World Country Guide

General Information

Area
77,700 sq km (30,000 sq miles).

Population
3,754,000 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density
48.3 per sq km.

Capital
Abu Dhabi. Population: 527,000 (2002).

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 located on the Batinah coast, has agricultural potential, while Ajman and Umm al Qaiwain were once small coastal fishing villages.

Government
Federation of seven autonomous Emirates. Head of State: President Sheikh Khalifa since 2004. Head of Government: Prime Minister Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (Emir of Dubai) since 1990.

Language
Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken and used as a second language in commerce.

Religion
Mostly Muslim, of which 16 per cent are Shiite and the remainder Sunni.

Time
GMT + 4.

Electricity
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs are widespread.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available both to and from all states. Country code: 971. Outgoing international code (Abu Dhabi): 00. 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
GSM 900 network. Network operators include ETISALAT (website: www.etisalat.co.ae) There is also a GSM Satellite provider, Thuraya (website: www.thuraya.com).

Fax
ETISALAT offices at main centres provide a service. All hotels have facilities.

Internet
Internet cafes provide public access to Internet and e-mail services. ISPs include Emirates Telecommunication (website: www.emirates.net.ae).

Telegram
Services are run by ETISALAT, which has offices throughout the Emirates and are also available through main post offices.

Post
Airmail letters and parcels take about five days to reach Europe.

Press
English-language daily newspapers include Emirates News, The Gulf Today, Khaleej Times and UAE Press Service Daily News. Foreign newspapers are available in hotel bookshops and supermarkets.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.