COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

March 2006

COUNTRY

Formal Name: United Arab Emirates (Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah) ةﺪﺤّﺘﻤﻟا ﺔّﻴﺑﺮﻌﻟا تارﺎﻣﻹا. The seven emirates, in order of size, are: Abu Dhabi (Abu Zaby) ﻲﺒﻇ ﻮﺑأ , Dubai (Dubayy) ّﻲﺑد, Sharjah (Ash Shariqah) ﺔﻗرﺎﺸﻟا, Umm al Qaywayn ﻦﻳﻮﻴﻘﻟا ّمأ, Ajman نﺎﻤﺠﻋ, Al Fajayrah ةﺮﻴﺠﻔﻟا, and Ras al Khaymah ﺔﻤﻴﺨﻟا سأر.

Short Form: UAE.

Term for Citizen(s): Emirati(s).امراتى

Capital: Abu Dhabi City. ﻲﺒﻇ ﻮﺑأ

Major Cities: Al Ayn, capital of the Eastern Region, and Madinat Zayid, capital of the Western Region, are located in Abu Dhabi Emirate, the largest and most populous emirate. Dubai City is located in Dubai Emirate, the second largest emirate. Sharjah City and Khawr Fakkan are the major cities of the third largest emirate—Sharjah.

Independence: The United Kingdom announced in 1968 and reaffirmed in 1971 that it would end its treaty relationships with the seven Trucial Coast states, which had been under British protection since 1892. Following the termination of all existing treaties with Britain, on December 2, 1971, six of the seven sheikhdoms formed the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The seventh sheikhdom, Ras al Khaymah, joined the UAE in 1972.

Public holidays: Public holidays other than New Year’s Day and UAE National Day are dependent on the Islamic calendar and vary from year to year. For 2006, the holidays are: New Year’s Day (January 1); Eid al Adha, Feast of the Sacrifice (January 11); Muharram, Islamic New Year (January 31); Mouloud, Birth of Muhammad (April 11); Accession of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi—observed only in Abu Dhabi (August 6); Leilat al Meiraj, Ascension of Muhammad (August 22); first day of Ramadan (September 24); Eid al Fitr, end of Ramadan (October 24); UAE National Day (December 2); and Christmas Day (December 25).

Flag: The UAE flag has three equal horizontal bands of green (on top),

white, and black, with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side.