United Arab Emirates - Tips
United Arab Emirates
Bureau of Near Eastern
Affairs
June
2007
Background Note: United Arab
Emirates
Flag of United Arab Emirates is three equal horizontal bands of green
at top,
white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist
side.
PROFILE
OFFICIAL
NAME:
United Arab
Emirates
Geography
Area: 82,880 sq. km. (30,000 sq. mi.); about the size of
Maine.
Cities (2002 est.): Capital--Abu Dhabi (pop. 1,000,000); Dubai
(pop.
860,000).
Terrain: Largely desert with some agricultural
areas.
Climate: Hot, humid, low annual
rainfall.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--U.A.E.,
Emirati.
Population (2007 est.): 4.4
million.
Population growth rate (2007 est.):
4.0%.
Ethnic groups: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Egyptian, Jordanian,
Iranian,
Filipino, other Arab; (15-20% of residents are U.A.E.
citizens).
Religions: Muslim (96%), Hindu,
Christian.
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Urdu,
Persian.
Education: Years compulsory--ages 6-12. Literacy (U.A.E.
citizens)--about
80%.
Health: Life expectancy--about 76
yrs.
Work force (2006) 2.968 million (93% foreign in 15-64 age
group):
Agriculture--2.3%; industry--61.9%;
services--35.8%.
Government
Type: Federation of
emirates.
Independence: December 2,
1971.
Provisional constitution: December 2,
1971.
Branches: Executive--7-member Supreme Council of Rulers, which
elects
president and vice
president. Legislative--40-member Federal National Council
(consultative only). Judicial--Islamic and secular
courts.
Administrative subdivisions: Seven largely self-governing
city-states.
Political parties:
None.
Suffrage: State-nominated electors chose half of the Federal National
Council
seats in
2006.
Central government budget (2006): $7
billion.
Economy
GDP (2006 est.): $163
billion.
Annual growth rate (2006 est.):
9.7%.
Per capita GDP (2006 est.):
$37,000.
Inflation rate (2006 est.):
10-13%.
Natural resources: Oil and natural
gas.
Agriculture (2005 est., 2.0% of GDP): Products--vegetables, dates,
dairy
products, poultry,
fish.
Petroleum (2005 est.):
36%.
Manufacturing (2005 est.):
13%.
Services (44% of 2003 GDP): Trade, government, real
estate.
Trade (2006 est.): Exports--$157 billion: petroleum, gas, and
petroleum
products. Major
markets--Japan, South Korea, Thailand, India. Imports--$126.6
billion:
machinery, chemicals, food. Major suppliers--Western Europe, Japan,
U.S., China,
India.
Foreign economic aid (2004): In excess of $5.25
billion.
PEOPLE
Only 15-20% of the total population of 4.4 million is U.A.E.
citizens. The
rest include significant numbers of other
Arabs--Palestinians, Egyptians,
Jordanians,
Yemenis, Omanis--as well as many Indians,
Pakistanis,
Bangladeshis, Iranians, Afghans, Filipinos, and west
Europeans.
The majority of U.A.E. citizens are Sunni Muslims with a very small
Shi'a
minority. Many foreigners also are Muslim,
although Hindus and Christians
make up a portion of
the U.A.E.'s foreign
population.
Educational standards among U.A.E. citizens population are rising
rapidly.
Citizens and temporary residents have taken
advantage of facilities
throughout the country. The UAE University in Al Ain had roughly
17,000
students in 2004. The Higher
Colleges of Technology, a network
of
technical-vocational colleges, opened in 1989 with men's and women's
campuses
in each emirate. Zayed University for women opened in 1998
with campuses in
Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Zayed University will
establish separate male campuses
for the 2007-2008 academic
year. American University Sharjah had over 4,500
students
enrolled in 2007. Many foreign universities, including ones from the
U.S., U.K., and Australia, also have campuses in the
U.A.E.
HISTORY
The U.A.E. was formed from the group of tribally organized Arabian
Peninsula
Sheikhdoms along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and
the northwestern
coast of the Gulf of Oman. This area was converted
to Islam in the Seventh
century; for centuries it was
embroiled in dynastic disputes. It became known
as the Pirate Coast as
raiders based there harassed foreign
shipping,
although both
European and Arab navies patrolled the area from the
17th
century into the 19th century.
Early British expeditions to protect the India
trade from raiders at
Ras al-Khaimah led to campaigns against
that
headquarters and other harbors along the coast in 1819. The next year,
a
general peace treaty was signed to which
all the principal sheikhs of the
coast adhered.
Raids continued intermittently until 1835, when the sheikhs
agreed not to engage in hostilities at sea. In 1853, they signed a
treaty
with the United Kingdom, under which the
sheikhs (the "Trucial Sheikhdoms")
agreed to a "perpetual
maritime truce." It was enforced by the
United
Kingdom, and
disputes among sheikhs were referred to the British
for
settlement.
Primarily in reaction to the ambitions of other European countries,
the
United Kingdom and the Trucial
Sheikhdoms established closer bonds in an 1892
treaty, similar to
treaties entered into by the U.K. with other
Gulf
principalities.
The sheikhs agreed not to dispose of any territory except to
the
United Kingdom and not to enter into relationships with any
foreign
government other than the
United Kingdom without its consent. In return, the
British promised
to protect the Trucial Coast from all aggression by sea and
to help
out in case of land
attack.
In 1955, the United Kingdom sided with Abu Dhabi in the latter's
dispute with
Saudi Arabia over the Buraimi Oasis and other territory
to the south. A 1974
agreement between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia
would have settled the Abu
Dhabi-Saudi
border dispute; however, the agreement has yet to be ratified by
the
U.A.E. Government. The border with Oman also remains
officially
unsettled, but the two governments agreed to delineate the border in
May
1999. Since that time, the U.A.E. has
constructed a border fence along the
entire length with
both Oman and Saudi Arabia. The new fence and checkpoints
will likely
be finished by
2008-2009.
In 1968, the U.K. announced its decision, reaffirmed in March 1971,
to end
the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial
Sheikhdoms which had been,
together with Bahrain and
Qatar, under British protection. The nine attempted
to form a union of
Arab emirates, but by mid-1971 they were unable to agree
on
terms of union, even though the termination date of the British
treaty
relationship was the end of 1971. Bahrain
became independent in August and
Qatar in September 1971.
When the British-Trucial Sheikhdoms treaty expired
on December
1, 1971, they became fully independent. On December 2, 1971, six
of
them entered into a union called the United Arab Emirates. The
seventh,
Ras al-Khaimah, joined in early
1972.
The U.A.E. sent forces to help liberate Kuwait during the 1990-91
Gulf War.
U.A.E. troops have also participated in peacekeeping
missions to Somalia,
Lebanon, Bosnia, Albania,
Kosovo, and
Kuwait.
In 2004, the U.A.E.'s first and only president until that time,
Sheikh Zayed
bin Sultan Al Nahyan, died. His eldest son Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan
succeeded him as
Ruler of Abu Dhabi. In accordance with the Constitution, the
U.A.E.'s
Supreme Council of Rulers elected Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
as
U.A.E. Federal President. Mohammed bin Zayed al
Nahyan succeeded Khalifa as
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. In
January 2006, Sheikh Makotum bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, U.A.E. Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, passed
away and was replaced by his brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum
(MbR), Ruler of Dubai and U.A.E. Minister of Defense.
On February 9, 2006,
the U.A.E. announced a cabinet
reshuffle. Several ministries were eliminated
or renamed, while
others were
created.
GOVERNMENT
Administratively, the U.A.E. is a loose federation of seven emirates,
each
with its own ruler. The pace at which local
government in each emirate
evolves from traditional to modern is set primarily by the ruler. Under
the
provisional constitution of 1971, each emirate reserves
considerable powers,
including control over mineral rights (notably
oil and gas) and revenues. In
this milieu, federal powers have
developed slowly. The
constitution
established the positions of President (Chief of State) and Vice
President,
each serving 5-year terms; a Council of Ministers,
led by a Prime Minister
(head of government); a supreme
council of rulers; and a 40-member Federal
National
Council (FNC). The FNC is a consultative body with half its members
appointed by the emirate rulers and half
elected.
Principal Government
Officials
President, Ruler of Abu Dhabi--Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al
Nahyan
Vice President, Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Ruler of
Dubai--Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum
Deputy Prime Minister--Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed al
Nahyan
Deputy Prime Minister--Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al
Nahyan
Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi Crown
Prince--Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan
Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development--Abdul Rahman
Mohammed
Al
Owais
Minister of Economy--Sheikha Lubna Al
Qasimi
Minister of Education--Dr. Hanif
Hassan
Minister of Energy--Mohammed bin Dha'en Al
Hamili
Minister of Environment and Water--Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al
Kindi
Minister of Federal National Council Affairs--Dr. Anwar Mohammed
Gargash
Minister of Finance and
Industry--Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al
Maktoum
Minister of Foreign
Affairs--Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al
Nahyan
Minister of Governmental Sector Development--Sultan Al
Mansouri
Minister of Health--Humaid Mohammed Al
Qatami
Minister of Higher Education--Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al
Nahyan
Minister of Interior--Major Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al
Nahyan
Minister of Justice--Mohammed Nakhira Al
Daheri
Minister of Labor--Dr. Ali bin Abdullah Al
Kaabi
Minister of Presidential Affairs--Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al
Nahyan
Minister of
Public Works--Sheikh amdan bin Mubarak Al
Nahyan
Minister of Social Affairs--Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al
Roumi
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs--Mohammad Abdullah
Gergawi
Minister of State for Financial and Industrial Affairs--Dr. Mohammed
Khalfan
Bin
Kharbash
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs--Mohammed Hussain Al
Sha'ali
Ambassador to the United States--Saqr
Ghobash
Ambassador to the United Nations--Abd al-Aziz Bin Nasir
al-Shamsi
The U.A.E. maintains an embassy in the United States at 3522
International
Court, NW, Washington, DC, 20008 (tel.
202-243-2400). The U.A.E. Mission to
the UN is located at 747
3rd Avenue, 36th Floor, New York, NY 10017 (tel.
212-371-0480).
POLITICAL
CONDITIONS
The relative political and financial influence of each emirate is
reflected
in the allocation of positions in the federal
government. The ruler of Abu
Dhabi, whose emirate is the
U.A.E.'s major oil producer, is president of the
U.A.E. The ruler of
Dubai, which is the U.A.E.'s commercial center, is vice
president and prime
minister.
Since achieving independence in 1971, the U.A.E. has worked to
strengthen its
federal institutions. Nonetheless, each emirate still
retains substantial
autonomy, and progress toward
greater federal integration has slowed in
recent years. A basic concept in the U.A.E. Government's development
as a
federal system is that a significant
percentage of each emirate's revenues
should be devoted
to the U.A.E. central
budget.
The U.A.E. has no political parties. The rulers hold power on the
basis of
their dynastic position and their legitimacy in
a system of tribal consensus.
Rapid modernization, enormous strides in
education, and the influx of a large
foreign population have changed
the face of the society. In December 2006,
the U.A.E.
held its first-ever limited elections to select half the members
of the FNC. Ballots were cast by electors selected by the emir of
each
emirate. One woman was
elected to the FNC and seven additional women were
appointed to be council
members.
DEFENSE
The Trucial Oman Scouts, long the symbol of public order on the coast
and
commanded by British officers, were turned over
to the U.A.E. as its defense
forces in 1971. The U.A.E. armed forces,
consisting of 48,800 troops, are
headquartered in
Abu Dhabi and are primarily responsible for the defense of
the
seven
emirates.
Although small in number, the U.A.E. armed forces are equipped with
some of
the most modern weapon systems, purchased from a
variety of outside
countries. The military has been reducing the number of foreign
nationals in
its ranks, and its officer corps is composed almost
entirely of U.A.E.
nationals. The
U.A.E. air force has about 4,000 personnel. The Air Force has
advanced U.S. F-16 BLOCK 60 multi-role fighter aircraft. Other
equipment
includes French Mirage 2000-9
fighters, British Hawk trainer aircraft, 36
transport aircraft and U.S. Apache and French Puma helicopters. The
Air
Defense Force is linked into a
joint air defense system with the other six
Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) nations aimed at protecting the airspace
of
the allied states. The U.A.E. Navy is small--about
2,500 personnel--and
maintains 12
well-equipped coastal patrol boats and 8 missile boats. Although
primarily concerned with coastal defense, the Navy is constructing a
six-unit
class of blue water corvettes in conjunction with French
shipbuilder CMN. The
U.A.E.'s Land Forces are equipped with several
hundred French LeClerc tanks
and a similar number of Russian
BMP-3 armored fighting vehicles. The U.A.E.
Special Operations
Command (SOC) is a small but effective force centered on
the
counter-terrorism mission within the country. SOC is
well-financed,
trained, and equipped
and is capable of executing its mission with a level of
expertise
equal to, or above, the rest of the
GCC.
The U.A.E. contributes to the continued security and stability of the
Gulf
and the Straits of Hormuz. It is a leading partner
in the campaign against
global terrorism, providing
assistance in the military, diplomatic, and
financial arenas since September 11,
2001
ECONOMY
Prior to the first exports of oil in 1962, the U.A.E. economy was
dominated
by pearl production, fishing, agriculture, and
herding. Since the rise of oil
prices in 1973, however, petroleum has
dominated the economy, accounting for
most of its export earnings and
providing significant opportunities for
investment. The U.A.E. has huge proven oil reserves, estimated at
98.8
billion barrels in 2003,
with gas reserves estimated at (212 trillion cubic
feet); at
present production rates, these supplies would last well over 150
years. In 2006, the U.A.E. produced about 2.8 million barrels of oil
per
day.
Major increases in imports occurred in manufactured goods, machinery,
and
transportation equipment, which together
accounted for 70% of total imports.
Another important foreign
exchange earner, the Abu Dhabi
Investment
Authority--which controls the investments of Abu Dhabi, the
wealthiest
emirate--manages an
estimated $600 billion in overseas
investments.
More than 6,000 companies from more than 120 countries operate at the
Jebel
Ali complex in Dubai, which includes a deep-water port
and a free trade zone
for manufacturing and distribution in which all
goods for re-export or
transshipment enjoy a 100% duty exemption. A major power plant
with
associated
water desalination units, an aluminum smelter, and a
steel
fabrication unit are
prominent facilities near the
complex.
Except in the free trade zone, the U.A.E. requires at least 51% local
citizen
ownership in all businesses operating in the country as part
of its attempt
to place Emiratis into leadership
positions.
As a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the U.A.E.
participates in
a wide range of GCC activities that focus on economic
issues. These include
regular consultations and development of
common policies covering trade,
investment,
banking and finance, transportation, telecommunications,
and
other technical areas, including
protection of intellectual property rights.
FOREIGN
RELATIONS
The U.A.E. is a member of the United Nations and the Arab League and
has
established diplomatic relations with
more than 60 countries, including the
U.S., Japan, Russia, the
People's Republic of China, and most
western
European countries.
It has played a moderate role in the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries, the Organization of Arab Petroleum
Exporting
Countries, the United Nations, and the
GCC.
Substantial development assistance has increased the U.A.E.'s stature
among
recipient states. Most of this foreign aid (in excess of
$15 billion) has
been to Arab and Muslim
countries.
Following Iraq's 1990 invasion and attempted annexation of Kuwait,
the U.A.E.
has sought to rely on the GCC, the United States, and other
Western allies
for its security. The U.A.E. believes that
the Arab League needs to be
restructured to become a viable institution and would like to
increase
strength and
interoperability of the GCC defense
forces.
In 2007, the U.A.E. pledged and delivered $300 million to Lebanon,
and was
the first country to fulfill its pledge. The
U.A.E. has provided significant
monetary and material support to the
Iraqi Government, including a pledge of
$215 million in economic and
reconstruction assistance, and has also provided
substantial aid to
Afghanistan and the Palestinian
Authority.
The U.A.E. is a member of the following international organizations:
UN and
several of its specialized agencies (ICAO, ILO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO); World Bank,
International Monetary Fund (IMF), Arab
League, Organization of the Islamic
Conference, Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries, Organization of
Arab
Petroleum Exporting Countries, and the Non-Aligned
Movement.
U.S.-U.A.E.
RELATIONS
The United States has enjoyed friendly relations with the U.A.E.
since 1971.
Private commercial ties, especially in petroleum, have
developed into
friendly
government-to-government ties which include security assistance. The
breadth, depth, and quality of U.S.-U.A.E. relations increased
dramatically
as a result of the U.S.-led coalition's campaign
to end the Iraqi occupation
of Kuwait. In 2002, the U.S. and the
U.A.E. launched a strategic partnership
dialogue covering virtually
every aspect of the relationship. The U.A.E. has
been a key partner
in the War on Terror. U.A.E. ports host more U.S. Navy
ships than any port outside the U.S. The United States was the third
country
to establish formal diplomatic relations with the U.A.E. and
has had an
ambassador resident in the
U.A.E. since
1974.
Principal U.S.
Officials
Ambassador--Michele J.
Sison
Deputy Chief of Mission--Martin
Quinn
Political Officer--Al
Magleby
Economic Officer--Oliver
John
Consular Officer--Robert
Dolce
Public Affairs Officer--Steven
Pike
Management Officer--Stewart
Devine
Commercial Officer--Christian
Reed
U.S. Embassy mailing address--PO Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; tel: (971)
(2)
414-2200, PAO
(971)(2) 414-2410; fax: (971)(2) 414-2603; Commercial Office:
(971)(2) 414-2304; fax: (971)(2) 414-2228; Consul General in
Dubai--Paul
Sutphin; PO Box 9343; tel: (971)
(4) 311-6000; fax: (971)(4) 311-6166,
Commercial Office: (971)(4)
311-6149).
TRAVEL AND BUSINESS
INFORMATION
The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program advises
Americans
traveling and residing abroad through Consular Information
Sheets, Public
Announcements, and Travel Warnings.
Consular Information Sheets exist for all
countries and include
information on entry and exit requirements, currency
regulations, health conditions, safety and security, crime,
political
disturbances, and
the addresses of the U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
Public
Announcements are issued to disseminate information quickly
about
terrorist threats and other relatively
short-term conditions overseas that
pose significant
risks to the security of American travelers. Travel Warnings
are
issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel
to a certain country because the situation is dangerous or
unstable.
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling
abroad
should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau
of Consular Affairs Internet
web site at
http://www.travel.state.gov, where the
current Worldwide Caution,
Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings
can be found. Consular Affairs
Publications,
which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a
safe
trip abroad, are also available at
http://www.travel.state.gov.
For
additional information on international
travel, see
http://www.usa.gov/
Citizen/Topics/Travel/International.shtml.
The Department of State encourages all U.S citizens who traveling or
residing
abroad to register via the State Department's travel
registration website or
at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate
abroad. Registration will make your
presence and whereabouts known in
case it is necessary to contact you in an
emergency and will
enable you to receive up-to-date information on security
conditions.
Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be
obtained
by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and
Canada or the regular
toll line 1-202-501-4444 for
callers outside the U.S. and
Canada.
The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the U.S.
Department of
State's single, centralized public
contact center for U.S.
passport
information. Telephone: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778). Customer
service
representatives and operators for TDD/TTY
are available Monday-Friday, 7:00
a.m. to 12:00 midnight,
Eastern Time, excluding federal
holidays.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S.
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP
(877-394-8747) and a web site at
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm
give the
most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations
or requirements,
and advice on food and drinking water safety for
regions and countries. A
booklet entitled "Health
Information for International Travel"
(HHS
publication number CDC-95-8280) is available from the U.S.
Government
Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202)
512-1800.
Further Electronic
Information
Department of State Web Site. Available on the Internet at
http://
www.state.gov, the Department of State web
site provides timely, global
access to
official U.S. foreign policy information, including
Background
Notes and daily press briefings
along with the directory of key officers of
Foreign Service
posts and more. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)
provides
security information and regional news that impact U.S. companies
working abroad through its website
http://www.osac.gov
Export.gov provides a portal to all export-related assistance and
market
information offered by the federal
government and provides trade leads, free
export counseling, help
with the export process, and
more.
STAT-USA/Internet, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce,
provides
authoritative economic, business, and
international trade information from
the Federal
government. The site includes current and
historical
trade-related releases, international market research, trade
opportunities,
and country analysis and provides access to the
National Trade Data Bank.
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United Arab Emirates
