Introduction
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.
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Geography
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates
24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references
Middle East
Area - comparative
slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries
total: 1,066 km
border countries (2): Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline
1,318 km
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
Climate
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east
Elevation
highest point: Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
mean elevation: 149 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas
Land use
agricultural land: 4.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0.5% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 3.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 3.8% (2018 est.)
other: 91.6% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
898 sq km (2020)
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
Natural hazards
frequent sand and dust storms
Geography - note
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) together account for over 90% of the area of the country and two-thirds of the population
People and Society
Population
total: 10,032,213
male: 6,824,131
female: 3,208,082 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 111; male 76; total 94
Nationality
noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati
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
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.
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
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)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 20.3
youth dependency ratio: 18.2
elderly dependency ratio: 2.1
potential support ratio: 47.3 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 35.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 38.1 years
female: 29.8 years
comparison ranking: total 95
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
Urbanization
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.008 million Dubai, 1.831 million Sharjah, 1.567 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2023)
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.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 175
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 78.6 years
female: 81.4 years
comparison ranking: total population 60
Gross reproduction rate
0.78 (2024 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
5.5% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
2.6 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
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.)
comparison ranking: total 130
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
72.4% (2023 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.1%
male: 98.8%
female: 97.2% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2020)
Environment
Environment - current issues
air pollution; rapid population growth and high energy demand contribute to water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international 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
Climate
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Land use
agricultural land: 4.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0.5% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 3.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 3.8% (2018 est.)
other: 91.6% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 41.75 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 206.32 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 56.55 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,413,453 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,082,691 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 2.63 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 69 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 2.32 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
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 many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"; "emirates" derives from "amir" the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince"
Government type
federation of monarchies
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 "gazelle"; the name may derive from an abundance of gazelles that used to live in the area, as well as a folk tale involving the "Father of the Gazelle," Shakhbut BIN DHIYAB AL NAHYAN, whose hunting party tracked a gazelle to a spring on the island where Abu Dhabi was founded
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
Independence
2 December 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)
Legal system
mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law
Constitution
history: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996
amendments: 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; amended 2009
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
Suffrage
limited; note - rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens
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
elections/appointments: 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); unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, following the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (next election expected in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: 2022: MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al-Nuhayyan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote - NA
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
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members indirectly elected using single non-transferable vote by an electoral college whose members are selected by each emirate ruler proportional to its FNC membership, and 20 members appointed by the rulers of the 7 constituent states; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held for indirectly elected members on 7 October 2023 (next to be held in October 2027); last held for appointed members in October 2023 (next appointments expected in late 2027)
election results: seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; composition - 13 men, 7 women, percentage elected women 35%; note - to attain overall FNC gender parity, 13 women and 7 men were appointed; total FNC percentage of women 50%
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 following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiry of their appointment terms
subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and emirate level; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts); 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, both adjudicate civil and commercial disputes.
Political parties
none; political parties are banned; all candidates run as independents
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
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Martina A. STRONG (since 4 October 2023)
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
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification
National symbol(s)
golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red
National anthem
name: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)
lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas)
Economy
Economic overview
historically oil-driven Middle Eastern economy; diversifying into a trade-oriented logistics and supply chain leader; strong foreign direct investment orientation; building trade and investment ties through partnership agreements; growing banking sector; recent economic linkages with Israel slowing due to Gaza conflict
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$719.733 billion (2023 est.)
$696.041 billion (2022 est.)
$645.376 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 38
Real GDP growth rate
3.4% (2023 est.)
7.85% (2022 est.)
4.35% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 96
Real GDP per capita
$75,600 (2023 est.)
$73,700 (2022 est.)
$68,900 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 13
GDP (official exchange rate)
$504.173 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.83% (2022 est.)
-0.01% (2021 est.)
-2.08% (2020 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 103
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: AA- (2020)
Moody's rating: Aa2 (2007)
Standard & Poors rating: AA (2007)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0.8% (2022 est.)
industry: 51.5% (2022 est.)
services: 47.7% (2022 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 159; industry 11; agriculture 188
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 40.2% (2020 est.)
government consumption: 14.5% (2020 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 20.2% (2020 est.)
investment in inventories: 2.6% (2020 est.)
exports of goods and services: 95.9% (2020 est.)
imports of goods and services: -70.6% (2020 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
dates, cucumbers/gherkins, camel milk, goat milk, tomatoes, eggs, goat meat, milk, chicken, camel meat (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles
Industrial production growth rate
8.49% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 25
Labor force
6.668 million (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 70
Unemployment rate
2.71% (2023 est.)
2.87% (2022 est.)
3.11% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 35
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 10.7% (2023 est.)
male: 6.7% (2023 est.)
female: 22.9% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 125
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
26 (2018 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 146
Average household expenditures
on food: 13.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 0.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4% (2018 est.)
highest 10%: 20% (2018 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Budget
revenues: $129.741 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $127.262 billion (2019 est.)
note: the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Public debt
19.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 186
Taxes and other revenues
0.57% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 207
Exports
$335.238 billion (2020 est.)
$404.046 billion (2019 est.)
$392.863 billion (2018 est.)
note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 28
Exports - partners
India 13%, Japan 10%, China 8%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Iraq 5% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$246.886 billion (2020 est.)
$295.6 billion (2019 est.)
$281.536 billion (2018 est.)
note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 32
Imports - partners
China 18%, India 10%, US 6%, UK 4%, Saudi Arabia 3% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
gold, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, diamonds, cars (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$189.491 billion (2023 est.)
$138.433 billion (2022 est.)
$131.117 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 24
Exchange rates
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
3.673 (2023 est.)
3.673 (2022 est.)
3.673 (2021 est.)
3.673 (2020 est.)
3.673 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 39.915 million kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 161.89 billion kWh (2022 est.)
exports: 657 million kWh (2022 est.)
imports: 868 million kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 7.524 billion kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 172; imports 82; exports 71; consumption 26; installed generating capacity 32
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 84.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
nuclear: 11.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2023)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 5.32GW (2023 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 19.7% (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 3.273 million metric tons (2022 est.)
exports: 99,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 3.538 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 4.146 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 939,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 56.683 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
consumption: 66.091 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
exports: 6.991 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
imports: 19.29 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
proven reserves: 6.091 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
268.041 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 8.274 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 130.114 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 129.653 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 24
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2.286 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 49
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 20.036 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 212 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 63
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: the UAE has a strong mobile market; while the 5G penetration rate is the second highest globally after China; this has underpinned growth in the mobile broadband sector, and has enabled the strong development in the take-up of rich content and applications, as well as m-commerce; to help increase the capacity of 5G networks in coming years, and so keep up with data demand, the government has allowed for the GSM networks to be closed down and for spectrum and other assets to be re-purposed for 5G by the end of 2022; the fixed-broadband network in the UAE is dominated by fiber, with DSL having a minor and declining presence; this focus on a fully fiber infrastructure has also facilitated growth in e-commerce, and has supported the government’s long-term aim of transitioning the economy from its dependence on oil to being knowledge-based and supported by digital services; the country stands to benefit from having signed the Abraham Accord Declaration with Israel, which aims to normalize relations between the two countries; such benefits can be seen in the agreement to enable local ISPs to access Bezeq International’s submarine cable infrastructure, and so improve direct connectivity to Europe, South East Asia, and Africa; the UAE’s ISPs can also access Bezeq International’s data center in Tel Aviv, improving internet services (2022)
domestic: fixed-line is 24 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 190 per 100 (2021)
international: country code - 971; landing points for the FLAG, SEA-ME-WE-3 ,-4 & -5, Qater UAE Submarine Cable System, FALCON, FOG, Tat TGN-Gulf, OMRAN/EPEG Cable System, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FEA, GBICS/MENA, IMEWE, Orient Express, TEAMS, TW1 and the UAE-Iran submarine cables, linking to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2020)
Broadcast media
except for the many organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts; restrictions since June 2017 on some satellite channels and websites originating from or otherwise linked to Qatar, but in early 2023 Abu Dhabi unblocked several sites, including Al Jazeera (2022)
Internet users
total: 9.4 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 100% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 61
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 3,245,123 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 45
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 10 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 497
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 95,533,069 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 15,962,900,000 (2018) mt-km
Heliports
203 (2024)
Pipelines
533 km condensate, 3,277 km gas, 300 km liquid petroleum gas, 3287 km oil, 24 km oil/gas/water, 218 km refined products, 99 km water (2013)
Roadways
total: 4,080 km
paved: 4,080 km (2008) (includes 253 km of expressways)
comparison ranking: total 156
Merchant marine
total: 655 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 2, container ship 3, general cargo 122, oil tanker 16, other 512
comparison ranking: total 35
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
Military and Security
Military and security forces
United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy Forces, Air Force, Presidential Guard (includes special operations forces)
Ministry of Interior: Coast Guard Forces, Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA) (2024)
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 responsible 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
Military expenditures
4% of GDP (2023 est.)
4% of GDP (2022 est.)
5% of GDP (2021 est.)
5.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
5.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 21
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 65,000 active personnel (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory is comprised of a wide variety of mostly modern imported equipment; over the past decade, the UAE has acquired military equipment from more than 20 countries with the US as the leading supplier; in recent years, the UAE has tried to boost its domestic defense industry (2023)
Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men (compulsory service initiated in 2014); 18-40 for voluntary service; 36-month service obligation for men without a secondary education and 11 months for secondary school graduates; women may volunteer (11-month service obligation regardless of education) (2023)
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
Military deployments
continues to maintain a small force in Yemen; also maintains some troops at military bases in Eritrea and Somalia (Somaliland) (2023)
note: in 2015, UAE intervened militarily in Yemen as part of the Saudi-led coalition in support of the Republic of Yemen Government with an estimated 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC)
Military - note
the UAE Armed Forces (UAEAF) are responsible for external defense and supporting the UAE’s foreign policy objectives; the military’s primary concerns include terrorism, regional instability, particularly in neighboring Yemen, and Iran, including a territorial dispute over three islands in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian support to proxy forces in the region; in recent years, the UAE has undertaken a large military modernization program to go along with an assertive security policy which has included military involvments in Libya, Syria, and Yemen, as well as peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Somalia; the UAEAF has organized, trained, and equipped tens of thousands of militia forces in Yemen and offered training and equipment to several countries in Africa; the UAE also hosts the region’s first military school for women, which has trained female peacekeepers for deployment in Africa and Asia
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 variety 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 and are considered to be one of the best-trained and most capable forces in the Persian Gulf region (2024)
Space
Space agency/agencies
UAE Space Agency (created in 2014); Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC; established 2006); in 2015, MBRSC combined with the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST; established 2006) (2024)
Space program overview
has an ambitious and growing space program and is recognized as one of the leading programs in the region; focused on satellite development, including communications, remote sensing, and navigational; also placing emphasis on building expertise, infrastructure, ground stations, technology, and research and development capabilities to support its space program domestically; rather than building its own launch capabilities, has elected to utilize foreign partners to launch payloads from spaceports abroad; has looked to invest heavily in foreign commercial space companies and encourage global partnerships; has a foreign-assisted astronaut training program; seeking to establish UAE as an international hub for space education; has signed more than 25 cooperation agreements or memorandums of understanding with major global and regional players in the space sector, including the Arab Space Cooperation Group, China, the European Space Agency (ESA), France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and the US; sees the development of its commercial space industry as a key pillar for diversifying and developing the country’s non-oil economy; dozens of space companies and entities operate in the UAE, including international and start-ups, plus several space science research centers (2024)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 5 (mid-year 2021)
Illicit drugs
major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics