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 Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the UAE. They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is not far below the GDPs of the leading West European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed it to play a vital role in the affairs of the region. 

Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia 
Area: total: 82,880 sq km; comparative: slightly smaller than Maine 
Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains 
Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east 
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas 
Geography: Strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil.

Population: 2,369,153; includes 1,576,472 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.61% (2000 est.) 
Net migration rate: 1.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) 
Infant mortality rate: 17.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) 
Ethnic groups: Emiri 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982) 
Religions: Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4% 
Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu 
Literacy: 79.2%; (age 15 and over can read and write)

Country name: conventional long form: United Arab Emirates 
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah 

Government type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates 
Capital: Abu Dhabi 
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 
Constitution: 2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996) 
Head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), 

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO 

Economy: 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 over 100 years. Despite higher oil revenues in 1999, the government has not drawn back from the economic reforms implemented during the 1998 oil price depression. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up its utilities to greater private-sector involvement. 

GDP: purchasing power parity - $41.5 billion (1999 est.) 
GDP: per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,700 (1999 est.) 
Labor force: 1.38 million (1998 est.) 
Labor force: services 60%, industry 32%, agriculture 8% (1996 est.) 

Revenues: $5.5 billion 
Expenditures: $6.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) 
Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling 
Exports: $34 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) 
Exports: Japan 30%, South Korea 10%, India 6%, Singapore 4.5%, Oman 3%, Iran (1998) 
Imports: $27.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) 
Imports: US 10%, Japan 9%, UK 9%, Germany 6%, South Korea 5%, Italy 
Debt: external: $15.5 billion (1998 est.) 
Exchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1: 3.6725 (from 1998); 3.6711 (1997), 3.6710 (1995-96) 

Highways: total: 1,088 km 
Pipelines: crude oil 830 km; natural gas, including natural gas liquids, 870 km 
Ports and harbors: 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn 
Airports: 40 (1999 est.)