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UAE Summary
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National Day: December 2, 1971
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President: HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
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Vice President & Prime Minister:
HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
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Land Area: 82,880 sq km (32,000 square miles)
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Population:
4.5 million (864,000 Emirati, 3.6 million
expatriates)
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Capital: Abu Dhabi
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Currency: UAE Dirham. Dh 3.671 = US$ 1.00
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Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Hindi, Urdu
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Nationalities: 200 nationalities
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Religions: Islam 96%, Christian, Hindu and others 4%
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Literacy rate: 93%
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Time difference: +4 hours from GMT
The Government
The UAE federal structure includes a 7-member
Supreme Council of Rulers (comprising the rulers
of each Emirate), a Council of Ministers, a
Federal National Council with advisory powers and
an independent judiciary. Each of the 7 Emirates
is a largely self-governing city state.
The massive oil revenues
propelled the young nation to speedy economic
development, quickly transforming it into a
vibrant and fully modern country. With a GDP
per capita climbing to a
record US$42,270 in 2008,
the UAE now ranks among the
wealthiest in the world with a standard of living
that surpasses many western countries.
Each of the seven emirates has carved a niche in
the country’s rapid development. While Abu Dhabi
is the seat of power, Dubai is the centre for
tourism, ICT, re-export and financial hub, while
Sharjah is the cultural centre of the Emirates.
The UAE is a member of the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC), the Arab League, the Organization
of the Islamic Conference, the United Nations and
the WTO.
A Top-Rated Country
Very few countries in the world have
achieved so much in so little time as the UAE.
Only 37 years old, the UAE is now 21st in the
world in the satisfaction with life category,
surpassing major economies such as Italy (22nd),
Singapore (23rd), Germany (25th), Japan (30th) and
Hong Kong (53rd). In the Arab world, the UAE took
the top spot. In terms of per capita income, it
ranks 24th at $22,698 well above Saudi
Arabia at $14,769.
The Global Competitiveness
Report of 2008-2009 shows the UAE in 31st
position globally and the 3rd most
competitive country in the Arab world. The UAE is
also ranked 16th out of 52 countries in the World
Economic Forum's inaugural Financial Development
Index. Again, the country topped the Middle East
region in the list which was headed by the US,
followed by the UK, Germany, Japan, Canada and
France.
In the 2009 AT Kearney report, the UAE ranks 4th
in
Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), which
measures investment attractiveness among 30
emerging markets.
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