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Middle East and North Africa
United Arab Emirates |
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Last revised: 15 July2011 |
Country information
Full Country Name: United Arab Emirates
Area: 83,600 sq km; 77,700 sq km excluding islands, of which 97% is desert
Population: 8.26 million (National Bureau of Statistics, March 2011)
Capital City: Abu Dhabi
People: Of the total 8.26 million residents, less than 20% are Emirati, more than one-third are South Asian, and a significant number are from Europe and North Africa.
Languages: Arabic. English is widely understood and Hindi and Urdu are common among immigrants.
Religion(s): Islam is the official religion, and widely practised. The majority of Emirati citizens are Sunni Muslim with a Shi'a minority. Many foreigners are Muslim. Hindus and Christians make up a portion of the U.A.E.'s foreign population
Currency: 1 UAE Dirham=100 fils
Major political parties: Political parties are not permitted
Form of State: Federation of seven emirates
Head of State: Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al-Nahyan. The Supreme Council, comprising the seven emirs, elects the president from among its members.
Prime Minister/Premier: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Government: The Supreme Council appoints the Council of Ministers (cabinet), led by the Prime Minister.
Foreign Minister: Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Membership of international groups/organisations: Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), Arab League, Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), United Nations, Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
