United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of the seven small emirates—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm al-Qaiwain—that were united as a federal state in 1971. Before the establishment of the oil economy in the early 1960s, two main orientations shaped traditional Emirati culture: (1) the nomadic, desertoriented Bedouins with small oasis farming and (2) the ocean-oriented culture that revolved around pearling and sea trading. These subcultures were economically, politically, and socially interdependent, creating a common culture and social identity. The UAE shares significant aspects of its culture with neighboring Arab countries and the larger Arab culture.

The commercial production of oil triggered rapid population growth as a result of an increase in the national population from improvements in health care and living standards and the importation on a large scale of mostly male foreign laborers. The latter factor has generated a dependence on expatriate labor; the UAE has become a multiethnic society, and Emirati nationals account for only about 20% of the population.

Urbanization in UAE has been characterized by incomparable growth. Abu Dhabi is one of the most modern cities in the world. UAE cities have been heavily influenced by the global city type. Despite its Western-style skylines, the Emirati culture is strongly influenced by Islam and the traditional Arab social structures. This country's political system remains obscure as it is based on a patriarchal kingdom that allows for little political participation of its citizens. Its socioeconomic development is based on a phenomenally unbalanced native-foreign population ratio, which makes this country extraordinary.

UAE is unique for its net immigration rate, ranking first in the world according to the CIA (U.S. Central Intelligence Agency) world fact book. About two thirds of the immigrants are Asians, mainly from India, Pakistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. The remainder are Arabs, Europeans, and Americans. The official language is Arabic. Among the immigrant population, English, Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, and Filipino are spoken. English is the language of commerce.

The constitution of the UAE declares that the official religion of the UAE is Islam. The Muslim population of the country constitutes 96% of the total population. Islam dominates most aspects of life. Most Emiratis are members of the Sunnī sect. Matters relating to marriage, divorce, inheritance, economics, politics, and personal conduct are affected by Islamic law. There is a dual system of Islamic courts for criminal and family law matters and secular courts for civil law matters. Shi'a Muslims in Dubai may pursue Shi'a family law cases through a special Shi'a council rather than the Islamic courts. Emaritis are tolerant toward other religions, and immigrants of other faiths are allowed to have their own places of worship.