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Middle East :: United Arab Emirates

- ## Introduction :: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

- 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. Its high oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region. 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 has essentially avoided the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East, though in March 2011, political activists and intellectuals signed a petition calling for greater public participation in governance that was widely circulated on the Internet. In an effort to stem potential further 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.

- ## Geography :: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

- Location:
  Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
  Geographic coordinates:
  24 00 N, 54 00 E
  Map references:
  Middle East
  Area:
  total: 83,600 sq km
  land: 83,600 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  total: 1,066 km
  border countries (2): Oman 609 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
  Coastline:
  1,318 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
  Climate:
  desert; cooler in eastern mountains
  Terrain:
  flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
  highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 4.6%
  arable land 0.5%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 3.6%
  forest: 3.8%
  other: 91.6% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  920 sq km (2010)
  Total renewable water resources:
  0.15 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 3.99 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%)
  per capita: 739.5 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  frequent sand and dust storms
  Environment - current issues:
  lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; 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
  Geography - note:
  strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

- ## People and Society :: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

- Nationality:
  noun: Emirati(s)
  adjective: Emirati
  Ethnic groups:
  Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
  note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
  Languages:
  Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
  Religions:
  Muslim (Islam; 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%
  note: represents the total population; about 85% of the population consists of noncitizens (2005 est.)
  religious affiliation:
  Population:
  5,779,760
  note: the UN estimates the country's total population to be 9,445,624 as of mid-year 2014; immigrants make up more than 80% of the total population, according to 2013 UN data (2014) (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20.85% (male 616,669/female 588,546)
  15-24 years: 13.57% (male 466,663/female 317,735)
  25-54 years: 61.38% (male 2,704,889/female 842,852)
  55-64 years: 3.18% (male 137,753/female 46,214)
  65 years and over: 1.01% (male 36,725/female 21,714) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 17.8%
  youth dependency ratio: 16.4%
  elderly dependency ratio: 1.3%
  potential support ratio: 74.6% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 30.3 years
  male: 32.1 years
  female: 25.1 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.58% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Birth rate:
  15.43 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Death rate:
  1.97 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 224
  Net migration rate:
  12.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 85.5% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 2.87% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  Dubai 2.415 million; Sharjah 1.279 million; ABU DHABI (capital) 1.145 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.47 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 3.21 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 2.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.69 male(s)/female
  total population: 2.18 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  6 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 10.59 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 12.35 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 77.29 years
  male: 74.67 years
  female: 80.04 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Total fertility rate:
  2.35 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Health expenditures:
  3.2% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Physicians density:
  2.53 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.1 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  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.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 98% of population
  rural: 95.2% of population
  total: 97.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2% of population
  rural: 4.8% of population
  total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  34.5% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Education expenditures:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 93.8%
  male: 93.1%
  female: 95.8% (2005 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 12.1%
  male: 7.9%
  female: 21.8% (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91

- ## Government :: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

- Country name:
  conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
  conventional short form: none
  local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
  local short form: none
  former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
  abbreviation: UAE
  Government type:
  federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
  Capital:
  name: Abu Dhabi
  geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E
  time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  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
  Independence:
  2 December 1971 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
  Constitution:
  previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996; amended 2009 (2015)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of Islamic law and civil law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  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
  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
  Executive branch:
  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)
  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)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  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
  election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan reelected president; FSC vote NA
  note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the seven 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
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Federal National Council or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the rulers of the 7 constituent states and 20 indirectly elected by an electoral college whose members are selected by each emirate ruler proportional to its FNC membership; members serve 4-year terms)
  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; elections for candidates rather than political parties; 347 candidates including 78 women ran for 20 contested seats in the 40-member FNC; 80,000 voters, or 35% of eligible voters, turned out to vote and 19 men and one woman were elected
  election results: elected FNC 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
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, which includes the rulers of the 7 emirates; judge term NA
  subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and local (emirate) levels; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts; each emirate has its own court system
  Political parties and leaders:
  none; political parties are banned
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA
  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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA (since 25 July 2008)
  chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
  FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara A. LEAF (since 30 December 2014)
  embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi
  mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
  telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200
  FAX: [971] (2) 414-2603
  consulate(s) general: Dubai
  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
  National symbol(s):
  golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red
  National anthem:
  name: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)
  lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
  note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia

- ## Economy :: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

- 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 based on oil and gas output to 25%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 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, 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-emirate government that was refinanced in March 2014. Dependence on oil, a large expatriate workforce, and growing inflation pressures are significant long-term challenges. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on economic diversification and creating more job opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $617.1 billion (2014 est.)
  $590.2 billion (2013 est.)
  $565.7 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 33
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $399.5 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  4.6% (2014 est.)
  4.3% (2013 est.)
  7.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $66,300 (2014 est.)
  $63,400 (2013 est.)
  $60,800 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Gross national saving:
  38.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  41.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  44.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 48.1%
  government consumption: 7.5%
  investment in fixed capital: 23.7%
  investment in inventories: 0.6%
  exports of goods and services: 98%
  imports of goods and services: -77.9%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 0.7%
  industry: 55.1%
  services: 44.3% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
  Industries:
  petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles
  Industrial production growth rate:
  4.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Labor force:
  4.891 million
  note: expatriates account for about 85% of the work force (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 7%
  industry: 15%
  services: 78% (2000 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  2.4% (2001 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Population below poverty line:
  19.5% (2003 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $150.8 billion
  expenditures: $130.9 billion
  note: the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  37.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Public debt:
  45.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  44.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.3% (2014 est.)
  1.1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Central bank discount rate:
  NA%
  Stock of narrow money:
  $118.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $103.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Stock of broad money:
  $343.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $287.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $331.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $320.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $67.95 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $71.33 billion (31 December 2011)
  $77.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Current account balance:
  $54.63 billion (2014 est.)
  $71.38 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Exports:
  $370.6 billion (2014 est.)
  $374.2 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Exports - commodities:
  crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates (2012 est.)
  Exports - partners:
  Japan 14.8%, Iran 11.4%, India 9.6%, South Korea 5.7%, China 5.5%, Singapore 5.4%, Thailand 4.5% (2014)
  Imports:
  $239.8 billion (2014 est.)
  $230 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
  Imports - partners:
  China 15.7%, India 13.4%, US 8.9%, Germany 5.3% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $79.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  $78.42 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  Debt - external:
  $171.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $167.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $116.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $103.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $81.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $72.59 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Exchange rates:
  Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -
  3.673 (2014 est.)
  3.673 (2013 est.)
  3.67 (2012 est.)
  3.673 (2011 est.)
  3.6725 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

- Electricity - production:
  100.5 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Electricity - consumption:
  93.28 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  27.23 million kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  99.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Crude oil - production:
  2.82 million bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Crude oil - exports:
  2.5 million bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  487,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  694,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  364,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  341,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Natural gas - production:
  54.6 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Natural gas - consumption:
  66.69 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Natural gas - exports:
  7.4 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Natural gas - imports:
  19.49 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  6.089 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  234.1 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27

- ## Communications :: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 2.1 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 16.8 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 299 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
  domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable
  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 Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  except for the many organizations now operating in Dubai's Media Free Zone, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)
  Television broadcast stations:
  15 (2004)
  Internet country code:
  .ae
  Internet users:
  total: 5.2 million
  percent of population: 93.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63

- ## Transportation :: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

- Airports:
  43 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 25
  over 3,047 m: 12
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m: 2 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 18
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
  914 to 1,523 m: 6
  under 914 m:
  6 (2013)
  Heliports:
  5 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  condensate 533 km; gas 3,277 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 3,287 km; oil/gas/water 24 km; refined products 218 km; water 99 km (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 4,080 km
  paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Merchant marine:
  total: 61
  by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 13, chemical tanker 8, container 7, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 24, roll on/roll off 4
  foreign-owned: 13 (Greece 3, Kuwait 10)
  registered in other countries: 253 (Bahamas 23, Barbados 1, Belize 3, Cambodia 2, Comoros 8, Cyprus 3, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 5, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 1, India 4, Iran 2, Jordan 2, Liberia 37, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 12, Mexico 1, Netherlands 4, North Korea 2, Panama 83, Papua New Guinea 6, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 8, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 6, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 10, Tanzania 3, Togo 1, UK 8, Vanuatu 1, unknown 8) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan), Mubarraz Island, Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah)
  container port(s) (TEUs): Dubai Port (12,617,595), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (3,234,101)
  LNG terminal(s) (export): Das Island

- ## Military :: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

- Military branches:
  United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Critical Infrastructure Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA), Land Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense, Presidential Guard (2015)
  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, 9 months for secondary school graduates; women may train for 9 months regardless of education (2014)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,676,928 (includes non-nationals)
  females age 16-49: 981,649 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,229,366
  females age 16-49: 842,759 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 27,439
  female: 24,419 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  NA% (2012)
  5.5% of GDP (2011)
  NA% (2010)

- ## Transnational Issues :: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

- 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

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