2018 Edition

Background

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). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. 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. However, 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 essentially avoided the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11 and in an effort to stem potential unrest, the government announced a multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates and aggressively pursued advocates of political reform. 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 is a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen.

Area

land

83,600 sq km

total

83,600 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine

Climate

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Coastline

1,318 km

Elevation

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Persian Gulf

mean elevation

149 m

note

1527 highest point: Jabal Yibir

Environment Current Issues

air pollution; rapid population growth and high energy demand contribute to water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills

Environment International Agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Geographic Coordinates

24 00 N, 54 00 E

Geography Note

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Irrigated Land

923 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (2)

Oman 609 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

total

1,066 km

Land Use

arable land: 0.5% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.5% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 3.6% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

4.6% (2011 est.)

forest

3.8% (2011 est.)

other

91.6% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map References

Middle East

Maritime Claims

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

Natural Hazards

frequent sand and dust storms

Natural Resources

petroleum, natural gas

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0-14 years

14.39% (male 724,904 /female 671,524)

15-24 years

7.64% (male 408,376 /female 332,986)

25-54 years

70.45% (male 5,297,201 /female 1,537,300)

55-64 years

6.05% (male 499,579 /female 87,037)

65 years and over

1.47% (male 106,739 /female 35,669) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

9.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

1.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

1.2 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

83.4 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

17.4 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

16.2 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 99.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

NA

Ethnic Groups

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

Health Expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

NA

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

NA

Hospital Bed Density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

80.1 years (2018 est.)

male

77.3 years (2018 est.)

total population

78.7 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

95.8% (2015 est.)

male

93.1% (2015 est.)

total population

93.8% (2015 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

2.785 million Dubai, 1.571 million Sharjah, 1.42 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

31.1 years (2018 est.)

male

39 years

total

37.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Emirati

noun

Emirati(s)

Net Migration Rate

10.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

31.7% (2016)

Physicians Density

1.56 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

9,701,315 (July 2017 est.) (July 2018 est.)

note

the UN estimated the country's total population was 9,400,145 as of mid-year 2017; immigrants make up more than 88% of the total population, according to UN data (2017)

Population Growth Rate

1.44% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 76%, Christian 9%, other (primarily Hindu and Buddhist, less than 5% of the population consists of Parsi, Baha'i, Druze, Sikh, Ahmadi, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra Muslim, and Jewish) 15% (2005 est.)

note

represents the total population; about 85% of the population consists of noncitizens

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 98% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 95.2% of population (2015 est.)

total: 97.6% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 2% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 4.8% of population (2015 est.)

total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.47 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

3.2 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

2.93 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

1.69 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

2.18 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.73 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

21.8% (2008 est.)

male

7.9% (2008 est.)

total

12.1% (2008 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

86.5% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

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

Capital

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

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

Constitution

amendments

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 by the Supreme Council president; amended 2009 (2016)

history

previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996 (2016)

Country Name

abbreviation

UAE

conventional long form

United Arab Emirates

conventional short form

none

etymology

self-descriptive country name; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"; "emirates" derives from "amir" the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince"

former

Trucial Oman, Trucial States

local long form

Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah

local short form

none

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador (vanant); Charge d'Affaires Steven C. BONDY (since 22 March 2018)

consulate(s) general

Dubai

embassy

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

FAX

[971] (2) 414-2603

mailing address

P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi

telephone

[971] (2) 414-2200

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA (since 28 July 2008)

consulate(s) general

Boston, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 243-2432

telephone

[1] (202) 243-2400

Executive Branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)

election results

KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan reelected president; FSC vote NA

elections/appointments

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); election last held 3 November 2009 (next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan, MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (both since 11 May 2009)

note

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

Flag Description

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification

Government Type

federation of monarchies

Independence

2 December 1971 (from the UK)

International Law Organization Participation

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

International Organization Participation

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, 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, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

highest courts

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 following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiry of their appointment terms

subordinate courts

Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and emirate level; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts); 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; note - the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts, the country’s two largest financial free zones, both adjudicate civil and commercial disputes.

Legal System

mixed legal system of Islamic law and civil law

Legislative Branch

description

unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members indirectly elected by an electoral college whose members are selected by each emirate ruler proportional to its FNC membership, and 20 members appointed by the rulers of the 7 constituent states; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

19 men and 1 woman were elected; seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; note - only 1 woman (from Ras Al Khaimah) won an FNC seat

elections

last held on 3 October 2015 (next to be held in 2019); note - the electoral college was expanded from 129,274 electors in the December 2011 election to 224,279 in the October 2015 election; 347 candidates including 78 women ran for 20 contested seats in the 40-member FNC

National Anthem

lyrics/music

AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

name

"Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)

note

music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia

National Holiday

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

National Symbol S

golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red

Political Parties And Leaders

none; political parties are banned

Suffrage

limited; note - rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens

Agriculture Products

dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish

Budget

expenditures

111.1 billion (2017 est.)

note

the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

revenues

110.2 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

note

NA

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

6% (31 December 2017 est.)

5.7% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$26.47 billion (2017 est.)

$13.23 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$237.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$218.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Economy Overview

The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP from the oil and gas sector to 30%.Since the discovery of oil in the UAE nearly 60 years ago, the country has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. The country's free trade zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors.The global financial crisis of 2008-09, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency and ultimately a $20 billion bailout from the UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi Government that was refinanced in March 2014.The UAE’s dependence on oil is a significant long-term challenge, although the UAE is one of the most diversified countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Low oil prices have prompted the UAE to cut expenditures, including on some social programs, but the UAE has sufficient assets in its sovereign investment funds to cover its deficits. The government reduced fuel subsidies in August 2015, and introduced excise taxes (50% on sweetened carbonated beverages and 100% on energy drinks and tobacco) in October 2017. A five-percent value-added tax was introduced in January 2018. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on economic diversification, promoting the UAE as a global trade and tourism hub, developing industry, and creating more job opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.

Exchange Rates

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -

3.673 (2017 est.)

3.673 (2016 est.)

3.673 (2015 est.)

3.673 (2014 est.)

3.673 (2013 est.)

Exports

$308.5 billion (2017 est.)

$298.6 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates (2012 est.)

Exports Partners

India 10.1%, Iran 9.9%, Japan 9.3%, China 5.4%, Oman 5%, Switzerland 4.4%, South Korea 4.1% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

100.4% (2017 est.)

government consumption

12.3% (2017 est.)

household consumption

34.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-72.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.8% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

0.9% (2017 est.)

industry

49.8% (2017 est.)

services

49.2% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$382.6 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$68,600 (2017 est.)

$70,100 (2016 est.)

$70,000 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$696 billion (2017 est.)

$690.5 billion (2016 est.)

$670.5 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

0.8% (2017 est.)

3% (2016 est.)

5.1% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

28.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

30.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

30.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$229.2 billion (2017 est.)

$226.5 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports Partners

China 8.5%, US 6.8%, India 6.6% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

1.8% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2% (2017 est.)

1.6% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

5.344 million (2017 est.)

note

expatriates account for about 85% of the workforce

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

7%

industry

15%

services

78% (2000 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$195.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$201.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$180.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

19.5% (2003 est.)

Public Debt

19.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

20.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$95.37 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$85.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$134 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$129.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$124.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$114.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$129.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$134.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$395.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$396 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$134 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$129.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

28.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

1.6% (2016 est.)

3.6% (2014 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

289.4 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

2.552 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

3.174 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

93% (2012)

electrification - total population

98% (2012)

electrification - urban areas

99% (2012)

population without electricity

177,824 (2012)

Electricity Consumption

113.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

99% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

1.141 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

28.91 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

121.8 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

74.48 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

7.504 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

20.22 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

62.01 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

6.091 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

896,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

817,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

392,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

943,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (2017 est.)

total

1,297,585 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

except for the many organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts; restrictions since June 2017 on some satellite channels and websites originating from or otherwise linked to Qatar (2018)

Internet Country Code

.ae

Internet Users

percent of population

90.6% (July 2016 est.)

total

5,370,299 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

microwave radio relay, fiber-optic and coaxial cable (2016)

general assessment

modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai (2016)

international

country code - 971; linked to the international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

38 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

2,320,837 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

326 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

19,826,224 (2017 est.)

Airports

43 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

5 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

3 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

3 (2013)

over 3,047 m

12 (2013)

total

25 (2013)

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

4 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

6 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

18 (2013)

under 914 m

6 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

A6 (2016)

Heliports

5 (2013)

Merchant Marine

by type

general cargo 97, oil tanker 26, other 495 (2017)

total

618 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

16.647 billion mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

84,738,479 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

498 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

12 (2015)

Pipelines

533 km condensate, 3277 km gas, 300 km liquid petroleum gas, 3287 km oil, 24 km oil/gas/water, 218 km refined products, 99 km water (2013)

Ports And Terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Mubarraz Island (Abu Dhabi) (1,550,000), Dubai Port (14,772,000), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah) (4,330,200) (2016)

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Das Island

major seaport(s)

Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah), Mubarraz Island (Abu Dhabi), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah)

Roadways

paved

4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)

total

4,080 km (2008)

Military Branches

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Critical Infrastructure Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA), Land Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense, Presidential Guard, Joint Aviation Command (2018)

Military Expenditures

4.86% of GDP (2017)

4.99% of GDP (2016)

5.66% of GDP (2014)

6.06% of GDP (2013)

Military Service Age And Obligation

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men, optional service for women; 17 years of age for male volunteers with parental approval; 2-year general obligation, 12 months for secondary school graduates; women may train for 9 months regardless of education (2016)

Disputes International

boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been publishedIran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies

Illicit Drugs

the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated