United Arab Emirates

(Formerly known as
“Pirate Coast” or “The Trucial
States”)
‫ݭ‬ Emirate or sheikhdom – an
independent and self-government state

‫ݭ‬ Emir or sheikh – heridetary chief of an

emirate

‫ݭ‬ Emiris or emiratis – term for their

citizens
 7
(listed from largest to smallest 4
state)
1. Abu Dhabi (a.k.a. Abu these states 5
Zaby) formed the 3
2. Dubai (or Dubayy) United Arab
3. Sharhaj (a.k.a. Ash Emirates on 2
Shariqah) December 2, 6
1971
4. Umm al Qaywayn
5. Ajman
6. Al Fajayrah the
7. Ras al Khaymah seventh 1
emirate
joined the
U.A.E. in
1972
* Supposed to be, Qatar
and Bahrain is included in
the federation of states.
However, the two back out
from the federation in
1971, opted for their own
independence.
Geography
‫ݣ‬ Description: United Arab Emirates is a desert
country, which is roughly crescent-shaped

‫ݣ‬ Capital: Abu Dhabi City (in Abu Dhabi Emirate)

‫ݣ‬ Size: from N to S(420 km)

from E to W (480 km)
about the size of North Carolina

‫ݣ‬ Borders: N – Persian Gulf

S & W – Saudi Arabia
E- Oman and Oman Gulf
Geography
 Geography
Population: 4,789,491 estimated (2009)
(population growth is due to influx of foreign workers
brought about by oil resources)

Climate:
>very hot and dry in summer (July and August are the hottest;
up to 40oc)
>relatively cool in winter (January and February; 17oc – 20oc)
>rainfall is infrequent and is largely confined ti the mountains
>sandstorms occur frequently

Currency: UAE dirhams ($ 1 = 3.6725 dirhams)

Natural resources: oil and natural gas

 
*U.A.E.’s oil reserve = 1/10 of the world’s total
People
a. Native Emiris
‫ي‬ These are Arabs
‫ي‬ Many are city and town dwellers
‫ي‬ Some are nomads

b. Non-native Arabs
‫ي‬ Iranians
‫ي‬ Jordanians
‫ي‬ Palestinians
‫ي‬ Egyptians

c. Non-Native foreigners (50% are Asians)

‫ي‬ Largely Indians
‫ي‬ Pakistanis
‫ي‬ Sri Lankans
‫ي‬ Bangladeshis
‫ي‬ Filipinos
Language and Religion
‫ﻈ‬ Arabic – official language
‫ﻈ‬ English – widely spoken
‫ﻈ‬ Hindi – language of business

Islam – country’s official religion (80% are Sunni

Muslims and 20% are Sjia Muslims)

 *the constitution guarantees religious freedom

 *other religions are Hinduism and Christianity
Government
Federal Government

Type of government in UAE

The seven emirates has it’s own government which
functions in tandem with the federal government
The legal system is based on Sharia (Islamic Law)
Citizens do not pay taxes
They do receive generous social welfare benefits,
including free medical care (due to UAE’s oil wealth)
The people enjoy very high standard of living
Government

Dubai Healthcare City is a city specifically

designated for clinical and wellness
services, medical education and research
launched by the government to attract
global companies to the city
Government
Supreme Federal Council

‫ ﺶ‬Highest political authority in UAE

‫ ﺶ‬Consisted of the seven Emirs (from each emirate)
‫ ﺶ‬Establishes general UAE policies
‫ ﺶ‬Meets fourtimes a year
‫ ﺶ‬There are no political parties and popular elections
‫ ﺶ‬Instead,the Emirs themselves will chose from among
themselves who will be the next president
‫ ﺶ‬Often,the president has always been the emir from Abu
Dhabi while the vie president is from Dubai
‫ ﺶ‬Current president: Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayid Al Nuhayyan
Culture
Ritual

Eid al-Fitr (end of ramadan) & Eid

al-Adha (feast of sacrifice)
 These festivals mark the end of the Ramadan (which
is the month of fasting and the conclusion of the hajj
or pilgrimage of Mecca on the Islamic Calendar)
Culture
 Clothing

Dishdasha/thawb
‫ ﻲ‬Clothing for emiri men
‫ ﻲ‬A white loose-fitting garment that is comfortable in hot
and dry climate

Abaya and Burka

‫ ﻲ‬Clothing for women
‫ ﻲ‬Abaya – black overgarment covering most parts of the
body
‫ ﻲ‬Burka – a face mask

Western-style clothing
‫ ﻲ‬Fairly popular, esp. among the youth
Male clothing
Female clothing (abaya and
burka)
Culture
Cuisine

 Fond of eating seafoods (location-related)

 Muslims are prohibited to eat pork
 Popular beverages are tea and coffee
Culture
Sport

The Annual Dubai World Cup – one of the

richest events in sport due to the country’s strong
horse racing tradition
 
Culture
 Etiquette

 Etiquette is an important aspect of the UAE culture

and tradition. The visitors here are expected to show
manners and etiquette. Recently, many expatriates
have not been respecting the laws, and have been
arrested, for not wearing enough clothing at beaches,
some even being completely nude.
 An Islamic greeting (al-salam alaykom) is the most
appropriate, and men follow this with a quick nose-to-
nose touch while shaking hands.
 Women greet each other by kissing several times on
both cheeks.
 Men normally do not shake hads with women in
public.
Disputes with Other
Countries
‫ ﱯ‬Before, there was strong rivalries among the
emirates

‫ﱯ‬ Border disputes with Saudi Arabia and Oman

‫ﱯ‬ The UAE has also been cooperating closely with

the United States and its allies to defeat Iraq in
the1991 Persian Gulf

‫ﱯ‬ During 1971, Iran and UAE fought over the

islands of Abu Inusa, Tunb al Kubra (greater
Tunb), and Tunb al Sughra (lesser Tunb), all of
which are in the Persian Gulf. Result: in
December 2006, the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) urged Iran to peacefully give up the
islands to UAE.
Disputes with Other
Countries
History
 “Pirate Coast” – former name of UAE
reflecting the major occupation of its
inhabitants
The inhabitants are mostly pirates that harassed any
foreign shipping that passes the Persian Gulf

 “Trucial States” – another former name of

UAE in reference to a 19th-century “truce”
between Britain and Arab Emirs
The purpose of the truce was to end plundering of the
pirates
Also, to safeguard British maritime routes, particularly
those of the British East India Company.
But some historians have noted that the war was in fact
motivated by the British desire to establish supremacy in
the region against the claims of other European powers.

 The truce continued until 1971.

Independence
March 1971 – the UK announced its decision to end
the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial states,
which have been together with the Bahrain and
Qatar, under British protection.

 The nine (7 trucial states, Bahrain, and Qatar)

attempted to form a union of Arab Emirates, but by
mid-1971 they were unable to agree on terms of
union.

 Bahrain became independent in August 1971 and

Qatar in September 1971.

 December 2, 1971 – the six trucial states became a

federation called United Arab Emirates.

 1972- the Ras al Khaymah joined the federation.

END…….