United Arab Emirates

I

Introduction

United Arab Emirates (UAE), federation of seven independent states lying along the east-central coast of the Arabian Peninsula, formerly called the Trucial States (from the Perpetual Maritime Truce signed with Great Britain in 1853), and constituting, with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, the Persian Gulf States. The states making up the UAE are: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Al Fujayrah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah (or Ash Shāriqah), and Umm al Qaywayn. The states, occupying a vaguely defined area formerly known as the Pirate Coast, as well as 80 km (50 mi) of coast on the Gulf of Oman, are bordered on the north by Qatar and the Persian Gulf, on the east by the Gulf of Oman, and on the south and west by Saudi Arabia. The area of the UAE is 77,700 sq km (30,000 sq mi). Its capital is Abu Dhabi.

II

Land and Resources

The territory of the UAE is mostly low-lying sandy desert with extensive salt flats and an average elevation of less than 150 m (500 ft), although the eastern Al-Hajar Mountains along the border with Oman rise sharply to almost 3,050 (10,000 ft). The coastline, especially along the Persian Gulf, is highly indented, but the only natural deep-water harbours, Diba Al-Hisn, Khawr Fakkan, and Kalba, are on the short Gulf of Oman coast.

A

Climate

The climate of the UAE is hot, with average January temperatures of 18° C (65° F) rising to July levels of 33° C (92° F), though temperatures may be higher in the desert interior. The coastal regions are humid, while the interior is dry: average annual rainfall is 75 to 100 mm (3 to 4 in). Winter and spring bring sandy shamal winds from the north and north-west.

B

Natural Resources

The principal natural resources of the UAE are oil and natural gas; it has the fourth-largest reserves, which are concentrated greatly in Abu Dhabi, in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); other resources are negligible by comparison.