Country
Countries A-Z
United Arab Emirates
al-Imarat al-Arabiyah al-Muttahidah
Political Status: Federation of six former Trucial States (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujaira, Ajman, and Umm al-Qaiwain) established December 2, 1971; the seventh, Ras al-Khaima, joined in 1972.
Area: 32,278 sq. mi. (83,600 sq. km.).
Population: 4,104,695 (2005C), embracing (2003 estimates) Abu Dhabi (1,591,000), Dubai (1,204,000), Sharjah (636,000), Ras al-Khaima (195,000), Ajman (235,000), Fujaira (118,000), and Umm al-Qaiwain (62,000); 4,170,000 (2007E). Figures include noncitizens, who in 2005 represented approximately 80 percent of the population.
Major Urban Center (2005E): ABU DHABI (606,000).
Official Language: Arabic.
Monetary Unit: Dirham (official rate November 1, 2008: 3.67 dirhams = $1US).
Supreme Council: Composed of the rulers of the seven emirates (with dates of accession): Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed al-NUHAYYAN (Abu Dhabi, 2004), Sheikh Muhammad ibn Rashid al-MAKTUM (Dubai, 2006), Sheikh Sultan ibn Muhammad ...