Region
Middle East

Population
2,344,402 (July 2000 Estimate)

Area Total
82,880 km

Area Land
82,880 km

Coastline
1,318 km

Climate
Desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Languages
Arabic
Perisan
English
Hindi
Urdu

Currency
1 Emirian dirham (Dh$) = 100 fils

Holiday
National Day, 2 December 1971

Boundaries
Saudi Arabia
457 km

Oman
410 km

Ethnic Divisions
South Asian 50 %
Other Arab and Iranian 23 %
Emiri 19 %
Other expatriates 8 %

Religions
Muslims (Shi'a 16%) 96 %
Christian, Hindu and other 4 %

Largest Cities
City Population
Dubai 585,189
Abu Dhabi 363,432
Al-Ayn 176,411
Ash-Sharjah 125,000
Ras al-Khaymah 42,000

People
The population of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) totals almost 2.5 million, but less than 20 percent are ethnic Emiris.

Economy
The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest per capita incomes and with a sizable annual trade surplus it enjoys low levels of inflation and has a strong industrial and service sector.

Agriculture
The agriculture sector in United Arab Emirates contributes 3.0% of the GDP and employs an estimated 5.0% of the labor force.

Energy
The UAE is a net energy exporter.

Metals
The primary mineral extraction done in the UAE is of oil and gas.

Environment
The United Arab Emirates are a union of emirates, mostly low lying desert in landscape, along the western coast of Persian/Arabian Gulf.