2019 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. 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 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 to participate as 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

Highest Point

Jabal Yibir 1,527 m

Lowest Point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Mean Elevation

149 m

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

Oman 609 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

Total

1,066 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

4.6% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

0.5% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0.5% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

3.6% (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.)

Current Health Expenditure

3.5% (2016)

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 Rural

100% of population

Improved Total

99.6% of population

Improved Urban

99.6% of population

Unimproved Rural

0% of population

Unimproved Total

0.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0.4% of population

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%, Filipino 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

4.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

6 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

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

Languages

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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

80.1 years

Male

77.3 years

Total Population

78.7 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

95.8% (2015)

Male

93.1%

Total Population

93.8%

Major Urban Areas Population

2.833 million Dubai, 1.629 million Sharjah, 1.452 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

31.1 years

Male

39 years

Total

37.2 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Emirati

Noun

Emirati(s)

Net Migration Rate

6.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

31.7% (2016)

Physicians Density

2.39 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

9,701,315 (July 2018 est.)

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.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

95.2% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

97.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

98% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

4.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

2.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

2% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

14 years (2016)

Male

13 years

Total

14 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.08 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.23 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

3.45 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

5.74 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

2.99 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total Population

2.64 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.73 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

13.5% (2017 est.)

Male

6%

Total

7.7%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

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

Urban Population

86.8% of total population (2019)

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 of the Supreme Council president; amended 2009 (2016)

History

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

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 (vacant); 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, P. O. Box 4009, 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 2 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)

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 (sharia) law and civil law

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members indirectly elected using single non-transferable vote 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

all candidates ran as independents; seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; composition (preliminary) - 13 men, 7 women, percent of elected women 35%; note - to attain overall FNC gender parity, 13 women and 7 men will be appointed; overall FNC percent of women 50%

Elections

last held for indirectly elected members on 5 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

Name

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

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.)

Revenues

110.2 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

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

Central Bank Discount Rate

NA

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

5.7%

31 December 2017

6%

Current Account Balance

2016

$13.23 billion

2017

$26.47 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$218.7 billion

31 December 2017

$237.6 billion

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

2013

3.673

2014

3.673

2015

3.673

2016

3.673

2017

3.673

Currency

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$298.6 billion

2017

$308.5 billion

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.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$70,000

2016

$70,100

2017

$68,600

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$670.5 billion

2016

$690.5 billion

2017

$696 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

5.1%

2016

3%

2017

0.8%

Gross National Saving

2015

30.7% of GDP

2016

30.9% of GDP

2017

28.5% of GDP

Imports

2016

$226.5 billion

2017

$229.2 billion

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

2016

1.6%

2017

2%

Labor Force

5.344 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

7%

Industry

15%

Services

78% (2000 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2013

$180.3 billion

31 December 2014

$201.6 billion

31 December 2015

$195.9 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

19.5% (2003 est.)

Public Debt

2016

20.2% of GDP

2017

19.7% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$85.39 billion

31 December 2017

$95.37 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$129.1 billion

31 December 2017

$134 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$114.6 billion

31 December 2017

$124.4 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$134.8 billion

31 December 2017

$129.9 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$396 billion

31 December 2017

$395.5 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$129.1 billion

31 December 2017

$134 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

28.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2014

3.6%

2016

1.6%

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

3.216 million bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2017)

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

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

Telephone System

Domestic

microwave radio relay, fiber-optic and coaxial cable; fixed-line 38 per 100 and mobile-cellular 326 per 100 (2018)

General Assessment

modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai; 5G technology developing; two operators are competitive, but majority owned by the government; HSPA (high speed packet access) + LTE networks cover most of the population; low cost smart phones readily available; well-established fibre-broadband network provides future growth (2018)

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)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

38 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

2,320,837

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

326 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

19,826,224

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

container ship 2, general cargo 103, oil tanker 22, other 489 (2018)

Total

616

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

Dubai Port (15,368,000), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah) (2,321,000) (2017)

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 And Security Forces

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, Joint Aviation Command; Ministry of Interior: Critical Infrastructure Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2011

5.45% of GDP

2012

5.08% of GDP

2013

6.02% of GDP

2014

5.64% of GDP

2016

5.7% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 17 years of age for male volunteers with parental approval; 24-month general service obligation, 16 months for secondary school graduates; women can volunteer to serve for 9 months regardless of education (2018)

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 published; Iran 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