Middle East; Eastern Coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the South Western part of the Arabian Gulf

Geographic Coordinates

Between the latitudes of 22o and 26.300 North and longitude of 510 and 56.300 East.

Total Area

83.6 thousand sq. kms

Boundaries

Oman 410 Kms; Saudi Arabia 457 Kms

Climate

Desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Coastline

1,318 Kms +1500 Kms added by Nakheel Waterfront projects

Population

4.32 million (comprises local population and expatriates from South Asia, Far east , middle east ,Europe and USA

Government type

Federation with specific powers delegated to the UAE Federal Government and other powers reserved to the member emirates

Administrative Divisions

7 Emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah

Capital

Abu Dhabi

Independence

2 December 1971 (From UK)

Legal System

Federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah have joined the federal systems; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal and high courts.

Languages

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

Currency

Arab Emirate Dirhams (AED)

Political Parties

None

GDP

AED 424 billion (US$ 115.63 billion) (2005)
AED 379 billion (2004)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Price)

 3.2% (2004)

Exchange Rate

US $ 1.00 = AED 3.667

Major Trading Partners

Japan, China, USA, UK, India, Pakistan, Iran, S. Korea, Germany, Italy

Major Export Products

Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Re-Exports, Aluminum, Dried Fish, Dates

Major Import Products

Manufactured goods, Machinery, Foodstuff, Transportation equipments.

Taxation

No corporate, personal, withholding taxation

Customs Duty

5% Import Duty

Position to attract FDI

22nd (UNCTAD)

Countries to which FTAs negotiation in progress

USA, Australia, Singapore
FTA through GCC: EU, china, India and Pakistan