Location:

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Coordinates:

24 00 N, 54 00 E

Area:

Total: 82,880 sq km

Land: 82,880 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

Capital

Abu Dhabi

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:

Contiguous zone: 24 NM

Territorial sea: 12 NM

Continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 NM

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

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

Geography - note:

Strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Population:

4,621,399 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.9% (male 331,012/female 317,643)

15-64 years: 71.2% (male 1,125,286/female 726,689)

65 years and over: 3.9% (male 74,700/female 27,383)

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%
note: less than 20% are UAE citizens

Religions:

Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 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%

Currency:

Emirati Dirham (AED)

1USD = 3.65 AED