Key Facts About the United Arab Emirates
The information on this page was current at the time it was published. Regulations, trends, statistics, and other information are constantly changing. While we strive to update our Knowledge Base, we strongly suggest you use these pages as a general guide and be sure to verify any regulations, statistics, guidelines, or other information that are important to your efforts.
Facts You Should Know about the UAE
On this page we have gathered key United Arab Emirates information to help you get started. We will continue to add to it based on your needs. If there is something missing, send us an email at hello@globig.co , we will let you know when we have added it.
| UAE Conventional Long Form Name: United Arab Emirates |
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| UAE Local Conventional Short Form Names: Emirates |
| UAE Internet Country Code: .ae |
| UAE Emirates: There are six Emirates in the UAE which asides Abu Dhabi the capital which are; Dubai Fujairah Sharjah RAK Ajman Umm Al Quwain |
| Capital of the UAE: Abu Dhabi |
| People in the UAE are called: Emirati(s) |
| Official Language(s) of the UAE : Arabic (English is widely spoken) |
| UAE Total Population: 9,973,449 (2023 est.) ; immigrants make up 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data (2020) |
| UAE Urban Population: 87.8% of total population (2023) |
| UAE Major Urban Areas: 3.008 million Dubai, 1.831 million Sharjah, and 1.567 million Abu Dhabi (2023) |
| UAE Currency: Emirati Dirham (AED) |
| UAE Currency Symbol: د.إ |
| UAE Thousands Separator (comma) and Decimal Mark (dot): 1,234.56 |
| UAE Clock: 24-hour format (UTC+4) |
| UAE Date format: DD/MM/YYYY |
| UAE Time Zones for Standard Time (ST) and Daylight Savings Time (DST): UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
| UAE Daylight Savings Time: The UAE does not change clocks for daylight saving time. |
| UAE Phone Number Country Code: 971 |
| UAE Landline Phone Number Format: The format of UAE landline numbers includes the exit code, UAE country code (971), area code, and the contact’s phone number. |
| UAE Cell Phone Number Format : Mobile phone numbers in the United Arab Emirates contain nine digits. The first two digits signify the cellular network to which the number belongs and are followed by seven digits. |
| UAE Standard Work Week: The standard working week in the UAE is 48 hours, typically spread over six days. However, during the holy month of Ramadan, working hours are reduced by two hours per day. |
| UAE Annual Leave: Employees are entitled to a fully paid annual leave of: 30 days, if they have completed one year of service and 2 days per month, if they have completed six months of service, but not one year. |
| UAE National Holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971) |
| UAE Voting Age: Voting is limited in the UAE; Rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens |
| UAE Drinking Age: The legal age for drinking alcohol differs across the different regions of the UAE. For example, in Abu Dhabi, the minimum age is 18, while the legal drinking age in Dubai is 21. It is also 21 in the Northern Emirates, except for Sharjah where drinking alcohol is illegal entirely. |
| Smoking in the UAE: 18. The UAE’s law prohibits sale of tobacco and tobacco products to children. Smoking in public transportation, private vehicles and indoor places in the presence of a child is also prohibited.Additionally, Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 regarding Tobacco Control forbids and penalizes: the sale of tobacco products to those under 18. |
| UAE Location and Geography: The United Arab Emirates is situated in the Middle East and West Asia, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia; it is at a strategic location along the northern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil. |
| UAE National Symbol(s): Golden falcon |
| UAE National colors: Green, white, black and red. |
| UAE Government and Political System: The UAE is an authoritarian state. Its framework is a federal presidential elective constitutional monarchy. |
| UAE Head of State: President. The President of the United Arab Emirates is Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. |
| UAE Election Tenure: The President and Vice Presidents are elected every five years by the Federal Supreme Council, and the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates is de jure appointed by the President. |
| The UAE Constitution: The Constitution was permanently adopted in July 1996. It explains the main rules of the political and constitutional organization of the UAE. The Constitution has 152 articles establishing the basis of the UAE and the rights of citizens in ten areas. |
| United Arab Emirates Legal System: The legal structure in the UAE runs in two systems: the Federal Judiciary presided by the Federal Supreme Court as the highest judicial authority in the UAE and the local judicial departments at the local government level. |
| UAE Climate: The UAE has an arid desert climate with only two main seasons, winter and summer separated by two transitional periods, respectively. The winter season (December to March) has temperatures ranging from 16.4°C to 24°C. The first transitional period (April to May) is distinguished by variability and rapid change in weather. |
| UAE Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas. |
| Religion in the UAE: Muslim 74.5% , Christian 12.9%, Hindu 6.2%, Buddhist 3.2%, agnostic 1.3%, other 1.9% (2020 est.) |
UAE Female Population: Key Facts and Figures
The UAE female population is around 3.2 million. Women are playing an increasingly prominent role in the UAE workforce, particularly in sectors like education, healthcare, and business services.
Why Understanding the Female Population Matters in the UAE:
- The growing female consumer base presents a significant market opportunity.
- Tailoring products and services to the needs and preferences of female consumers can be beneficial.
Population by Age in the UAE
The UAE has a relatively young population, with a median age of around 30 years old. This suggests a growing middle class with disposable income, potentially interested in new products and experiences.
Here is why understanding the age structure matters in the UAE:
- Knowing the median age can help identify your target audience and tailor your marketing strategies accordingly.
- A young population may be more receptive to innovative technologies and trends.
Age Structure in the UAE
The UAE has a young population pyramid, with a large base of young people and a smaller proportion of retirees . This trend is expected to continue in the coming years.
A young population can create a demand for educational services, housing, and other products and services geared towards younger demographics.
Aging and Gender in the UAE
The UAE government is implementing initiatives to address the long-term implications of its young population structure. Efforts are underway to encourage Emiratis to enter the workforce and to prepare for an aging population in the future.
Staying informed about these demographic trends can help businesses develop long-term strategies for the UAE market.
References
- World – The Population Project
- Dubai education market lifted by UAE’s ‘contagious growth’
- United Arab Emirates – Wikipedia
- Women in the Workplace 2023 report | McKinsey
- Myths & Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict Table of Contents
- Religious Inclusion | UAE Embassy in Washington, DC
- Ease of Doing Business Ranking: UAE
- Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index
- UAE Payment of salaries (wages)
- The World Factbook Unemployment Rate:UAE
- UAE GDP & Growth
- Employment of People of Determination:UAE
- The Observatory of Economic Complexity: UAE
- The UAE Railway Programme
- The World Factbook: United Arab Emirates