About UAE

Explore this UAE map to learn everything you want to know about this country. Learn about UAE location on the world map, official symbol, flag, geography, climate, postal/area/zip codes, time zones, etc. Check out UAE history, significant states, provinces/districts, & cities, most popular travel destinations and attractions, the capital city’s location, facts and trivia, and many more.

Better known as the UAE, and once known as the Trucial Oman – after a treaty that was reached between the Sheiks of the respective states and the Britain.

The United Arab Emirates is an amalgam of seven states which are sovereign in their own right. This collection of the seven states is called the Shaykhdoms. The seven states that form the conglomeration are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. The United Arab Emirates is renowned for their oil reserve.

Physical Map of United Arab Emirates

The landscape of the United Arab Emirates is made up of vast stretches of undulating desert sands. Though, modernity and technology has enabled agricultural development in the interiors of the desert-land. The coastal regions are slightly different, though even they are not arable, being mostly salt-plains.

Location of United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates is located in the south west of the Asian continent which is commonly termed as the Middle East. The Persian Gulf lines its coast in the west and the Arabian Peninsula in the south east. Its immediate neighbors are the countries of Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Climate of United Arab Emirates To put the description of the climatic conditions of the United Arab Emirates in one word would be to define it as desert. It has desert climate and that explains most of it. However, to be more specific, it has an arid combined with subtropical climate. Rainfall is either very little or absolutely non existent in the summers, which are dry and sweltering. The summer months fall between May and September, while winters are the months of January and February. The months in between – that is October to April – are pretty much pleasant; but the nights can be chilly. Whatever rainfall the land gets is restricted to January and February.

Flora and Fauna of United Arab Emirates

Given that the United Arab Emirates is primarily desert-land, the vegetation of the land is according to the terrain. So two categories of flora are to be found thriving on the land; one of these is the desert type that blossoms to life after the land receives rainfall, and the other is that which is capable of sustaining itself without much water. The second type depends on the salt in the ground, and include swam plants. So there are wild desert flowers, wild date palms, shrubs and grasses. The inventory of the fauna of the land is large, though not as diverse. There is the Jerboa, wildcat, fox, lynx, jackal, wolf, gazelle, hare, hedgehogs and mongoose. As far as avian fauna is concerned, you name it and it’s on the list of the birds in the United Arab Emirates. There is some 250 species existent in the United Arab Emirates. The names of the birds which comprise the population are , harriers , kites, waders, buzzards, ospreys, eagles, terns, falcons, gulls, owls flamingos and houbara – just to name a few.

People of United Arab Emirates

The majority of the indigenous people living in the United Arab Emirates are descendants of the nomadic Bedouins of Arabia. Racial and tribal identity are crucial features of the people of United Arab Emirates, with very little or no divergence from their roots. The other ethnic races in the United Arab Emirates consist of the Emiri, Iranians, Arabs and also south Asians.

Arts, Culture and Music of United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates has a strong and dominant Islamic culture. So, all its cultural aspects are influenced and dictated by the tenets of Islam. Aside of these factors, music is primarily folk Bedouin music derived from the tradition of the ‘Persian Gulf Khaleeji type’. The Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, a government organization, aims at preserving and also enhancing the cultural traits of the nation. One of the unique traditions that continue to be a part of the life of the people in the United Arab Emirates is the Camel races. middleeast_unitedarabemirates

Flag of United Arab Emirates

The flag of the United Arab Emirates is both simple and stark. It comprises of the colors that are considered to be pro-Arab. The colors that dominate the flag are red, black, green and white. All the colors appear in stripes. The red color forms a vertical stripe on the left side of the flag covering the flag’s height, while the three colors – green, white and black (top to bottom) – appears as horizontal stripes next to the red stripe.

Economy of United Arab Emirates

The economy of the United Arab Emirates is associated with crude oil and other petroleum by products. The oil industry is the chief support of the economy of the country. However, there are many other things as well that go a long way to contribute to the finances of the United Arab Emirates. For example, the United Arab Emirates also exports dried fish and dates. The other industries in the country are construction materials and boat building. Tourism and ethnic handicrafts bring in revenues too. middleeast_unitedarabemirates

United Arab Emirates Religions

United Arab Emirates Religions comprise mainly of Muslims of which majority of them are Sunni. The integral part of the population are the Sunni class,which follow the Maliki Legal tradition. Some of the Sunnis belong to the Wahhabi sect. Followers of Shafil legal school are also there. Significant number of Hindu and Christians are also present in the population.

According to the Constitution of United Arab Emirates, Islam is considered as the official religion in seven federation states of United Arab Emirates. The religion was founded 1400 years ago and once a person accepts Islam he or she has to live according to its teaching throughout his life. Islam religion in United Arab Emirates aims at establishing peace and promote love and harmony in the world. There is a Central federal regulatory authority in United Arab Emirates ,which is responsible for distributing weekly circulars as guidance to the Shia and Sunni Muslims for religious sermons. The Muslims are not permitted to change their religion but the conversion of non Muslims to Islam is welcome. During the period of Ramzan the citizens and the visitors have to follow the strict rules imposed on the Muslims. Islamic studies are the main part in the syllabus of schools and colleges. Non Muslim religious instructions are not allowed in public schools.

United Arab Emirates Banks

United Emirates Banksform an integral part of the economy of the country. The banks of United Arab Emirates have contributed significantly to the steady and the fast economic growth of the country. Numerous private and commercial banks are located in the financial centers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Most of banks inUnited Arab Emirates offer various kinds of services in the fields of consumer banking and also corporate banking. In the consumer banking sector the banks of UAE offer various kinds of credit cards, and personal loan facilities tailor made to suit customer needs. Different types of personal accounts are also maintained by the banks. Corporate financing is a major function of the banks of United Arab Emirates. These banks have financed various real estate and industrial projects of the country which in turn has led to the speedy development of United Arab Emirates. Banks of United Arab Emirates also act as intermediaries for foreign transactions. Some of the important banks of United Arab Emirates are Union National Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Emirates Bank Group, ABN Amro United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Arab Emirates Investment Bank, Dubai, Commercial Bank of Dubai, and also the Commercial Bank International Bank in Dubai. Major foreign banks have also opened their branches in United Arab Emirates. Some of the well known banks are American Express Bank, ANZ Grindlays Bank, Banca Commerciale Italiana, Bank of Baroda and Bank of Tokyo.

The Central Bank ofUnited Arab Emiratesis located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates. The Central Bank operates as the ‘bank of banks’. It’s major function is to supervise the operations of all the commercial banks. It is endowed with the powers of issuing currency, to direct credit policies in such a way so as to achieve a balanced growth of the national economy. It also maintains both internal and external financial stability. This bank maintains the government’s reserves of gold and foreign currency.

United Arab Emirates Currency

Information onUnited Arab Emirates Currencyis very important for the tourists who visit that country. The United Arab Emirates Currency is called Dirham. One Dirham is divided into 100 fils. Previously, there were a number of currencies that were used in United Arab Emirates. The list includes names like Qatari Riyal, Bahraini Dinar and Dubai Riyal. But the UAE currency board established the Central Bank United Arab Emirates that played a major role in replacing those currencies with Dirham.

But asUnited Arab Emiratesis considered as one of the most popular tourist spots in the country, the exchange of currency is not a problem in this country. The exchange of currency in United Arab Emirates is done in the banks and large hotels. But the best exchange rates are provided by the private moneychangers. Most major credit cards are accepted in almost all the shopping malls and departmental stores here. The mostly used credit cards here are Diners Club, American Club, Visa and Master Card. They also accept different traveler’s checks, particularly if they are in US Dollars and Pound Starlings. There are a number of ATMs all over the country.

The Dirham ofUnited Arab Emiratesis available in the notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000. The coins are available in 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 fils. The value of one Dirham varies between 0.27 USD to 0.30 USD.

United Arab Emirates Constitution

United Arab Emirates Constitutionwas framed on 2 December, 1971, which was further made permanent in the year 1996. The Constitution of UAE comprises of the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary. The United Arab Emirates comprises of seven emirates, which jointly framed the constitution and the federation is ruled by the president and the prime minister.

Traditional patriarchies have been ruling the federation with political allegiance. According to the constitution of UAE there are no general elections through which people can express their views. However the councils and majlis are the two traditional mechanisms through which people can express their concerns.

As per the United Arab Emirates constitution, the executive comprises of the President, Federal Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers. There is a Union Supreme Court, which comprises of the judiciary and the parliament forms the legislative branch.

TheUnited Arab Emirates Constitutionomits the word temporary from its text. Article two of the constitution states Abu Dhabi to be the capital of the federation. Article ten states that the federation will look to the safety and security so that its sovereignty is not violated by external forces. The constitution also states that the seven emirates forming the federation should maintain economic entities among them. In addition to this the constitution also states that the foreign policies should aim in strengthening Arab and Islamic interests.