Tourism In United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The federation was formally established on 2 December 1971.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) occupies an area of 83,600 sq km along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar lies to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and Oman to the north and east. The capital and the largest city of the federation, Abu Dhabi, is located in the emirate of the same name.
Four-fifths of the UAE is desert, yet it is a country of contrasting landscapes, from awe-inspiring dunes to rich oases, precipitous rocky mountains to fertile plains.
The United Arab Emirates, one of the world's fastest growing tourist destinations, has all the right ingredients for an unforgettable holiday, sun, sand, sea, sports, unbeatable shopping, top-class hotels and restaurants, an intriguing traditional culture, and a safe and welcoming environment.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates that was formed in December 2, 1971.
| Country Name | Conventional Long Form: United Arab Emirates Local Long Form (Arabic): Dawlat Al Imarat Al Arabiyya Al Muttahidah Local Short Form (Arabic): Al Imarat Abbreviation: UAE Arabic Words: دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة |
| Emirates | Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah |
| Capital | Abu Dhabi |
| National Day | Independence Day (from UK), 2 December (1971) |
| President | HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (3 November 2004) |
| Vice-President & Prime Minister | HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (5 January 2006) |
| Political System | A federation with specific areas of authority constitutionally assigned to the UAE Federal Government and other powers reserved for member emirates |
| Constitution | Adopted provisionally on 2 December 1971, made permanent in 1996 |
| Area | 83,600 square kilometers |
| Time | UAE Standard Time is 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+4) |
| Daylight Saving Time | UAE Time does not operate Daylight-Saving Time |
| International Dialing Code | +971 |
| Currency | Emirati Dirham (Dh or AED), divided into 100 Fils |
| Exchange Rate | US$ 1 = AED 3.6725 The UAE Dirham has been officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002 |
| Language | The official language is Arabic. English is widely understood and ranks alongside Arabic as the language of commerce |
| Religion | Islam. Practice of all religious beliefs is allowed |
| Population | 4.106 million (December, 2005) |
| GDP | AED 485.5 billion (2005, Current Prices) |
| Real GDP Growth | 8.2% (2005) |
| Non-Oil Sector Contribution to Nominal GDP | 64% (2005) |
| Foreign Direct Investment | US$10 billion (2005) |
| Industries | Oil & Gas, Aluminum, Cement, Fertilizers, Commercial Ship Repair, Petrochemicals, Construction Materials, Pharmaceuticals, Tourism |
| Oil Production | 2.8 million barrels per day |
| Oil Proven Reserves | 98.1 billion barrels |
| Natural Gas Production | 65 billion cubic meters |
| Natural Gas Proven Reserves | 6 trillion cubic meters |
| Fiscal Year | 1 January to 31 December |
| Weekend | Friday and Saturday for government institutions. Many private companies operate a six-day week (with Friday as an off day) |
| Exports | AED 424 billion (2005) |
| Free-Zone Exports | AED 63.9 billion (2005) |
| Re-Exports | AED 139.5 billion (2005) |
| Imports | AED 261.2 billion (2005) |
| Cultivated Areas | 260,000 hectares, 3.1% of total territory |
| Number of Date Palms | Over 40 million |
| Agriculture & Fisheries Products | Dates, Green Fodder, Vegetables and Fruit; Livestock, Poultry, Eggs, Dairy Products; Fish |
| Estimated Fisheries Catch | 97,574 tons |
