About United Arab Emirates By Dubai Business Minds Sep 6, 2004, 06:29

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United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates was established in 1971 as a federation of seven emirates, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah. The rulers comprise the Federal Supreme Council, FSC, which elects the country's President and Vice President at five-yearly intervals from amongst its members. HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, has been President since 1971, and HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, has been Vice President (also concurrently Prime Minister) since 1990. The Council of Ministers is chosen by the Prime Minister in consultation with the President, and is the executive arm of Government. The Federal National Council, or parliament, has 40 members, drawn from each of the emirates, and has a legislative and supervisory role and can amend proposed federal legislation. The judicial structure is headed by the Federal Supreme Court. There are also local governments in each of the emirates, while each major urban centre has a Municipality for local affairs. The traditional 'majlis' system of open discussion between the tribal leaders and their people has evolved into an important, although informal, part of the UAE's governing system.

Few nations on earth have experienced more complete and far-reaching change over the past few decades than the United Arab Emirates. Today a land of six-lane highways and glittering streams of motorcars, where space-age cities of ivory-white and crystal glass emerge like a mirage from the haze of desert and sea, this federation of seven ancient Emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras a]-Khaimah, Umm al Qawain, Ajman and Fujairah - is not only the world's fourth largest oil-producer, but also its richest state per head of population, and the new commercial hub of the Middle East

Yet only fifty years ago, when oil-exploration started, there was no electricity, no plumbing or telephone system, not a single public hospital nor modern school, no bridges, no deep-water harbor, no metalloid roads, 

no more than a handful of cars and scarcely a building more impressive than the crumbling mud-brick forts and watchtowers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where now high-rise stacks, gilded domes and minarets tower over wide boulevards, where cascades of water are flaunted with conspicuous opulence, and where acres of shrubs burgeon on the desert shore, stood sleepy settlements of reed, coral and mud-brick houses, sweltering on sand spits and islands in the most ferocious summer heat.

Life on the Trucial Coast - as it was known until the 1970s - and in its hinterland, was one of considerable hardship. In the towns, fresh water was scarcely available and often had to be drawn by oxen from deep wells, or even brought in barrels from neighboring islands by dhow.

Tribesmen would harvest the unreliable winter rains by stretching a sail with a hole in its center between two poles, and in the merciless heat of the Arabian summer would trap the cooling winds by the ingenious use of wind-towers made of sackcloth or cotton. On the sun-blasted terraces of the Hajar Mountains, subsistence farmers eked out a bitter existence, and in the interior the hardy Bedouin scoured the dunes of the great Empty Quarter for pasture. In the hot months, members of these various groups would come together to work as divers in the pearl-yielding oyster beds which flourished in the warm, shallow waters of the Gulf For almost three millennia the economy of this region was bound up with the pearling fleet, culminating in a boom that was only ended by the invention, in the 1920s of the cultured pearl.

Despite its harsh climate, civilization has flourished in this region since the earliest times. At Jebel Hafit, near al-Ain, lie the remains of a settlement dating back more than five thousand years; at Hili, not far away, have been found pillbox-shaped tombs of dressed masonry so finely wrought that archaeologists believe they may be connected with the ancient land of Magan, mentioned in ancient Sumerian texts as a land of fabulous wealth, the source of copper, minerals and semi-precious stones.

UAE: The Country
United Arab Emirates, federation of seven independent states lying along the east central coast of the Arabian Gulf.

The states which include Abu Dhabi (capital of the UAE), Dubai, Al Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Al Fujairah, bounded on the north by the Arabian Gulf, on the east by Sultanate of Oman, and on the west by Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The total area of the UAE is about 83,600 sq. km (with a total of 200 islands) .The area of the U.A.E. excepting the islands is about 77,700 square kilometers and among the G.C.C. states it is the third largest after Saudi Arabia & Oman. United Arab Emirates is a member of the Gulf Co-operation Council (G.C.C.).

UAE History 
On December 2, 1971, the seven states became independent as the United Arab Emirates. President, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who is also Ruler of Abu Dhabi has devoted much of his attention in the intervening years to the development of the federation of the United Arab Emirates.

UAE Currency

Dirhams and fils are the units of currency with 100 fils to the Dirham (Dh). The Dirham is tied to the US Dollar at a steady exchange rate of $US 1= Dh 3.671. Banks usually give the best rates on foreign currency exchange

but hotels and airports are often quicker and are open outside banking hours. Money changers tend to have a wider range of currencies but their rates may be higher. Exchange rates are published daily.

UAE Telephone 

Telecommunications throughout the UAE are modern and efficient. International Direct Dialing is available to most countries. Local telephone calls are free. Local and international dialing codes may be obtained by dialing the operator on 181.

International areas codes of UAE 00971 +

Emirate Dialing Codes - Abu Dhabi (02), Dubai (04), Al Sharjah (06), Ajman (06), Umm Al Quwain (06), Ras Al Khaimah (07), Al Fujairah (09)

UAE Weather / Climate
In the summer (April to September), temperatures in the UAE will very between 38-48°C (100-118°F) in the daytime while at night it will very between 26-30°C (79-86°F) with high humidity levels. In the winter (October to March), the days are sunny and pleasant with an average of 26°C (79°F), while nights are cool with an average of 15°C (59°F).

UAE Holidays

• The weekend is on Thursday and Friday
• UAE National Day (2nd December)
• Zayed's Accession (6th August, celebrated in Abu Dhabi)
• Eid Al Adha and Eid Al Fitr (date varies each year)
• Islamic New Year (date varies each year)
• New Year's Day (1st January)

Transportation
Taxis are the only means of getting around, if you don't have a car or motorcycle. Some emirates have metered taxis and bus public transport.

Others

• Time Zone - GMT + 4
• Electricity - 220/240 volts at 50 Hz (US appliances will require a transformer)
• Internet Country Code - .ae
• Daily Newspapers (English) - Gulf News, Khaleej Times, Gulf Today
• Radio Broadcast - AM 13, FM 7, shortwave 2
• Radio Stations (English) - Dubai FM (92.0), Free FM (96.7), Emirates FM (99.3), Channel 4 FM (104.8)
• ISPs: e-Company - Etisalat and Dubai Internet City

Related Articles & Resources:

• About United Arab Emirates

• Why do business with the U.A.E?

• UAE Links

• Facts About United Arab Emirates

• United Arab Emirates: The Seven Emirates

• Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

• UAE Political System

• UAE Commercial and Political Systems

• UAE International Relations

• United Arab Emirates Economy

• UAE Financial Services

• UAE Business Environment

• Business in UAE

• UAE Business Forms and Structures

• The UAE Industry

• UAE Oil and Gas

• Trade in UAE

• UAE Intellectual Property

• Immigration Requirements for New Business Entities in UAE

• UAE Investment and Trade Opportunities

• UAE Currency and Banking

• Financial Companies in UAE

• UAE Airports and Seaports

• UAE Health Services

• UAE Electricity and Water

• UAE Telecommunications

• UAE Employment and Social Security

• UAE Education and Youth

• UAE Medial and Information

• UAE and the Environmental Issues

• Women in UAE

• UAE Travel and Tourism

• UAE Sports and Leisure

• UAE Traditional Life

• UAE Culture and Heritage