United Arab Emirates

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 Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn -- merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ra's al Khaymah joined in 1972. <br><br>The UAE's per-capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates for political reform. <br><br>The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel -- brokered by the US -- in Washington, D.C. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.

Land

83,600 sq km

Total

83,600 sq km

Water

0 sq km

slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

1,318 km

Asia

Highest point

Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m

Lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Mean elevation

149 m

24 00 N, 54 00 E

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for crude oil; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) together account for over 90% of UAE's area and two-thirds of the population

940 sq km (2022)

Border countries

Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km

number of neighbors

2

Total

1,066 km

Agricultural land

5.5% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)

arable land

0.71%

Forest

4.6% (2023 est.)

Other

89.7% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.58%

No

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/AZZTDA6GzVAnKMVd8

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/307763

Middle East

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

frequent sand and dust storms

petroleum, natural gas

population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates -- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah -- are home to nearly 85% of the population

Western Asia

flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east

UTC+04:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

16.4% (male 842,577/female 802,302)

15-64 years

81.4% (male 5,812,470/female 2,353,750)

65 years and over

2.2% (2024 est.) (male 169,084/female 52,030)

Beer

0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

1.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

2.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

10.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

67.4% (2018 est.)

1.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

18 per 1,000

adult male

37 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

3 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

33.4 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

23.4 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

20.4 (2025 est.)

improved total

98.64%

Improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

14.8% national budget (2021 est.)

4 % of GDP

Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Filipino 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.)

note

<strong>note</strong><strong>:</strong> data represent the total population; as of 2019, immigrants make up about 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data

0.78 (2025 est.)

5 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

12.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.1%

2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Female

4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

5.5 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

3 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian

Major-language sample(s)

<br>كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

number of languages

1

Female

81.4 years

Male

78.6 years

Total population

79.9 years (2024 est.)

Female

98.4% (2024 est.)

Male

99% (2024 est.)

Total population

98.8% (2024 est.)

3.008 million Dubai, 1.831 million Sharjah, 1.567 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2023)

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

29.8 years

Male

38.1 years

Total

35.8 years (2025 est.)

3 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Emirati

Noun

Emirati(s)

-2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

31.7% (2016)

2.99 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

3,261,791

Male

6,831,802

Total

10,093,593 (2025 est.)

0.62% (2025 est.)

Muslim 74.5% (official) (Sunni 63.3%, Shia 6.7%, other 4.4%), Christian 12.9%, Hindu 6.2%, Buddhist 3.2%, agnostic 1.3%, other 1.9% (2020 est.)

note

<strong>note</strong><strong>:</strong> data represent the total population; as of 2020, immigrants make up about 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data

improved total

98.45%

Improved: rural

rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

Female

16 years (2023 est.)

Male

15 years (2023 est.)

Total

16 years (2023 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

2.47 male(s)/female

65 years and over

3.25 male(s)/female

At birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total population

2.13 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

2.4% (2025 est.)

Male

13.9% (2025 est.)

Total

10.7% (2025 est.)

1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

87.8% of total population (2023)

measles

98%

7 emirates (<em>imarat</em>, singular - <em>imarah</em>); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

Etymology

in Arabic, <em>abu</em> means "father," and <em>dhabi</em> refers to a personal name, Dhabi or Zabi, that comes from the word <em>zab</em>, or "gazelle" 

Geographic coordinates

24 28 N, 54 22 E

Name

Abu Dhabi

Time difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen

Dual citizenship recognized

no

Residency requirement for naturalization

30 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/ae.svg

Amendment process

proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council president

History

previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996

Abbreviation

UAE

alternative spellings

AE, UAE, Emirates

Conventional long form

United Arab Emirates

Conventional short form

none

Etymology

self-descriptive country name; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Egyptians, who referred to the region as "Ar Rabi;" "emirates" derives from <em>amir</em>, the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince;" the former name, Trucial States, refers to a maritime truce from 1820 between the British and the Arab sheikhdoms

FIFA code

UAE

Former

Trucial Oman, Trucial States

Local long form

Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah

local long form (ara)

الإمارات العربية المتحدة

Local short form

none

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Eric GAUDIOSI (since August 2025)

Consulate(s) general

Dubai

Email address and website

<br>abudhabiacs@state.gov<br><br>https://ae.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4,&nbsp;Abu Dhabi

FAX

[971] (2) 414-2241

Mailing address

6010 Abu Dhabi Place, Washington DC 20521-6010

Telephone

[971] (2) 414-2200

Chancery

3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Yousif AL OTAIBA (since 28 July 2008)

Consulate(s) general

Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Email address and website

<br>info@uaeembassy-usa.org<br><br>https://www.uae-embassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 243-2408

Telephone

[1] (202) 243-2400

Cabinet

Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president

Chief of state

President MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al Nuhayyan (since 14 May 2022)

Election results

<em><br>2022:</em> MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al-Nuhayyan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote - NA

Election/appointment process

president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council -- composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates -- for a 5-year term (no term limits);&nbsp; prime minister appointed by the president

Expected date of next election

2027

Head of government

Prime Minister and Co-Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al Maktum (since 5 January 2006)

Most recent election date

unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, after the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the Federal Supreme Council (FSC) is composed of the 7 emirate rulers and is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; the FSC establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power

<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black, with a wider vertical red band on the left side<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the flag incorporates all four pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), oil (black), and unity (red); red is a traditional color that was part of all the emirates' flags before their unification

The flag of United Arab Emirates features a red vertical band on its hoist side that takes up about one-fourth the width of the field and three equal horizontal bands of green, white and black adjoining the vertical band.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/ae.svg

federation of monarchies

2 December 1971 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Highest court(s)

Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases)

Judge selection and term of office

judges appointed by the federal president after approval from the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiration of their appointment terms

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts, the country’s two largest financial free zones, adjudicate civil and commercial disputes

Subordinate courts

Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws); the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system

mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law

Electoral system

other systems

Expected date of next election

October 2027

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihadi)

Most recent election date

10/7/2023

Number of seats

40 (20 indirectly elected; 20 appointed)

Percentage of women in chamber

50%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

green, white, black, red

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas); Faya Palaeolandscape (c)

Total World Heritage Sites

2 ( both cultural)

Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)

golden falcon

<strong>note: </strong>political parties are banned; all candidates run as independents

Sunday

limited

note

<strong>note:</strong> rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that accounts for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens

Yes

dates, cucumbers/gherkins, camel milk, goat milk, tomatoes, chicken, goat meat, eggs, milk, camel meat (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

12.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$19.349 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$23.248 billion (2023 est.)

code

AED

name

United Arab Emirates dirham (AED) [د.إ]

$79.97 billion

<p>high-income, oil-driven Middle Eastern economy; fastest GDP growth of Gulf states; diversification through tourism, construction, and services; strong foreign direct investment orientation; continued government investment and business-friendly reforms</p>

Currency

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

3.672 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3.672 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

3.672 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

3.672 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

3.672 (2024 est.)

$558.4 billion

Exports 2021

$425.156 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$521.897 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$558.402 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<strong>note: </strong>GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 11%, India 11%, Japan 10%, Iraq 6%, Thailand 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$45.64 billion

Exports of goods and services

108.6% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

12.4% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

45.6% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-93.7% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

27.1% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

0% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

0.7% (2023 est.)

Industry

47.7% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

51.6% (2023 est.)

$537.079 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$50,274

26 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

26.4 (2018 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$568.34 billion

$51,550

27 % of GDP

Highest 10%

20.5% (2018 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.8% (2018 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$481.85 billion

Imports 2021

$347.529 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$427.992 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$481.852 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<strong>note: </strong>GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, broadcasting equipment, cars, refined petroleum, diamonds (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 19%, India 7%, USA 6%, Turkey 4%, Japan 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

0.8% (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles

1.66%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

1.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.7% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

7.09 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

7.42 million persons

agriculture

1.44%

industry

30.59%

services

67.97%

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2017

19.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

$870.44 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$693.842 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$718.95 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$745.994 billion (2024 est.)

3.99%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

7.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.8% (2024 est.)

$79,229

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$68,900 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$68,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$68,600 (2024 est.)

$1.8 billion

$237.93 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$138.433 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$189.491 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$237.931 billion (2024 est.)

3 % of GDP

1 % of GDP

0.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

2.17%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

2.9% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.2% (2024 est.)

Female

12.1% (2024 est.)

Male

4.1% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

6.4% (2024 est.)

Consumption

5.411 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

5.512 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

157.974 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

14,688 kWh

Exports

613 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

501.067 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

44.462 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

7.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Fossil fuels

75.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0%

Nuclear

19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

renewable

4.2%

Solar

4.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

8,336 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

450.432 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

67.734 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports

6.863 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

18.938 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

55.8 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

6.091 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

5.35GW (2025 est.)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

4 (2025)

Percent of total electricity production

19.7% (2023 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

846,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

4.146 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

1%

per 100 inhabitants

37 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37 (2023 est.)

Total

3.95 million (2023 est.)

most TV and radio stations state-owned, but many private organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; widespread use of satellite dishes to access pan-Arab and other international broadcasts (2022)

.ae

Percent of population

100% (2023 est.)

+971

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

2.259 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

199 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

203 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

22.4 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

91.06 million passengers

registered carrier departures

435,257 departures

42 (2025)

A6

Right

204 (2025)

By type

bulk carrier 2, container ship 3, general cargo 122, oil tanker 16, other 512

Total

655 (2023)

Key ports

Abu Zaby, Jabal Az Zannah/Ruways, Khawr Fakkan, Mina Jabal Ali, Zirkuh

Large

1

Medium

4

Ports with oil terminals

17

Small

9

Total ports

20 (2024)

Very small

6

UAE

armored vehicles

tanks

the UAE Armed Forces (UAEAF) are responsible for defending the state, its resources, and territory, preserving internal security, and supporting the UAE's foreign policy objectives; key security concerns include regional stability and cross-border threats, such as piracy and terrorism; in recent years, the UAE has undertaken a military modernization program to go along with an assertive security policy which has included military involvements in Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen<br><br>the UAE has close security ties to France and the US; it hosts a multi-service French military base, which includes the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and hosts thousands of US military troops, mostly air and naval personnel; it also has defense ties with a number of other countries, including Australia, China, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea, and the UK, as well as NATO and fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, particularly Saudi Arabia<br><br>the UAEAF traces its origins to the establishment of the Trucial Oman Scouts in 1951, a joint UK-Abu Dhabi organization modeled after Jordan’s Arab Legion, which became the Abu Dhabi Defense Force in 1965; the modern UAEAF were formed in 1976 (2025)

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (includes special operations forces), National Guard (includes Coast Guard) (2025)

active duty personnel

63,000

note

<strong>note: </strong>each emirate maintains a local police force called a general directorate, which is officially a branch of the federal Ministry of Interior; all emirate-level general directorates of police enforce their respective emirate’s laws autonomously; they also enforce federal laws within their emirate in coordination with one another under the federal ministry; the State Security Directorate (SSD) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai State Security (DSS) have primary responsibility for counterterrorism law enforcement efforts; local, emirate-level police forces, especially the Abu Dhabi Police and Dubai Police, are the first responders in such cases and provide technical assistance to SSD and DSS

percent of total labor force

1.02 %

approximately 65,000 active Armed Forces (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2025)

maintains a few hundred troops in Somalia and Yemen (2025)

the military is equipped with mostly modern imported armaments, and a smaller amount of domestically produced weapons; foreign suppliers have included China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US; the UAE's domestic defense industry produces or co-produces such items as armored vehicles, naval vessels, precision munitions, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones for both internal use and export (2025)

Military Expenditures 2020

6.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

4.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

4% of GDP (2024 est.)

18-40 for voluntary service; 18-30 years of age for compulsory national service for men with a 36-month service obligation for those without a secondary education and 11 months for secondary school graduates; women may volunteer for national service (11-month service obligation regardless of education) (2025)

note

<strong>note 1:</strong> compulsory service may be completed in the uniformed military, the Ministry of Interior, or other security institutions designated by the military leadership<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the UAE military employs a considerable number of foreign personnel on contracted service

PowerIndex score

1.0188

USG identification

<br>major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees

7,634 (2024 est.)

1997 - initiated a national space sector<br><br>2009 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (DubaiSat-1) developed jointly with South Korea and launched by Russia<br><br>2017 - announced Mars 2117 project, which included building a “Mars Science City” as the first step to establishing a human settlement on Mars within 100 years<br><br>2018 - first domestically produced RS satellite (KhalifaSat or DubaiSat-3) launched by Japan<br><br>2019 - first UAE astronaut (trained by Russia and US) in space on the International Space Station<br><br>2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration<br><br>2021 - became first Arab country to successfully place a probe (al Amal or Hope) in Mars orbit; announced plans to launch a probe in 2028 to land on an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter<br><br>2025 - domestically produced advanced RS/Earth imaging satellite (MBZ-SAT) launched by US

UAE Space Agency (created in 2014); Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC; established 2006) (2025)

has an ambitious and growing national space program; focused on satellite development, including communications, remote sensing, and navigation, as well as deep space exploration; is building expertise, infrastructure, technology, and research and development capabilities; has elected to use foreign partners to launch payloads from spaceports abroad; has looked to invest in foreign commercial space companies and develop global partnerships; has a foreign-assisted astronaut training program; seeking to establish UAE as an international hub for space education; founding member of the Arab Space Cooperation Group; works with major global and regional players, including China, Egypt, the ESA, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, and the US; sees its commercial space industry as a key to diversifying and developing the country&rsquo;s non-oil economy; dozens of space companies operate in the UAE, including international and start-ups, plus several space-science research centers (2025)

From coal and metallurgical coke

12.788 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

132.876 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

126.038 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

271.703 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

air pollution; water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Agriculture

47.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

1,573.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

2.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

448.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

38.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

16 % of total land area

4 % of total

150 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

1,510 % of internal resources

Agricultural

2.466 billion cubic meters (2022)

Industrial

55 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal

2.297 billion cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

5.618 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

24.5% (2022 est.)