Brief Introduction Capital: Abu Dhabi Area: total: 8,360,000sq km The important Festival: National day: December 2 Population: 4,100,000 Language: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu. Currency: AED

United Arab Emirates

Geography

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

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.

Economy – overview

The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 33% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves should last for more than 100 years. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up its utilities to greater private sector involvement.

Culture and media

Newspaper:

Akhbar Al-Arab, Al-Bayan, Al-Ittihad , CNBC Arabiya , Gulf Today,