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ACE OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.) :
A.C.E. ARABIAN COURT EXPERTS-
ALSAFAR & PARTNERS
Advocates & Legal Consultants
Al Saaha Offices
Block # D / Office # 401
At the Entrance of Palace Hotel
Downtown Dubai (Old Town)
P.O. Box 283773, Dubai-UAEMain Tel: 00971-4-4221944
Fax Line: 00971-4-4308265,
Mobile NO: 00971-56-7443174
E-mail: info@aceconsulta.com, kavitha@aceconsulta.com /
* Find out more about the Corporate and Commercial Law in UAE:
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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.) :
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. |
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 |
| 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: |
4,621,399 |
| note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that included a significantly higher estimate of net inmigration of non-citizens than previous estimates (July 2008 est.) | |
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 484,102/female 462,405) |
| 15-64 years: 78.6% (male 2,663,702/female 970,672) | |
| 65 years and over: 0.9% (male 26,244/female 14,274) | |
| note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2008 est.) | |
Median age: |
total: 30.1 years |
| male: 32 years | |
| female: 24.6 years (2008 est.) | |
Population growth rate: |
3.833% (2008 est.) |
Birth rate: |
16.06 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
Death rate: |
2.13 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
Net migration rate: |
24.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female |
| under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | |
| 15-64 years: 2.74 male(s)/female | |
| 65 years and over: 1.84 male(s)/female | |
| total population: 2.19 male(s)/female (2008 est.) | |
Infant mortality rate: |
total: 13.11 deaths/1,000 live births |
| male: 15.32 deaths/1,000 live births | |
| female: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) | |
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 75.89 years |
| male: 73.35 years | |
| female: 78.56 years (2008 est.) | |
Total fertility rate: |
2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.18% (2001 est.) |
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% (Shi'a 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: 11 years |
| male: 11 years | |
| female: 12 years (2003) | |
Education expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.3% (2005) |
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 (Quwayn) |
Independence: |
2 December 1971 (from UK) |
National holiday: |
Independence Day, 2 December (1971) |
Constitution: |
2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996 |
Legal system: |
based on a dual system of Shari'a 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 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); 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 | |
| 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 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
Diplomatic representation in the
US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Yousef al-OTAIBA |
| chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008 | |
| telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400 | |
| FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432 | |
| consulate(s): New York, Houston | |
Diplomatic representation from
the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Martin R. QUINN |
| 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. Despite largely successful efforts at economic diversification, nearly 40% of GDP is still directly based on oil and gas output. 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. Rising prices are increasing the operating costs for businesses in the UAE and adversely impacting government employees and others on fixed incomes. 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): |
$167.3 billion (2007 est.) |
GDP (official exchange rate): |
$192.6 billion (2007 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate: |
7.4% (2007 est.) |
GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$37,300 (2007 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 1.8% |
| industry: 59.3% | |
| services: 38.9% (2007 est.) | |
Labor force: |
3.065 million (2007 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 7% |
| industry: 15% | |
| services: 78% (2000 est.) | |
Unemployment rate: |
2.4% (2001) |
Population below poverty line: |
19.5% (2003) |
Household income or consumption
by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA% |
| highest 10%: NA% | |
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
11% (2007 est.) |
Investment (gross fixed): |
21.8% of GDP (2007 est.) |
Budget: |
revenues: $58.88 billion |
| expenditures: $38.06 billion (2007 est.) | |
Public debt: |
22.9% of GDP (2007 est.) |
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: |
4.3% (2007 est.) |
Electricity - production: |
57.06 billion kWh (2005) |
Electricity - production by
source: |
fossil fuel: 100% |
| hydro: 0% | |
| nuclear: 0% | |
| other: 0% (2001) | |
Electricity - consumption: |
52.62 billion kWh (2005) |
Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
Oil - production: |
2.54 million bbl/day (2006 est.) |
Oil - consumption: |
372,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
Oil - exports: |
2.54 million bbl/day (2004 est.) |
Oil - imports: |
137,200 bbl/day (2004) |
Oil - proved reserves: |
97.8 billion bbl (2007 est.) |
Natural gas - production: |
45.07 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
Natural gas - consumption: |
39.56 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
Natural gas - exports: |
6.848 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
Natural gas - imports: |
1.343 billion cu m (2005) |
Natural gas - proved reserves: |
5.823 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
Current account balance: |
$41.67 billion (2007 est.) |
Exports: |
$156.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) |
Exports - commodities: |
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates |
Exports - partners: |
Japan 23.4%, South Korea 10.3%, Thailand 5%, India 4.8% (2006) |
Imports: |
$101.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) |
Imports - commodities: |
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food |
Imports - partners: |
China 13.1%, India 10.2%, US 8.9%, Japan 6.2%, Germany 6.1%, Italy 4.7% (2006) |
Economic aid - donor: |
since its founding in 1971, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has given about $5.2 billion in aid to 56 countries (2004) |
Economic aid - recipient: |
$5.36 million (2004) |
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$76.62 billion (31 December 2007 est.) |
Debt - external: |
$57.52 billion (31 December 2007 est.) |
Stock of direct foreign investment - at
home: |
$44.37 billion (2007 est.) |
Stock of direct foreign investment -
abroad: |
$14.14 billion (2007 est.) |
Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$138.5 billion (2006) |
Currency (code): |
Emirati dirham (AED) |
Currency code: |
AED |
Exchange rates: |
Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.673 (2007), 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004), 3.6725 (2003) |
| note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002 | |
Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
*The country data above is from the Courtesy of the CIA World Fact Book Online.
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