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 and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin
Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers
SULTAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) and HAMDAN bin
Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the
seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional
authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions
federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi)
and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power
elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC for
five-year terms (no term limits) from among the seven FSC members;
election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's
Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan al Nuhayyan
(next to be held in 2009); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan elected president by
a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum
unanimously affirmed vice president after the 2006 death of his
brother Sheikh Maktum bin Rashid al-Maktum
Legislative branch:
unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad
al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the rulers of the
constituent states, 20 members elected to serve two-year terms)
elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains
appointed) held in the UAE on 18-20 December 2006; the new electoral
college - a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointed
by the rulers of the seven emirates - were the only eligible voters
and candidates; 456 candidates including 65 women ran for 20
contested FNC seats; one female from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi won a
seat and 8 women were among the 20 appointed members
note: reviews legislation but cannot change or veto
Judicial branch:
Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
none; political parties are not allowed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC,
OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yousef bin Mani Saeed al-OTAIBA
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard G. OLSON, Jr.
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:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a
wider vertical red band on the hoist side
Economy ::United Arab Emirates
Economy - overview:
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 based on oil and gas
output to 25%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30
years ago, the UAE 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. In April 2004,
the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with
Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations
toward a Free Trade Agreement with the US. The country's Free Trade
Zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping
to attract foreign investors. Higher oil revenue, strong liquidity,
housing shortages, and cheap credit in 2005-07 led to a surge in
asset prices (shares and real estate) and consumer inflation. The
global financial crisis and the resulting tight international credit
market and falling oil prices have already begun to deflate asset
prices and will result in slower economic growth for 2009.
Dependence on oil and a large expatriate workforce are significant
long-term challenges. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few
years focuses on diversification and creating more opportunities for
nationals through improved education and increased private sector
employment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$206.3 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$192 billion (2007 est.)
$181.2 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$262.2 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
6% (2007 est.)
14.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$44,600 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$43,200 (2007 est.)
$42,500 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 62.7%
services: 35.7% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
3.266 million
country comparison to the world: 97
note: expatriates account for about 85% of the work force (2008 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 15%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.4% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 25
Population below poverty line:
19.5% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
22.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Budget:
revenues: $78.74 billion
expenditures: $48.31 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
40.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
17.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
14% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$49.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$104.6 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$155.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$97.85 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 35
$224.7 billion (31 December 2007)
$138.5 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Industries:
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement,
fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some
boat building, handicrafts, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
6.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Electricity - production:
71.54 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - consumption:
65.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
3.046 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Oil - consumption:
463,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Oil - exports:
2.7 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Oil - imports:
192,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Oil - proved reserves:
97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Natural gas - production:
50.24 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - consumption:
59.42 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - exports:
7.567 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas - imports:
16.75 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.071 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Current account balance:
$22.31 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$25.84 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$239.2 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$170.4 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports - partners:
Japan 23%, South Korea 9.4%, India 7.9%, Iran 6.5%, Thailand 5.3%
(2008)
Imports:
$176.3 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$116.6 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:
China 13.2%, India 10.4%, US 8.8%, Germany 6.5%, Japan 6.1%, Turkey
4.5%, Italy 4.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$31.69 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$77.24 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$134.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$61.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$62.69 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$51.54 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$28.95 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$24.95 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.6725 (2008 est.), 3.6725
(2007), 3.6725 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004)
note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002
Communications ::United Arab Emirates
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.508 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 64
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.358 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 62
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital
network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key
centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable
international: country code - 971; linked to the international
submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing
point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable
networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
15 (2004)
Internet country code:
.ae
Internet hosts:
379,106 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 51
Internet users:
2.922 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 60
Transportation ::United Arab Emirates
Airports:
41 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 102
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2009)
Heliports:
5 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate 458 km; gas 2,129 km; liquid petroleum gas 220 km; oil
1,310 km; refined products 212 km; water 90 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 4,080 km
country comparison to the world: 156
paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 58
country comparison to the world: 66
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 9, chemical tanker 4, container 8,
liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 24, roll
on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 14 (Denmark 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 10)
registered in other countries: 313 (Bahamas 23, Bahrain 1, Belize 5,
Cambodia 2, Comoros 7, Cyprus 9, Dominica 1, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 3,
Hong Kong 1, India 6, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Jordan 13, North Korea 8,
Liberia 23, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 15, Mexico 1, Netherlands 5,
Panama 109, Papua New Guinea 6, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis
18, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone
8, Singapore 12, Somalia 1, Turkey 1, UK 9, unknown 6) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Mina' Zayid (Abu Dhabi), Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai),
Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah), Khawr Fakkan
(Sharjah)
Military ::United Arab Emirates
Military branches:
United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Marines),
Air Force and Air Defense, National Coast Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; 18 years of
age for officers and women; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,405,884 (includes non-nationals)
females age 16-49: 884,853 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,081,491
females age 16-49: 788,632 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 26,659
female: 23,793 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Transnational Issues ::United Arab Emirates
Disputes - international:
boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for
entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah
enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing
the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb
Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies
Illicit drugs:
the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its
proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE's
position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money
laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal
banking remains unregulated
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@United Kingdom (Europe)
Introduction ::United Kingdom
Background:
As the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century,
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland played a leading
role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing
literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched
over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th
century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars
and the Irish republic withdraw from the union. The second half
witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself
into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five
permanent members of the UN Security Council, a founding member of
NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to
foreign policy; it currently is weighing the degree of its
integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to
remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union for the time being.
Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. The
Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the
Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999, but the latter
was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process.
Geography ::United Kingdom
Location:
Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the
island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North
Sea, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:
54 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 243,610 sq km
country comparison to the world: 79
land: 241,930 sq km
water: 1,680 sq km
note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: Ireland 360 km
Coastline:
12,429 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in
accordance with agreed upon boundaries
Climate:
temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North
Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Terrain:
mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in
east and southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: The Fens -4 m
highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
Natural resources:
coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin,
limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate,
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 23.23%
permanent crops: 0.2%
other: 76.57% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
160.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.75 cu km/yr (22%/75%/3%)
per capita: 197 cu m/yr (1994)
Natural hazards:
winter windstorms; floods
Environment - current issues:
continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol
target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the
legally binding target and move toward a domestic goal of a 20% cut
in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government reduced the amount of
industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85%
of 1998 levels and recycled or composted at least 25% of household
waste, increasing to 33% by 2015
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and
linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily
indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters
People ::United Kingdom
Population:
61,113,205 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 5,233,756/female 4,986,131)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 20,774,192/female 20,246,519)
65 years and over: 16.2% (male 4,259,654/female 5,612,953) (2009
est.)
Median age:
total: 40.2 years
male: 39.1 years
female: 41.3 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.279% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Birth rate:
10.65 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Death rate:
10.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Net migration rate:
2.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Urbanization:
urban population: 90% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 193
male: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.01 years
country comparison to the world: 36
male: 76.52 years
female: 81.63 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
77,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Nationality:
noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
adjective: British
Ethnic groups:
white (of which English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern
Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed
1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%,
Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% (2001
census)
Languages:
English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form
of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
schooling
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.6% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 47
Government ::United Kingdom
Country name:
conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland; note - Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales
conventional short form: United Kingdom
abbreviation: UK
Government type:
constitutional monarchy and Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: London
geographic coordinates: 51 30 N, 0 10 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its overseas
dependencies or territories
Administrative divisions:
England: 34 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of
London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan counties, 46 unitary
authorities
two-tier counties: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire,
Cheshire, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon,
Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire,
Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,
Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland,
Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire,
Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Wiltshire, Worcestershire
London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and
Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing,
Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey,
Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and
Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London,
Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton,
Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster
metropolitan counties: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury,
Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees,
Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North
Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton,
Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport,
Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral,
Wolverhampton
unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset, Blackburn with
Darwen, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove,
City of Bristol, Darlington, Derby, East Riding of Yorkshire,
Halton, Hartlepool, County of Herefordshire, Isle of Wight, City of
Kingston upon Hull, Leicester, Luton, Medway, Middlesbrough, Milton
Keynes, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Somerset,
Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading,
Redcar and Cleveland, Rutland, Slough, South Gloucestershire,
Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, Stockton-on-Tees, Stoke-on-Trent,
Swindon, Telford and Wrekin, Thurrock, Torbay, Warrington, West
Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham, York
Northern Ireland: 26 district council areas