due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and
reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia
is complete with preparations for demarcation underway; the dispute
over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch
Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a December 2003
framework agreement and ongoing expert-level discussions; Moldova
and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit of people
and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region,
which remains under OSCE supervision; the ICJ gave Ukraine until
December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to rejoin, in
their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered
Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary;
Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the
Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS
consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West;
limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point
for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and
Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improved
anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the
Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and
Territories List in February 2004; Ukraine's anti-money-laundering
regime continues to be monitored by FATF
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@United Arab Emirates (Middle East)
Introduction ::United Arab Emirates
Background:
The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control
of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In
1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash
Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United
Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah.
The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West
European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate
foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in
the affairs of the region. For more than three decades, oil and
global finance drove the UAE's economy, however, in 2008-09, the
confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and
the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard.
Geography ::United Arab Emirates
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf,
between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 83,600 sq km
country comparison to the world: 114
land: 83,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline:
1,318 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain:
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast
desert wasteland; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 2.27%
other: 96.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
760 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.2 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%)
per capita: 511 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination
plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
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:
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a
vital transit point for world crude oil
People ::United Arab Emirates
Population:
4,975,593
country comparison to the world: 114
note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that
included a significantly higher estimate of net immigration of
non-citizens than previous estimates (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 500,928/female 478,388)
15-64 years: 78.7% (male 2,768,030/female 1,008,404)
65 years and over: 0.9% (male 27,601/female 15,140)
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.2 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 24.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.561% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Birth rate:
15.98 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Death rate:
2.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
Net migration rate:
21.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Urbanization:
urban population: 78% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% 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: 2.75 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.8 male(s)/female
total population: 2.2 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 136
male: 14.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.32 years
country comparison to the world: 70
male: 73.75 years
female: 79.01 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.41 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati
Ethnic groups:
Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other
expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
Religions:
Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 184
Government ::United Arab Emirates
Country name:
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
Government type:
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal
government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital:
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:
7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi),
'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al
Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn (Quwain)
Independence:
2 December 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution:
2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996
Legal system:
based on a dual system of sharia and civil courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
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 and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin
Rashid Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF
bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 11 May 2009) and MANSUR bin Zayid
Al-Nuhayyan (since 11 May 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 2009 upon the death of the UAE's
Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan
(next election NA); 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 four-year terms)
elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains
appointed) held 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: the FNC 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, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA
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; 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 anthem:
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 ::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, however, those talks have
not moved forward. The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100%
foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign
investors. The global financial crisis, tight international credit,
and deflated asset prices slowed GDP growth in 2010. 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. The UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi-based
banks bought the largest shares. In December 2009 Dubai received an
additional $10 billion loan from the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The
economy is expected to continue a slow rebound. Dependence on oil, a
large expatriate workforce, and growing inflation pressures 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):
$199.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$194.7 billion (2009 est.)
$200.1 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$239.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
-2.7% (2009 est.)
7.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$40,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$40,600 (2009 est.)
$43,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 51.5%
services: 47.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.908 million
country comparison to the world: 88
note: expatriates account for about 85% of the work force (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 15%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.4% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 20
Population below poverty line:
19.5% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
26.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Public debt:
44.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
48.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
1.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
$68.76 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 39
$60.85 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$228.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$201.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$290 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$263.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$109.6 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
$97.85 billion (31 December 2008)
$224.7 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Electricity - production:
71.54 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - consumption:
65.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.798 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Oil - consumption:
435,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Oil - exports:
2.7 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Oil - imports:
192,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Oil - proved reserves:
97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
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: 13
Natural gas - exports:
7.567 billion cu m (2008 est.)
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 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Current account balance:
$3.409 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$7.871 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$195.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$192.2 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports - partners:
Japan 17.27%, South Korea 10.49%, India 9.96%, Iran 6.82%, Thailand
5.11% (2009)
Imports:
$159 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$150 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:
China 15.03%, India 14.27%, US 8.44%, Germany 5.81%, Japan 4.52%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$39.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$36.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$122.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$122.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$76.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$70.18 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$54.91 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$51.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.673 (2010), 3.673 (2009),
3.6725 (2008), 3.6725 (2007), 3.6725 (2006)
Communications ::United Arab Emirates
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.561 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 62
Telephones - mobile cellular:
10.672 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
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
Broadcast media:
except for the many organizations now operating in Dubai's Media
Free Zone, most television and radio stations remain
government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access
to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts (2007)
Internet country code:
.ae
Internet hosts:
379,309 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 54
Internet users:
3.449 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
Transportation ::United Arab Emirates
Airports:
41 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 103
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Heliports:
5 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 458 km; gas 2,152 km; liquid petroleum gas 220 km; oil
1,310 km; refined products 212 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 4,080 km
country comparison to the world: 156
paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 57
country comparison to the world: 68
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 9, chemical tanker 7, container 7,
liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 24, roll
on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 13 (Greece 3, Kuwait 10)
registered in other countries: 278 (Bahamas 27, Belize 5, Cambodia
2, Comoros 11, Cyprus 5, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 5, Hong Kong 2, India
4, Iran 1, Jordan 7, Liberia 27, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 17,
Mexico 1, Netherlands 4, North Korea 6, Panama 83, Papua New Guinea
6, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 17, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 4, Saudi Arabia 6, Sierra Leone 6, Singapore 10, Tanzania
1, Togo 1, UK 9, Vanuatu 1, unknown 7) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khawr Fakkan (Khor Fakkan),
Mubarraz Island, Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah),
Military ::United Arab Emirates
Military branches:
United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Marines),
Air Force and Air Defense, Border and Coast Guard Directorate (BCGD)
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; 18 years of
age for officers and women; no conscription (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,589,714 (includes non-nationals)
females age 16-49: 950,460 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,157,211
females age 16-49: 816,363 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,256
female: 24,305 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
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 January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@United Kingdom (Europe)
Introduction ::United Kingdom
Background:
The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in
developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and
science. At its zenith in the 19th century, 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. The UK is also an active member of the
EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary
Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and
the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter
was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace
process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
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