The United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), rich in oil and natural gas, has become highly prosperous. The UAE has an area of 83,600 km2 and a population of 4,621,400 in 2006. Islam is the largest religion in UAE (76.5% of the population). UAE has significant Christian and Hindu population.

Location

The UAE is a federation of seven states situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia. The seven states, termed emirates, are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain.

Geography

The UAE stretches for more than 650 km along the southern shore of the Persian Gulf. Most of the coast consists of salt pans that extend far inland. The largest natural harbor is at Dubai, although other ports have been dredged at Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and elsewhere. Numerous islands are found in the gulf, and the ownership of some of them has been the subject of international disputes with both Iran and Qatar. The smaller islands, as well as many coral reefs and shifting sandbars, are a menace to navigation. Strong tides and occasional windstorms further complicate ship movements near the shore.

Capital

Abu Dhabi

Climate

The climate of the UAE generally is hot and dry. The hottest months are July and August, when average maximum temperatures reach above 48° C on the coastal plain. In the Al Hajar al Gharbi Mountains, temperatures are considerably cooler, a result of increased altitude. Average minimum temperatures in January and February are between 10°C and 14°C. During the late summer months, a humid southeastern wind known as the sharqi makes the coastal region especially unpleasant. The average annual rainfall in the coastal area is fewer than 120 mm, but in some mountainous areas annual rainfall often reaches 350 mm. The region is prone to frequent violent sand and dust storms, which can severely reduce visibility.

Language

Arabic

Monetary Unit

UAE dirham (AED) / Emirati Dirham.

Largest Cities

Dubai (largest), Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain.

Places to Visit

Dubai city, Burj Dubai : world's tallest building, Palm Islands : the largest artificial islands in the world, Dubai Mall : world's largest shopping mall (under construction), Dubailand : twice the size of Disney World (under construction), Jebel Ali Port. : world's largest port, Burj Al Arab : world's tallest hotel with a Helipad on top. Taipei 101 was overtaken in height on July 21, 2007 by the Burj Dubai, UAE on completion of it's 141th floor. Burj Dubai will be of 818 m in height and 160 floors when completed by September 2009.

Air Ports

Dubai International Airport : The airport served a total of over 34 million passengers and over 260,000 flights in 2007. The Dubai International Airport ranked 17th among international airports for total cargo traffic in 2006. Dubai World Central International Airport (world's most expensive airport, under construction). Dubai has 40 airports and Etihad Airways is the National carrier.

Dubai has no railways. Dubai Metro system will be completed in 2009. Dubai has 1,088 km of Highways.