United Arab Emirates

摘要

Area: 83,600 sq.km (32,287 sq. miles); 2% meadows and pastures, 98% mostly desert. Coastline: 1,448km (900 miles). Maritime claims: Territorial waters 22km (12nm)(including around offshore islands), contiguous zone 44km (24nm), EEZ 370km (200nm)(into the Indian Ocean; up to the median line in the Gulf), continental shelf 200nm or to the edge of continental margin. Population: 4,975,593 (July 2010 est.)(including some 1.5 million non-citizen residents); annual growth rate 3.561% (2010 est.). The population is 19% Emirian, 23% other Arab and Iranian, 50% South Asian (fluctuating), 8% other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians). Religions: 96% Muslim (16% Shi'a), 4% Christian. Hindu and other. Languages: Arabic (official); Farsi and English widely spoken in major cities; Hindi, Urdu. Literacy rate: 79%. Long-form or legal name: United Arab Emirates (Al-Imaaraat Al-Arabiyah Al-Muttahida). Type of government: Federation with specified powers delegated to the central government and other powers reserved to member emirates. Administrative divisions: 7 emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujaira, Ras al-Khaima, Sharjah, Umm al-Qaiwain. Legal system: Federal court system in all emirates but Dubai and Ras al-Khaima; all emirates have both secular and Islamic laws. Branches of government: Executive - Supreme Council of Rulers (7 members) from which a President and Vice President are elected; Prime Minister and Council of Ministers; unicameral legislature (Federal National Council). Suffrage: First parliamentary elections were held in December 2006 for half the seats in the Federal National Council. A total of 6,688 voters were hand-picked by the Rulers of the seven Emirates amongst males being UAE nationals, residing in the UAE, being over 25 and literate.