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Land
and People
The land
is largely hot, dry desert. Located in the eastern portion
of the federation are the Jabal al Akhdar Mountains. Less
than half of the inhabitants of the UAE are Arabs; there are
also Persians, Baluchis, Indians, and Westerners. Only about
20% of the UAE's population is native citizens. The non-indigenous
population is mostly from East and South East Asia and was
first attracted by the employment provided by the UAE's petroleum
boom. Muslims comprise 96% of the population (80% of these
are Sunni, the balance Shiite) and the remaining 4% are largely
Christian and Hindu. The official language is Arabic, but
Farsi and English are widely used, and Hindi and Urdu are
spoken by many of the Asians.
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His Highness
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed |
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Government
The UAE
is governed under the constitution of 1971, which was made
permanent in 1996. A federal supreme council (FSC), composed
of the seven emirate rulers, is the highest constitutional
authority in the UAE. A president and vice president are elected
by the FSC for five-year terms. The highest legislative body
is the unicameral federal national council, with 40 members
appointed by the rulers of the constituent states. Local matters
are dealt with by the sheikhs. Until his recent death, Sheikh
Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, had been
president of the UAE since the founding of the federation.
The UAE is a member of the United Nations and the Arab League.
His Highness
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, was
elected as the new President of the United Arab Emirates on
November 3, 2004, to succeed his father, the late Sheikh Zayed
bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Sheikh
Khalifa has committed himself to continue in the footsteps
of his late father, a task that he has set himself for nearly
thirty years, since he first became Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
in 1969.
In a statement
issued in 1990, Sheikh Khalifa said: "My father is my
teacher. I learn something from him every day, follow his
path and absorb from him his values, and the need for patience
and prudence in all things."
Economy
Industries
involving the area's oil and natural-gas deposits are still
critical to the increasingly diversified economy, but international
banking, financial services, regional corporate headquarters,
and tourism are also important. The traditional occupations
of fishing and pearling are still practiced. Imports include
food, manufactured goods, machinery, and chemicals. Trading
partners are Japan, South Korea, India, the United States,
and Great Britain.
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Many consider
the development of Dubai a fascinating historical phenomenon
of our times. From the Burj al Arab Tower - Dubai's contemporary
icon - to it's futuristic development plans, Dubai is quickly
becoming known for "A Thousand and One Sights".
For information
about Dubai development, please visit: http://www.thedubaiwaterfront.com
Dubai Waterfront - City
of the Future |
