of the International Monetary Fund, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international and Arab organisations, including the Arab League and the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

When the federation was formed in 1971, the UAE had little or no physical infrastructure, health care or educational facilities, industry was non-existent and most of the country's scant population lived in the desert or in the foothills of the mountains. It has come a long way since then: rapid urbanisation has been the norm (over 80 per cent of the country's residents live in major towns and cities) and the UAE's infrastructure is world-class.

Rich natural resources in the form of oil, which was first exported in the 1960s, has enabled much of this prosperity: today, the UAE boasts a vibrant free economy and successful efforts have been made to diversify away from dependence on oil and gas exports. So much so that a solid industrial base has been created together with a very strong services sector, enabling the country to meet the challenges and opportunities of the new era.

The Emiratis that have been responsible for this transformation are a tolerant, well-educated, forward-looking people who value their personal and political freedom, enjoy a high standard of living, have a strong sense of tradition, and are hospitable and friendly. Emirati society is also a caring one, as is evidenced by the fact that the vulnerable and needy are tended to at home and abroad: to date, the UAE has provided over US$70 billion in loans, grants and assistance for development projects in over 100 countries and has also been a major contributor of emergency relief to regions affected by conflict and natural disasters both at a governmental level and through NGOs such as the UAE Red Crescent Society.

Topics : About the UAE, United Arab Emirates, Expo 2010 Shanghai China. Source: expo2010uae.com