Location
:
This entry identifies the country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water.
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates
:
This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the centroid or center point of a country expressed in degrees and minutes; it is based on the locations provided in the Geographic Names Server (GNS), maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on behalf of the US Board on Geographic Names.
Map references
:
This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which a country may be found. Note that boundary representations on these maps are not necessarily authoritative. The entry on Geographic coordinates may be helpful in finding some smaller countries.
Area
:
This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of the surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines.
total:
83,600 sq km
land:
83,600 sq km
water:
0 sq km
country comparison to the world:
116
Area - comparative
:
This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).
slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries
:
This entry contains the total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries. When available, official lengths published by national statistical agencies are used. Because surveying methods may differ, country border lengths reported by contiguous countries may differ.
total:
1,066 km
border countries (2):
Oman 609 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline
:
This entry gives the total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea.
Maritime claims
:
This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions:
territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its . . .
more
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
contiguous zone:
24
nm
continental shelf:
200
nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate
:
This entry includes a brief description of typical weather regimes throughout the year.
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain
:
This entry contains a brief description of the topography.
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east
Elevation
:
This entry includes both the mean elevation and the elevation extremes.
mean elevation:
149 m
elevation extremes:
0 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf
1527 highest point: Jabal Yibir
Natural resources
:
This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance, such as rare earth elements (REEs). In general, products appear only if they make a significant contribution to the economy, or are likely to do so in the future.
Land use
:
This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for three different types of land use: agricultural land, forest, and other; agricultural land is further divided into arable land - land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest, permanent crops - land cultivated for crops like citrus, coffee, and rubber that are not replanted after each harvest, and includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, and permane . . .
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agricultural land:
4.6%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
0.5%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
0.5%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
3.6%
(2011 est.)
forest:
3.8%
(2011 est.)
other:
91.6%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land
:
This entry gives the number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water.
Population distribution
:
This entry provides a summary description of the population dispersion within a country. While it may suggest population density, it does not provide density figures.
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
:
This entry lists potential natural disasters. For countries where volcanic activity is common, a volcanism subfield highlights historically active volcanoes.
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues
:
This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain).
Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxi . . .
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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
:
This entry separates country participation in international environmental agreements into two levels - party to and signed, but not ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by the abbreviated form of the full name.
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
Geography - note
:
This entry includes miscellaneous geographic information of significance not included elsewhere.
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Population
:
This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential impact of the country on the world and within its region. Note: Starting with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have explicitly taken into account t . . .
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9,701,315
(July 2017 est.)
(July 2018 est.)
note:
the UN estimated the country's total population was 9,400,145 as of mid-year 2017; immigrants make up more than 88% of the total population, according to UN data (2017)
country comparison to the world:
93
Nationality
:
This entry provides the identifying terms for citizens - noun and adjective.
noun:
Emirati(s)
adjective:
Emirati
Ethnic groups
:
This entry provides an ordered listing of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population.
Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Philippine 6.1%, other 12.8%
(2015 est.)
Languages
:
This entry provides a listing of languages spoken in each country and specifies any that are official national or regional languages. When data is available, the languages spoken in each country are broken down according to the percent of the total population speaking each language as a first language. For those countries without available data, languages are listed in rank order based on prevalence, starting with the most-spoken language.
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Religions
:
This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population. The core characteristics and beliefs of the world's major religions are described below. Baha'i - Founded by Mirza Husayn-Ali (known as Baha'u'llah) in Iran in 1852, Baha'i faith emphasizes monotheism and believes in one eternal transcendent God. Its guiding focus is to encourage the unity of all peoples on the earth so that justice and peace m . . .
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Muslim (official) 76%, Christian 9%, other (primarily Hindu and Buddhist, less than 5% of the population consists of Parsi, Baha'i, Druze, Sikh, Ahmadi, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra Muslim, and Jewish) 15%
(2005 est.)
note:
represents the total population; about 85% of the population consists of noncitizens
Age structure
:
This entry provides the distribution of the population according to age. Information is included by sex and age group as follows: 0-14 years (children), 15-24 years (early working age), 25-54 years (prime working age), 55-64 years (mature working age), 65 years and over (elderly). The age structure of a population affects a nation's key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older population . . .
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0-14 years:
14.39%
(male 724,904 /female 671,524)
15-24 years:
7.64%
(male 408,376 /female 332,986)
25-54 years:
70.45%
(male 5,297,201 /female 1,537,300)
55-64 years:
6.05%
(male 499,579 /female 87,037)
65 years and over:
1.47%
(male 106,739 /female 35,669)
(2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Middle East
::
United Arab Emirates
Print
This is the population pyramid for United Arab Emirates. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
Dependency ratios
:
Dependency ratios are a measure of the age structure of a population. They relate the number of individuals that are likely to be economically "dependent" on the support of others. Dependency ratios contrast the ratio of youths (ages 0-14) and the elderly (ages 65+) to the number of those in the working-age group (ages 15-64). Changes in the dependency ratio provide an indication of potential social support requirements resulting from changes in population age structures. As fertility lev . . .
more
total dependency ratio:
17.4
(2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio:
16.2
(2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:
1.2
(2015 est.)
potential support ratio:
83.4
(2015 est.)
Population growth rate
:
The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as . . .
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1.44%
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:
78
Birth rate
:
This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.
9.8 births/1,000 population
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:
196
Death rate
:
This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining . . .
more
1.7 deaths/1,000 population
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:
225
Net migration rate
:
This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population chan . . .
more
10.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
9
Population distribution
:
This entry provides a summary description of the population dispersion within a country. While it may suggest population density, it does not provide density figures.
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
:
This entry provides two measures of the degree of urbanization of a population. The first, urban population, describes the percentage of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by the country. The second, rate of urbanization, describes the projected average rate of change of the size of the urban population over the given period of time. Additionally, the World entry includes a list of the ten largest urban agglomerations. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising th . . .
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urban population:
86.5% of total population
(2018)
rate of urbanization:
1.71% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
:
This entry provides the population of the capital and up to six major cities defined as urban agglomerations with populations of at least 750,000 people. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising the city or town proper and also the suburban fringe or thickly settled territory lying outside of, but adjacent to, the boundaries of the city. For smaller countries, lacking urban centers of 750,000 or more, only the population of the capital is presented.
2.785 million Dubai, 1.571 million Sharjah, 1.42 million ABU DHABI (capital)
(2018)
Sex ratio
:
This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future marriage patterns and fertilit . . .
more
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
(2017 est.)
0-14 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
(2017 est.)
15-24 years:
1.47 male(s)/female
(2017 est.)
25-54 years:
3.2 male(s)/female
(2017 est.)
55-64 years:
2.93 male(s)/female
(2017 est.)
65 years and over:
1.69 male(s)/female
(2017 est.)
total population:
2.18 male(s)/female
(2017 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
:
The maternal mortality rate (MMR) is the annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes). The MMR includes deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, for a specified year.
6 deaths/100,000 live births
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
169
Infant mortality rate
:
This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
total:
5.5 deaths/1,000 live births
(2018 est.)
male:
6 deaths/1,000 live births
(2018 est.)
female:
4.9 deaths/1,000 live births
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:
171
Life expectancy at birth
:
This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures.
total population:
78.7 years
(2018 est.)
male:
77.3 years
(2018 est.)
female:
80.1 years
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:
59
Total fertility rate
:
This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replaceme . . .
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1.73 children born/woman
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:
166
Health expenditures
:
This entry provides the total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP. Health expenditures are broadly defined as activities performed either by institutions or individuals through the application of medical, paramedical, and/or nursing knowledge and technology, the primary purpose of which is to promote, restore, or maintain health.
3.6% of GDP
(2014)
country comparison to the world:
172
Physicians density
:
This entry gives the number of medical doctors (physicians), including generalist and specialist medical practitioners, per 1,000 of the population. Medical doctors are defined as doctors that study, diagnose, treat, and prevent illness, disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans through the application of modern medicine. They also plan, supervise, and evaluate care and treatment plans by other health care providers. The World Health Organization estimates that f . . .
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1.56 physicians/1,000 population
(2014)
Hospital bed density
:
This entry provides the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people; it serves as a general measure of inpatient service availability. Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases, beds for both acute and chronic care are included. Because the level of inpatient services required for individual countries depends on several factors - such as demographic issues and the burden of disease - there is . . .
more
1.2 beds/1,000 population
(2013)
Drinking water source
:
This entry provides information about access to improved or unimproved drinking water sources available to segments of the population of a country.?Improved drinking water - use of any of the following sources: piped water into dwelling, yard, or plot; public tap or standpipe; tubewell or borehole; protected dug well; protected spring; or rainwater collection.?Unimproved drinking water - use of any of the following sources: unprotected dug well; unprotected spring; cart with small tank or . . .
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improved:
urban:
99.6% of population
rural:
100% of population
total:
99.6% of population
unimproved:
urban:
0.4% of population
rural:
0% of population
total:
0.4% of population
(2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access
:
This entry provides information about access to improved or unimproved sanitation facilities available to segments of the population of a country. Improved sanitation - use of any of the following facilities: flush or pour-flush to a piped sewer system, septic tank or pit latrine; ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine; pit latrine with slab; or a composting toilet. Unimproved sanitation - use of any of the following facilities: flush or pour-flush not piped to a sewer system, septic tank . . .
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improved:
urban:
98% of population
(2015 est.)
rural:
95.2% of population
(2015 est.)
total:
97.6% of population
(2015 est.)
unimproved:
urban:
2% of population
(2015 est.)
rural:
4.8% of population
(2015 est.)
total:
2.4% of population
(2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
:
This entry gives an estimate of the percentage of adults (aged 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS. The adult prevalence rate is calculated by dividing the estimated number of adults living with HIV/AIDS at yearend by the total adult population at yearend.
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
:
This entry gives an estimate of all people (adults and children) alive at yearend with HIV infection, whether or not they have developed symptoms of AIDS.
HIV/AIDS - deaths
:
This entry gives an estimate of the number of adults and children who died of AIDS during a given calendar year.
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
:
This entry gives the percent of a country's population considered to be obese. Obesity is defined as an adult having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater to or equal to 30.0. BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight in kg and dividing it by the person's squared height in meters.
31.7%
(2016)
country comparison to the world:
20
Literacy
:
This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measu . . .
more
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
(2015 est.)
total population:
93.8%
(2015 est.)
male:
93.1%
(2015 est.)
female:
95.8%
(2015 est.)
total:
12.1%
(2008 est.)
male:
7.9%
(2008 est.)
female:
21.8%
(2008 est.)
country comparison to the world:
108
Country name
:
This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
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
:
This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.):
Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition.
Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority.
Authoritarian - a form of government in whic . . .
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Capital
:
This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
name:
Abu Dhabi
geographic coordinates:
24 28 N, 54 22 E
time difference:
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
:
This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by the BGN are noted. Geographic names conform to spellings approved by the BGN with the exception of the omission of diacritical marks and special characters.
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
:
For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. For a number of countries, the establishment of statehood . . .
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2 December 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday
:
This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day.
Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)
Constitution
:
This entry provides information on a country’s constitution and includes two subfields. The history subfield includes the dates of previous constitutions and the main steps and dates in formulating and implementing the latest constitution. For countries with 1-3 previous constitutions, the years are listed; for those with 4-9 previous, the entry is listed as “several previous,” and for those with 10 or more, the entry is “many previous.” The amendments subfield summarizes the process of am . . .
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history:
previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996
(2016)
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 by the Supreme Council president; amended 2009
(2016)
Legal system
:
This entry provides the description of a country's legal system. A statement on judicial review of legislative acts is also included for a number of countries. The legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including United State law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic law). An addition . . .
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mixed legal system of Islamic law and civil law
International law organization participation
:
This entry includes information on a country's acceptance of jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and of the International Criminal Court (ICCt); 59 countries have accepted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations and 11 have accepted ICJ jurisdiction without reservations; 122 countries have accepted ICCt jurisdiction. Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups explains the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt.
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
:
This entry provides information related to the acquisition and exercise of citizenship; it includes four subfields:
citizenship by birth describes the acquisition of citizenship based on place of birth, known as Jus soli, regardless of the citizenship of parents.
citizenship by descent only describes the acquisition of citizenship based on the principle of Jus sanguinis, or by descent, where at least one parent is a citizen of the state and being born within the territorial limits of the . . .
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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
:
This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.
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
Judicial branch
:
This entry includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing j . . .
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highest courts:
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.
Executive branch
:
This entry includes five subentries: chief of state; head of government; cabinet; elections/appointments; election results. Chief of state includes the name, title, and beginning date in office of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name, title of the top executive designated to manage the executive branch of the government, a . . .
more
chief of state:
President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)
head of government:
Prime Minister Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan, MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (both since 11 May 2009)
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); election last held 3 November 2009 (next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan reelected president; FSC vote NA
note:
there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the 7 emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; 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
:
This entry has three subfields. The description subfield provides the legislative structure (unicameral ? single house; bicameral ? an upper and a lower house); formal name(s); number of member seats; types of constituencies or voting districts (single seat, multi-seat, nationwide); electoral voting system(s); and member term of office. The elections subfield includes the dates of the last election and next election. The election results subfield lists percent of vote by party/coalition an . . .
more
description:
unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members indirectly elected 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 on 3 October 2015 (next to be held in 2019); note - the electoral college was expanded from 129,274 electors in the December 2011 election to 224,279 in the October 2015 election; 347 candidates including 78 women ran for 20 contested seats in the 40-member FNC
election results:
19 men and 1 woman were elected; seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; note - only 1 woman (from Ras Al Khaimah) won an FNC seat
Political parties and leaders
:
This entry includes a listing of significant political parties, coalitions, and electoral lists as of each country's last legislative election, unless otherwise noted.
none; political parties are banned
International organization participation
:
This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, 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, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
:
This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery address, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations. The use of the annotated title Appointed Ambassador refers to a new ambassador who has presented his/her credentials to the secretary of state but not the US president. Such ambassadors fulfill all diplomatic functions except meeting with or appearing at functions attended by the president until such time as they formally present their credentials at a White Hou . . .
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA (since 28 July 2008)
chancery:
3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 243-2400
FAX:
[1] (202) 243-2432
consulate(s) general:
Boston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
:
This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vanant); Charge d'Affaires Steven C. BONDY (since 22 March 2018)
embassy:
Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi
mailing address:
P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
telephone:
[971] (2) 414-2200
FAX:
[971] (2) 414-2603
consulate(s) general:
Dubai
Flag description
:
This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
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)
:
A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one.
golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red
National anthem
:
A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
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
Economy - overview
:
This entry briefly describes the type of economy, including the degree of market orientation, the level of economic development, the most important natural resources, and the unique areas of specialization. It also characterizes major economic events and policy changes in the most recent 12 months and may include a statement about one or two key future macroeconomic trends.
The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP from the oil and gas sector to 30%.
Since the discovery of oil in the UAE nearly 60 years ago, the country has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. The country's free trade zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors.
The global financial crisis of 2008-09, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency and ultimately a $20 billion bailout from the UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi Government that was refinanced in March 2014.
The UAE’s dependence on oil is a significant long-term challenge, although the UAE is one of the most diversified countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Low oil prices have prompted the UAE to cut expenditures, including on some social programs, but the UAE has sufficient assets in its sovereign investment funds to cover its deficits. The government reduced fuel subsidies in August 2015, and introduced excise taxes (50% on sweetened carbonated beverages and 100% on energy drinks and tobacco) in October 2017. A five-percent value-added tax was introduced in January 2018. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on economic diversification, promoting the UAE as a global trade and tourism hub, developing industry, and creating more job opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
:
This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States in the year noted. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measur . . .
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$696 billion
(2017 est.)
$690.5 billion
(2016 est.)
$670.5 billion
(2015 est.)
note:
data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:
32
GDP (official exchange rate)
:
This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at official exchange rates (OER) is the home-currency-denominated annual GDP figure divided by the bilateral average US exchange rate with that country in that year. The measure is simple to compute and gives a precise measure of the value of output. Many economists prefer this measure when gauging the economic power an economy maintains vis- . . .
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$382.6 billion
(2017 est.)
(2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
:
This entry gives GDP growth on an annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed as a percent. The growth rates are year-over-year, and not compounded.
0.8%
(2017 est.)
3%
(2016 est.)
5.1%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
188
GDP - per capita (PPP)
:
This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.
$68,600
(2017 est.)
$70,100
(2016 est.)
$70,000
(2015 est.)
note:
data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:
13
Gross national saving
:
Gross national saving is derived by deducting final consumption expenditure (household plus government) from Gross national disposable income, and consists of personal saving, plus business saving (the sum of the capital consumption allowance and retained business profits), plus government saving (the excess of tax revenues over expenditures), but excludes foreign saving (the excess of imports of goods and services over exports). The figures are presented as a percent of GDP. A negative . . .
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28.5% of GDP
(2017 est.)
30.9% of GDP
(2016 est.)
30.7% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
39
GDP - composition, by end use
:
This entry shows who does the spending in an economy: consumers, businesses, government, and foreigners. The distribution gives the percentage contribution to total GDP of household consumption, government consumption, investment in fixed capital, investment in inventories, exports of goods and services, and imports of goods and services, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. household consumption consists of expenditures by resident households, and by nonprofit insti . . .
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household consumption:
34.9%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
12.3%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
23%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
1.8%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
100.4%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-72.4%
(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
:
This entry shows where production takes place in an economy. The distribution gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other private economic activities that do not prod . . .
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agriculture:
0.9%
(2017 est.)
industry:
49.8%
(2017 est.)
services:
49.2%
(2017 est.)
Agriculture - products
:
This entry is an ordered listing of major crops and products starting with the most important.
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Industries
:
This entry provides a rank ordering of industries starting with the largest by value of annual output.
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles
1.8%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
138
Labor force
:
This entry contains the total labor force figure.
5.344 million
(2017 est.)
note:
expatriates account for about 85% of the workforce
country comparison to the world:
78
Labor force - by occupation
:
This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by sector of occupation. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other economic activities that do not produce material goods. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete and may range from 99-101 percent due to rounding.
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agriculture:
7%
industry:
15%
services:
78%
(2000 est.)
Unemployment rate
:
This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
1.6%
(2016 est.)
3.6%
(2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
14
Population below poverty line
:
National estimates of the percentage of the population falling below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.
Household income or consumption by percentage share
:
Data on household income or consumption come from household surveys, the results adjusted for household size. Nations use different standards and procedures in collecting and adjusting the data. Surveys based on income will normally show a more unequal distribution than surveys based on consumption. The quality of surveys is improving with time, yet caution is still necessary in making inter-country comparisons.
lowest 10%:
NA
highest 10%:
NA
Budget
:
This entry includes revenues, expenditures, and capital expenditures. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
revenues:
110.2 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
111.1 billion
(2017 est.)
note:
the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Taxes and other revenues
:
This entry records total taxes and other revenues received by the national government during the time period indicated, expressed as a percent of GDP. Taxes include personal and corporate income taxes, value added taxes, excise taxes, and tariffs. Other revenues include social contributions - such as payments for social security and hospital insurance - grants, and net revenues from public enterprises. Normalizing the data, by dividing total revenues by GDP, enables easy comparisons acr . . .
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28.8% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
90
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
:
This entry records the difference between national government revenues and expenditures, expressed as a percent of GDP. A positive (+) number indicates that revenues exceeded expenditures (a budget surplus), while a negative (-) number indicates the reverse (a budget deficit). Normalizing the data, by dividing the budget balance by GDP, enables easy comparisons across countries and indicates whether a national government saves or borrows money. Countries with high budget deficits (relat . . .
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-0.2% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
51
Public debt
:
This entry records the cumulative total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.
19.7% of GDP
(2017 est.)
20.2% of GDP
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
190
Fiscal year
:
This entry identifies the beginning and ending months for a country's accounting period of 12 months, which often is the calendar year but which may begin in any month. All yearly references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY).
2%
(2017 est.)
1.6%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
108
Central bank discount rate
:
This entry provides the annualized interest rate a country's central bank charges commercial, depository banks for loans to meet temporary shortages of funds.
Commercial bank prime lending rate
:
This entry provides a simple average of annualized interest rates commercial banks charge on new loans, denominated in the national currency, to their most credit-worthy customers.
6%
(31 December 2017 est.)
5.7%
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
126
Stock of narrow money
:
This entry, also known as "M1," comprises the total quantity of currency in circulation (notes and coins) plus demand deposits denominated in the national currency held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy, measured at a specific point in time. National currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate for the date of the information. Because of exchange rate moveme . . .
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$134 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$129.1 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
32
Stock of broad money
:
This entry covers all of "Narrow money," plus the total quantity of time and savings deposits, credit union deposits, institutional money market funds, short-term repurchase agreements between the central bank and commercial deposit banks, and other large liquid assets held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy. National currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange r . . .
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$134 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$129.1 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
32
Stock of domestic credit
:
This entry is the total quantity of credit, denominated in the domestic currency, provided by financial institutions to the central bank, state and local governments, public non-financial corporations, and the private sector. The national currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate on the date of the information.
$395.5 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$396 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
31
Market value of publicly traded shares
:
This entry gives the value of shares issued by publicly traded companies at a price determined in the national stock markets on the final day of the period indicated. It is simply the latest price per share multiplied by the total number of outstanding shares, cumulated over all companies listed on the particular exchange.
$195.9 billion
(31 December 2015 est.)
$201.6 billion
(31 December 2014 est.)
$180.3 billion
(31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
33
Current account balance
:
This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
$26.47 billion
(2017 est.)
$13.23 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
13
Exports
:
This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
$308.5 billion
(2017 est.)
$298.6 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
18
Exports - partners
:
This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
India 10.1%, Iran 9.9%, Japan 9.3%, China 5.4%, Oman 5%, Switzerland 4.4%, South Korea 4.1%
(2017)
Exports - commodities
:
This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued exported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
(2012 est.)
Imports
:
This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
$229.2 billion
(2017 est.)
$226.5 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
21
Imports - commodities
:
This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued imported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners
:
This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
China 8.5%, US 6.8%, India 6.6%
(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
:
This entry gives the dollar value for the stock of all financial assets that are available to the central monetary authority for use in meeting a country's balance of payments needs as of the end-date of the period specified. This category includes not only foreign currency and gold, but also a country's holdings of Special Drawing Rights in the International Monetary Fund, and its reserve position in the Fund.
$95.37 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$85.39 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
27
Debt - external
:
This entry gives the total public and private debt owed to nonresidents repayable in internationally accepted currencies, goods, or services. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
$237.6 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$218.7 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
32
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
:
This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in the home country made directly by residents - primarily companies - of other countries as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
$129.9 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$134.8 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
41
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
:
This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in foreign countries made directly by residents - primarily companies - of the home country, as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
$124.4 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$114.6 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
32
Exchange rates
:
This entry provides the average annual price of a country's monetary unit for the time period specified, expressed in units of local currency per US dollar, as determined by international market forces or by official fiat. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4217 alphabetic currency code for the national medium of exchange is presented in parenthesis. Closing daily exchange rates are not presented in The World Factbook, but are used to convert stock values - e.g., the . . .
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Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -
3.673
(2017 est.)
3.673
(2016 est.)
3.673
(2015 est.)
3.673
(2014 est.)
3.673
(2013 est.)
Electricity access
:
This entry provides information on access to electricity. Electrification data ? collected from industry reports, national surveys, and international sources ? consists of four subfields. Population without electricity provides an estimate of the number of citizens that do not have access to electricity. Electrification ? total population is the percent of a country’s total population with access to electricity, electrification ? urban areas is the percent of a country’s urban population w . . .
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population without electricity:
177,824
(2012)
electrification - total population:
98%
(2012)
electrification - urban areas:
99%
(2012)
electrification - rural areas:
93%
(2012)
Electricity - production
:
This entry is the annual electricity generated expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
121.8 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
31
Electricity - consumption
:
This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
113.2 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
31
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
213
1.141 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
66
Electricity - installed generating capacity
:
This entry is the total capacity of currently installed generators, expressed in kilowatts (kW), to produce electricity. A 10-kilowatt (kW) generator will produce 10 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, if it runs continuously for one hour.
28.91 million kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
33
Electricity - from fossil fuels
:
This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels (such as coal, petroleum products, and natural gas), expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
99% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
26
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
:
This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity through radioactive decay of nuclear fuel, expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
204
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
:
This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by water-driven turbines, expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
210
Electricity - from other renewable sources
:
This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by using renewable energy sources other than hydroelectric (including, for example, wind, waves, solar, and geothermal), expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
1% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
170
3.174 million bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
8
Crude oil - exports
:
This entry is the total amount of crude oil exported, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
2.552 million bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
5
Crude oil - imports
:
This entry is the total amount of crude oil imported, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
210
Crude oil - proved reserves
:
This entry is the stock of proved reserves of crude oil, in barrels (bbl). Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
97.8 billion bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:
7
Refined petroleum products - production
:
This entry is the country's total output of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of refined petroleum products produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
943,500 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
19
Refined petroleum products - consumption
:
This entry is the country's total consumption of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of refined petroleum products produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
896,000 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:
24
817,700 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
10
392,000 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
23
Natural gas - production
:
This entry is the total natural gas produced in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
62.01 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
14
Natural gas - consumption
:
This entry is the total natural gas consumed in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
74.48 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
12
7.504 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
25
20.22 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
16
Natural gas - proved reserves
:
This entry is the stock of proved reserves of natural gas in cubic meters (cu m). Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas, which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
6.091 trillion cu m
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:
6
289.4 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:
24
National air transport system
:
This entry includes four subfields describing the air transport system of a given country in terms of both structure and performance. The first subfield, number of registered air carriers, indicates the total number of air carriers registered with the country’s national aviation authority and issued an air operator certificate as required by the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The second subfield, inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers, lists the total number . . .
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number of registered air carriers:
12
(2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
498
(2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
84,738,479
(2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
16.647 billion
mt-km
(2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
:
This entry provides the one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating the nationality of civil aircraft. Article 20 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), signed in 1944, requires that all aircraft engaged in international air navigation bear appropriate nationality marks. The aircraft registration number consists of two parts: a prefix consisting of a one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating nationality and a registration suffix of one to fi . . .
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Airports
:
This entry gives the total number of airports or airfields recognizable from the air. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, earth, sand, or gravel surfaces) and may include closed or abandoned installations. Airports or airfields that are no longer recognizable (overgrown, no facilities, etc.) are not included. Note that not all airports have accommodations for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.
43
(2013)
country comparison to the world:
100
Airports - with paved runways
:
This entry gives the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all . . .
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total:
25
(2013)
over 3,047 m:
12
(2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
3
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
5
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
3
(2013)
under 914 m:
2
(2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
:
This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listin . . .
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total:
18
(2013)
over 3,047 m:
1
(2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
4
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
6
(2013)
under 914 m:
6
(2013)
Heliports
:
This entry gives the total number of heliports with hard-surface runways, helipads, or landing areas that support routine sustained helicopter operations exclusively and have support facilities including one or more of the following facilities: lighting, fuel, passenger handling, or maintenance. It includes former airports used exclusively for helicopter operations but excludes heliports limited to day operations and natural clearings that could support helicopter landings and takeoffs.
Pipelines
:
This entry gives the lengths and types of pipelines for transporting products like natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products.
533 km condensate, 3277 km gas, 300 km liquid petroleum gas, 3287 km oil, 24 km oil/gas/water, 218 km refined products, 99 km water
(2013)
Roadways
:
This entry gives the total length of the road network and includes the length of the paved and unpaved portions.
total:
4,080 km
(2008)
paved:
4,080 km
(includes 253 km of expressways)
(2008)
country comparison to the world:
157
Merchant marine
:
Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. This entry contains information in four fields - total, ships by type, foreign-owned, and registered in other countries. Total includes the number of ships (1,000 GRT or over), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those ships. DWT or dead weight tonnage is the total weight of ca . . .
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total:
618
(2017)
by type:
general cargo 97, oil tanker 26, other 495
(2017)
country comparison to the world:
34
Ports and terminals
:
This entry lists major ports and terminals primarily on the basis of the amount of cargo tonnage shipped through the facilities on an annual basis. In some instances, the number of containers handled or ship visits were also considered. Most ports service multiple classes of vessels including bulk carriers (dry and liquid), break bulk cargoes (goods loaded individually in bags, boxes, crates, or drums; sometimes palletized), containers, roll-on/roll-off, and passenger ships. The listing le . . .
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major seaport(s):
Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah), Mubarraz Island (Abu Dhabi), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah)
container port(s) (TEUs):
Mubarraz Island (Abu Dhabi) (1,550,000), Dubai Port (14,772,000), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah) (4,330,200)
(2016)
LNG terminal(s) (export):
Das Island