World · permanent entity record · AE
United Arab Emirates
Thirty-second orientation
United Arab Emirates at a glance
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Emirati(s); adjective: Emirati
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Government
- federation of monarchies
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Languages
- Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Independently structured milestones · not a complete national history
United Arab Emirates through time
Admitted to the United Nations
United Arab Emirates became a member of the United Nations.
United Nations, Member States · source checked 2026-09-04
Source history · changed fields only
Changes since the final CIA profile
| Field | Maintained Almanac value | Final CIA profile |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,513,149World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025 | total: 10,093,593 (2025 est.) male: 6,831,802 female: 3,261,791CIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-19 |
A difference may reflect a newer observation, a revised estimate, or a different source definition. This table reports the values and dates; it does not manufacture a trend.
World Development Indicators · latest available observation
People, economy, and access
Observation years vary by measure. Each row identifies the series and year instead of presenting unlike dates as one current snapshot.
- Gross domestic product
- $552.3 billion
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Gross domestic product per person
- $50,274
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Life expectancy at birth
- 83.1 years
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Urban population
- 86.0%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Underlying providers: World Bank ESMAP, Tracking SDG 7. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- People using the internet
- 100.0%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS. Underlying providers: International Telecommunication Union. Source footnote: Source and notes: Telecommunications & Digital Government Regulatory Authority, Retrieved 2026-09-08.
World Development Indicators data are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The linked indicator metadata identifies the underlying statistical providers.
Maintained profile
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The nation set and displayed federal short name follow the current State Department independent-states register, dated August 11, 2026.
- Area
- 83,600 sq km
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Final CIA source data preserved by a community mirror after the Factbook was retired; the mirror is not the issuing authority.
- Population
- 11,513,149
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Source footnote: Extrapolated assuming the same growth rate as previous year. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Currency
- Emirati dirhams (AED)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Currency label extracted from the Factbook exchange-rate field.
- Languages
- Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Factbook language listing reproduced without inferring official status beyond the source wording.
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Emirati(s); adjective: Emirati
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The source’s noun and adjective forms are retained. These are language labels, not evidence of any individual person’s citizenship.
- Continent
- Asia
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Continental label standardized from the archived profile region “Middle East.”
- Coastline
- 1,318 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Climate
- desert; cooler in eastern mountains
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Religions
- Muslim 74.5% (official) (Sunni 63.3%, Shia 6.7%, other 4.4%), Christian 12.9%, Hindu 6.2%, Buddhist 3.2%, agnostic 1.3%, other 1.9% (2020 est.) note: data represent the total population; as of 2020, immigrants make up about 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Flag colors
- green, white, black, red
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Colors extracted from the flag description in the preserved final CIA profile.
- National symbol
- golden falcon
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Highest point
- Jabal Bil 'Ays · 6,250 ft (1,905 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Lowest point
- Persian Gulf · 0 ft (0 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- NATO membership
- Not a member
- NATO, What is NATO? · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
- BRICS membership
- Member
- BRICS Brazil, About the BRICS · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- 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). Ra's al Khaymah joined in 1972. The UAE's per-capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. 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 did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates for political reform. The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel -- brokered by the US -- in Washington, D.C. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography17 fields
- Location
- Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- total : 83,600 sq km land: 83,600 sq km water: 0 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land boundaries
- total: 1,066 km border countries (2): Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Terrain
- flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m mean elevation: 149 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 5.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.) forest: 4.6% (2023 est.) other: 89.7% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates -- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah -- are home to nearly 85% of the population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Geography - note
- strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for crude oil; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) together account for over 90% of UAE's area and two-thirds of the population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society33 fields
- Population
- total: 10,093,593 (2025 est.) male: 6,831,802 female: 3,261,791
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ethnic groups
- Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Filipino 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.) note: data represent the total population; as of 2019, immigrants make up about 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Languages
- Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Religions
- Muslim 74.5% (official) (Sunni 63.3%, Shia 6.7%, other 4.4%), Christian 12.9%, Hindu 6.2%, Buddhist 3.2%, agnostic 1.3%, other 1.9% (2020 est.) note: data represent the total population; as of 2020, immigrants make up about 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Age structure
- 0-14 years: 16.4% (male 842,577/female 802,302) 15-64 years: 81.4% (male 5,812,470/female 2,353,750) 65 years and over: 2.2% (2024 est.) (male 169,084/female 52,030)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 23.4 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 20.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 33.4 (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 35.8 years (2025 est.) male: 38.1 years female: 29.8 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 10.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 1.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- -2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates -- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah -- are home to nearly 85% of the population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major urban areas - population
- 3.008 million Dubai, 1.831 million Sharjah, 1.567 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sex ratio
- at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.47 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 3.25 male(s)/female total population: 2.13 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 79.9 years (2024 est.) male: 78.6 years female: 81.4 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Health expenditure
- 5.3% of GDP (2021) 12.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Physician density
- 2.99 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Hospital bed density
- 2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sanitation facility access
- urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Alcohol consumption per capita
- total: 2.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Tobacco use
- total: 10.7% (2025 est.) male: 13.9% (2025 est.) female: 2.4% (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 67.4% (2018 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Education expenditure
- 3.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 14.8% national budget (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Literacy
- total population: 98.8% (2024 est.) male: 99% (2024 est.) female: 98.4% (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total: 16 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 16 years (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment11 fields
- Environmental issues
- air pollution; water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International environmental agreements
- party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 5.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.) forest: 4.6% (2023 est.) other: 89.7% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- 271.703 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 12.788 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 126.038 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 132.876 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Particulate matter emissions
- 38.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Methane emissions
- energy: 1,573.7 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 47.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 448.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 2.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.618 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.5% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total water withdrawal
- municipal: 2.297 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 55 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 2.466 billion cubic meters (2022)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total renewable water resources
- 150 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government23 fields
- 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 etymology: self-descriptive country name; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Egyptians, who referred to the region as "Ar Rabi;" "emirates" derives from amir, the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince;" the former name, Trucial States, refers to a maritime truce from 1820 between the British and the Arab sheikhdoms
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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) etymology: in Arabic, abu means "father," and dhabi refers to a personal name, Dhabi or Zabi, that comes from the word zab, or "gazelle"
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legal system
- mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- history: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996 amendment process: proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council president
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Suffrage
- limited note: rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that accounts for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Executive branch
- chief of state: President MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al Nuhayyan (since 14 May 2022) head of government: Prime Minister and Co-Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al Maktum (since 5 January 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president election/appointment process: 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); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, after the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan election results: 2022: MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al-Nuhayyan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote - NA expected date of next election: 2027 note: the Federal Supreme Council (FSC) is composed of the 7 emirate rulers and is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; the FSC establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- legislature name: Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihadi) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 40 (20 indirectly elected; 20 appointed) electoral system: other systems scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/7/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 50% expected date of next election: October 2027
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Judicial branch
- highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president after approval from the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiration of their appointment terms subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws); the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system note: the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts, the country’s two largest financial free zones, adjudicate civil and commercial disputes
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Political parties
- note: political parties are banned; all candidates run as independents
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Yousif AL OTAIBA (since 28 July 2008) chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400 FAX: [1] (202) 243-2408 email address and website: info@uaeembassy-usa.org https://www.uae-embassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Eric GAUDIOSI (since August 2025) embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi mailing address: 6010 Abu Dhabi Place, Washington DC 20521-6010 telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200 FAX: [971] (2) 414-2241 email address and website: abudhabiacs@state.gov https://ae.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Dubai
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International organization participation
- ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Flag
- description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black, with a wider vertical red band on the left side meaning: the flag incorporates all four pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), oil (black), and unity (red); red is a traditional color that was part of all the emirates' flags before their unification
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE) lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB history: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1986; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for Tunisia's and Libya's anthem
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites: 2 ( both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas); Faya Palaeolandscape (c)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy28 fields
- Economic overview
- high-income, oil-driven Middle Eastern economy; fastest GDP growth of Gulf states; diversification through tourism, construction, and services; strong foreign direct investment orientation; continued government investment and business-friendly reforms
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- $745.994 billion (2024 est.) $718.95 billion (2023 est.) $693.842 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP growth rate
- 3.8% (2024 est.) 3.6% (2023 est.) 7.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP per capita
- $68,600 (2024 est.) $68,600 (2023 est.) $68,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $537.079 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- 1.7% (2024 est.) 1.6% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture: 0.7% (2023 est.) industry: 47.7% (2023 est.) services: 51.6% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 45.6% (2023 est.) government consumption: 12.4% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 27.1% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 108.6% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -93.7% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Agricultural products
- dates, cucumbers/gherkins, camel milk, goat milk, tomatoes, chicken, goat meat, eggs, milk, camel meat (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industries
- petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industrial production growth rate
- 0.8% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Labor force
- 7.09 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Unemployment rate
- 2.2% (2024 est.) 2.2% (2023 est.) 2.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total: 6.4% (2024 est.) male: 4.1% (2024 est.) female: 12.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
- 26.4 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Average household expenditures
- on food: 12.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Household income or consumption by percentage share
- lowest 10%: 2.8% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 20.5% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Budget
- revenues: $23.248 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $19.349 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Public debt
- 19.7% of GDP (2017 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Taxes and other revenues
- 0.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports
- $558.402 billion (2023 est.) $521.897 billion (2022 est.) $425.156 billion (2021 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- China 11%, India 11%, Japan 10%, Iraq 6%, Thailand 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports
- $481.852 billion (2023 est.) $427.992 billion (2022 est.) $347.529 billion (2021 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- China 19%, India 7%, USA 6%, Turkey 4%, Japan 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- gold, broadcasting equipment, cars, refined petroleum, diamonds (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
- $237.931 billion (2024 est.) $189.491 billion (2023 est.) $138.433 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.672 (2024 est.) 3.672 (2023 est.) 3.672 (2022 est.) 3.672 (2021 est.) 3.672 (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Energy8 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity
- installed generating capacity: 44.462 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 157.974 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 613 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 501.067 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 7.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity generation sources
- fossil fuels: 75.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nuclear energy
- Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 5.35GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 19.7% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Coal
- consumption: 5.411 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 82,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 5.512 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Petroleum
- total petroleum production: 4.146 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 846,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural gas
- production: 55.8 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 67.734 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 6.863 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 18.938 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 6.091 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Energy consumption per capita
- 450.432 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications6 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 2.259 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 22.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 203 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadcast media
- most TV and radio stations state-owned, but many private organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; widespread use of satellite dishes to access pan-Arab and other international broadcasts (2022)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 3.95 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation5 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- A6
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Merchant marine
- total: 655 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 2, container ship 3, general cargo 122, oil tanker 16, other 512
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ports
- total ports: 20 (2024) large: 1 medium: 4 small: 9 very small: 6 ports with oil terminals: 17 key ports: Abu Zaby, Jabal Az Zannah/Ruways, Khawr Fakkan, Mina Jabal Ali, Zirkuh
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Military and Security7 fields
- Military and security forces
- United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (includes special operations forces), National Guard (includes Coast Guard) (2025) note: each emirate maintains a local police force called a general directorate, which is officially a branch of the federal Ministry of Interior; all emirate-level general directorates of police enforce their respective emirate’s laws autonomously; they also enforce federal laws within their emirate in coordination with one another under the federal ministry; the State Security Directorate (SSD) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai State Security (DSS) have primary responsibility for counterterrorism law enforcement efforts; local, emirate-level police forces, especially the Abu Dhabi Police and Dubai Police, are the first responders in such cases and provide technical assistance to SSD and DSS
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military expenditures
- 4% of GDP (2024 est.) 4.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 4% of GDP (2022 est.) 4.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 6.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- approximately 65,000 active Armed Forces (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the military is equipped with mostly modern imported armaments, and a smaller amount of domestically produced weapons; foreign suppliers have included China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Türkiye, and the US; the UAE's domestic defense industry produces or co-produces such items as armored vehicles, naval vessels, precision munitions, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones for both internal use and export (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military service age and obligation
- 18-40 for voluntary service; 18-30 years of age for compulsory national service for men with a 36-month service obligation for those without a secondary education and 11 months for secondary school graduates; women may volunteer for national service (11-month service obligation regardless of education) (2025) note 1: compulsory service may be completed in the uniformed military, the Ministry of Interior, or other security institutions designated by the military leadership note 2: the UAE military employs a considerable number of foreign personnel on contracted service
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military deployments
- maintains a few hundred troops in Somalia and Yemen (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military - note
- the UAE Armed Forces (UAEAF) are responsible for defending the state, its resources, and territory, preserving internal security, and supporting the UAE's foreign policy objectives; key security concerns include regional stability and cross-border threats, such as piracy and terrorism; in recent years, the UAE has undertaken a military modernization program to go along with an assertive security policy which has included military involvements in Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen the UAE has close security ties to France and the US; it hosts a multi-service French military base, which includes the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and hosts thousands of US military troops, mostly air and naval personnel; it also has defense ties with a number of other countries, including Australia, China, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea, and the UK, as well as NATO and fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, particularly Saudi Arabia the UAEAF traces its origins to the establishment of the Trucial Oman Scouts in 1951, a joint UK-Abu Dhabi organization modeled after Jordan’s Arab Legion, which became the Abu Dhabi Defense Force in 1965; the modern UAEAF were formed in 1976 (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Space3 fields
- Space agency/agencies
- UAE Space Agency (created in 2014); Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC; established 2006) (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Space program overview
- has an ambitious and growing national space program; focused on satellite development, including communications, remote sensing, and navigation, as well as deep space exploration; is building expertise, infrastructure, technology, and research and development capabilities; has elected to use foreign partners to launch payloads from spaceports abroad; has looked to invest in foreign commercial space companies and develop global partnerships; has a foreign-assisted astronaut training program; seeking to establish UAE as an international hub for space education; founding member of the Arab Space Cooperation Group; works with major global and regional players, including China, Egypt, the ESA, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, and the US; sees its commercial space industry as a key to diversifying and developing the country’s non-oil economy; dozens of space companies operate in the UAE, including international and start-ups, plus several space-science research centers (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Key space-program milestones
- 1997 - initiated a national space sector 2009 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (DubaiSat-1) developed jointly with South Korea and launched by Russia 2017 - announced Mars 2117 project, which included building a “Mars Science City” as the first step to establishing a human settlement on Mars within 100 years 2018 - first domestically produced RS satellite (KhalifaSat or DubaiSat-3) launched by Japan 2019 - first UAE astronaut (trained by Russia and US) in space on the International Space Station 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2021 - became first Arab country to successfully place a probe (al Amal or Hope) in Mars orbit; announced plans to launch a probe in 2028 to land on an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter 2025 - domestically produced advanced RS/Earth imaging satellite (MBZ-SAT) launched by US
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
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