United Arab Emirates

In brief

The United Arab Emirates are a country in Western Asia. Their capital is Abu Dhabi. With 11.5 million inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 85th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Their area is 83,600 km². It shares land borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.

GDP per capita stands at $50,274 (2024), 24th in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 83.1 years (2024). 86% of the population lives in cities.

History of the United Arab Emirates

In the 19th century the emirates of the coast signed truces with Britain, hence their name, the “Trucial States”. Pearling sustained the region until oil was found in Abu Dhabi in 1958. On 2 December 1971 six emirates formed the United Arab Emirates, joined in 1972 by Ras al-Khaimah; Sheikh Zayed was its first president. Dubai has become a major hub of trade and tourism, home to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

Geography of the United Arab Emirates

The Emirates are a desert country bordered by the Persian Gulf and, in the east, by the Gulf of Oman. The dunes of the Rub’ al Khali extend in the south; the Hajar Mountains rise near the Omani border.

Map of the United Arab Emirates

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Flag of the United Arab Emirates

The flag of the United Arab Emirates is red, white, green and black. Its official proportions are 1:2 (height to width).

• Red25%
• Green25%
• White25%
• Black25%

Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.

What the flag stands for

A vertical red band at the hoist, then three horizontal bands of green, white and black: the pan-Arab colours, adopted in 1971.

Sources: Wikipedia, articles “United Arab Emirates” and “Flag of the United Arab Emirates”.

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Fact file

Economy and society