The United Arab Emirates was officially formed in 1971 as an independent federation consisting of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras el Khaymah and Oum al Qaïwaïn. Each emirate has a separate ruler.
The UAE is strategically located between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, at the crossroads of trade and commerce between Europe and the Far East. It is uniquely positioned to service a large and diverse regional market that includes the Middle East, North and East Africa, the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) and the Indian subcontinent.
Politically stable, UAE is a very rich country, with 10 % of world’s oil reserves and 50 % of world’s gas reserves. UAE went from a very low standard of living to having the 4th GDP per capita in the world.
Indeed, the country has diversified its income sources, in particular by the unprecedented development of the real-estate sector. It’s unique and imposing projects, moreover, made Dubai one of the main destinations for the tourism of business, leisure activities and luxury.
In United Arab Emirates, however, it is not all about Luxury; art holds a very important place in society.
And Abu Dhabi does not skimp on the means. Indeed, besides well supplied national museums, the Emirate capital is equipped with prestigious signboards as the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum.
If Abu Dhabi is the political and cultural capital of the country, the Emirate of Dubai is the economic center and is the most known of the seven emirates. This recognition is mainly due to its extraordinary and grandiose constructions, like the Burj al-Arab, which is the most luxurious hotel in the World. Dubai is also home to the artificial islands Palm Jumeirah and The World. Dubai is also welcoming the tallest building in the world, the Burj Dubai, in front of Dubai Mall, the biggest shopping mall of the world… naturally. The total safety of goods and persons, the financial transactions capacity have all combined to give to the country the prestigious nickname of ‘Switzerland of the Middle-East’.
Fact file of United Arab Emirates
-Capital City : Abu Dhabi
-Area : 83 600 km²
-Population : 6 million inhabitants (estimation).
Composition of the population: Nationals 20 % - Expatriates 80 %
(Pakistani and Indian 41 %, rest of Asia 10 %, other Arabs 10 %, Europeans 10 %, the other countries 9 %)
-Religion : Sunni Islam 96 % / the Others (Christians, Hindus) 4 %.
-Languages : Arabic is the official language. But due to the cultural mixing and to the business, English is widely spoken.
-Currency : Dirham (AED or Dhs) Pegged at 3.67 AED to US dollar.
-Time zone : GMT +4
-International country code : +971
-Internet Suffix : .ae
-International Organizations participation : Gulf Council of Cooperation, Arab League, Islamic Organization Conference, World Trade Organization, United Nations, UNESCO.