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

Area
Total: 82,880 sq km
Comparative: slightly smaller
than Maine

Land boundaries
Total: 867 km
Border countries: Oman 410 km,
Saudi Arabia 457 km

Coastline
1,318 km

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

Population
2,445,989
(note: includes 1,576,472 non-nationals (July 2002 est.))

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%),
Christian, Hindu, and other 4%

Languages
Arabic (official), Persian,
English, Hindi, Urdu

Government type
Federation with specified powers
delegated to the UAE federal
government and other powers
reserved to member emirates

Capital
Abu Dhabi

Military branches
Army, Navy (including Marines
and Coast Guard), Air Force,
Air Defense, paramilitary forces
(includes Federal Police Force)

Military manpower
Availability: males age 15-49: 773,938
(note: includes non-nationals (2002 est.))
Fit for military service: males
age 15-49: 419,851 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $1.6 billion (FY00)
Percent of GDP: 3.1% (FY00)