Facts: [ General Information ] [ Communications ] [ Public Holidays ] [ Duty Free ] [ Currency ]
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| Location: | Middle East. |
| Area: | 77,700 sq km (30,000 sq miles). |
| Population: | 4.4 million (UN, 2007). |
| Population Density: | 57 per sq km. |
| Capital: | Abu Dhabi.
Population: 1.5 million (2008 figure for entire emirate). |
| Government: | Federation of seven autonomous Emirates. The highest federal authority is the Supreme Council of Rulers comprising the absolute rulers of the seven emirates. Decisions reached by the council must have the agreement of at least five members, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the two largest members. The council appoints a president to act as head of state. There are no political parties. |
| Geography: | The Emirates are bordered to the north by the Gulf and the Musandam Peninsula, to the east by Oman, to the south and west by Saudi Arabia and to the northwest by Qatar. They comprise a federation of seven small former sheikhdoms. Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate, and the remainder (Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain) are known collectively as the Northern States. The land is mountainous and mostly desert.
Abu Dhabi is flat and sandy, and within its boundaries is the Buraimi Oasis. Dubai has a 16km (10-mile) deep-water creek, giving it the popular name of ‘Pearl of the Gulf’. Sharjah has a deep-water port on the Batinah coast at Khor Fakkan, facing the Indian Ocean. Ras al-Khaimah is the fourth emirate in size. Fujairah, one of the three smaller sheikhdoms on the Batinah coast, has agricultural potential, while Ajman and Umm al-Qaiwain were once small coastal fishing villages. |
| Language: | Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken and used as a second language in commerce. |
| Religion: | Mostly Muslim, of which 16% are Shiite and the remainder Sunni. |
| Time: | GMT + 4. |
| Social Conventions: | Muslim religious laws should be observed. Women are expected to dress modestly and men should dress formally for most occasions. Alcohol is tolerated, with non-Muslims allowed to drink alcohol in the city’s bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels. Smoking is banned in public places. Under 20s are not allowed to buy cigarettes and are barred from designated smoking areas. It is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public during Ramadan. |
| Electricity: | 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs are widespread. |
| Head of Government: | Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum since 2006. |
| Head of State: | President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan since 2004. |
| Recent History: | Following the sudden death of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who had been prime minister and Emir of Dubai since 1990, Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, his brother, succeeded him in January 2006. Sheikh Mohammed had been the UAE Defence Minister since 1971 and heir apparent to the throne of Dubai since 1995. People of the United Arab Emirates voted for the first time in December 2006 to choose half of the country’s Federal National Council. However, only around 7,000 people (less than 1% of Emirati citizens) were eligible to vote. |
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| Telephone: | Country code: 971. Main area codes: Abu Dhabi 2; Ajman, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain 6; Al-Ain 3; Dubai 4; Fujairah 9; Jebel Ali 4; and Ras al-Khaimah 7. There is a good local telephone network. Telephone calls within each state are free. |
| Mobile Telephone: | Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. Coverage is excellent. |
| Internet: | There are numerous Internet cafes in the UAE but VoIP telephone systems, such as Skype, are officially blocked by the monopoly telecoms provider. |
| Media: | The UAE, and in particular Dubai, is trying to establish itself as a regional media hub. A number of pan-Arab broadcasters operate from the UAE and major media organisations such as Reuters and Sony have moved in, drawn by tax incentives and freedom of speech. Although the constitution provides for freedom of speech, media content is controlled to some extent. There are some restrictions as to what are considered acceptable subjects of reporting. Foreign publications may be censored before distribution. |
| Post: | Airmail letters and parcels take about five days to reach Europe. |
| Press: |  English-language daily newspapers include Emirates Business 24/7, Gulf News and Khaleej Times.
Foreign newspapers are available in hotel bookshops and supermarkets.
Numerous specialist English-language magazines are published in the UAE, including Time Out. |
| Radio: | Stations include Radio Asia, Abu Dhabi Radio, Ras al-Khaimah Radio, Al-Arabiya FM, City 1016 with shows in English and Urdu, English-language Dubai 92 and Arabic-language Noor Dubai 93.9. |
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Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period:
2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
10 Jan Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year).
20 Mar Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet).
30 Jul Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet).
2 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
2 Dec National Day.
9 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
29 Dec Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year).
2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Jan Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year).
9 Mar Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet).
20 Jul Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet).
21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
28 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
2 Dec National Day.
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| Note: | Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region. |
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| Currency: | UAE Dirham (AED) = 100 fils. Notes are in denominations of AED1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of AED1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 fils (10 and 5 fils coins are rarely used).
The Dirham is tied to the US Dollar. |
| Currency Exchange: | Most hotels will handle the exchange of foreign currency. |
| Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs: | American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. |
| Traveller's Cheques: | These are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. |
| Banking Hours: | Sat-Wed 0800-1300, Thurs 0800-1200. Some also open Sat-Wed 1630-1830. |
| Exchange Rate Indicators: |
| Date |
Oct 08 |
| £1.00= |
AED6.45 |
| $1.00= |
AED3.67 |
| €1.00= |
AED5.02 |
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