UAE الإمارات العربية المتحدة
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is the constitutional federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Al Fujairah. It stretched over 1448 km from the west coast of Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, where water and land overlap, to the Arabian Peninsula.
Rich of pearls which have been sustaining the UAE population for centuries, the coastline is studded with islands, coral reefs and ridges. Nearly 200 islands fall under the UAE territory on Persian Gulf, including Abu Dhabi Island, capital of United Arab Emirates, Das Island which is rich in Oil, Delma Island which is rich in pearls, Umm Al Nar Island, Saadyat Island, Hamra Island near Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Moosa Island, Greater Tunb Island, Lesser Tunb Island, and other islands which have left their mark on UAE.
The United Arab Emirates mainland varies from narrow plains surrounded with sand desert throughout the west and the south to highlands stretching in the Far East and southern east to the borders of Oman.
According to recent discoveries, human settlement in UAE dates back to several thousand years and probably, to the Stone Age (5500 B.C. or 7500 B.C.), where the weather was humid with frequent rainfall.
| Culture & History | During the last two decades, the Emirates experienced enhancement and activation of cultural development in the Emirati society, as culture and all its various elements became an original approach to achieving knowledge accumulation and promoting sustainable development. The process was and still is going on since the turn of the millennium – as it was prepared for – through the implementation of an intellectual and cultural movement that is capable of keeping up with modern transformations and openness to the different other, and various cultural spheres all over the world. A movement based on the primary effective foundations, such as issuing the compulsory reading law, rejuvenating cultural, intellectual, and artistic life, launching innovation prizes that stimulate catching up with the renaissance of the country, building cultural bridges to reinforce national identity and limit the repercussions and effects of political, economic, social and cultural globalization, and drawing a map for the country’s future civilization and self-development, which is nearing on the cusp of knowledge, science, thought and culture. With the official trends aiming to uphold culture, arts, creativity, and innovation within the available cultural and historical fundamentals, rich heritage and open thinking, public libraries spread throughout the country, and the arts that preserve the artistic heritage have been – relatively – developed. Thus, features of a climate suitable for creative talents growth and display of new talents began to manifest in encouraging writing and translating in various literary trends, and excavation of the country’s historical heritage, along with the dedication to civilized methods and considering them a practical approach among the segments of society whose cultural paths have diversified by the expatriate majority. Although the prevailing belief in the region is that the notion of cultural development is a modern one in sociology literature, it was launched in the UAE through a conscious effort to make a cultural breakthrough intentionally, in an endeavor to establish clear and specific policies enforced by accountable institutions, and to produce a purposeful, constructive culture for people and society, whether in the form of spiritual, intellectual or material elements, in which family, clan, tribe, and the small local community, in cooperation with state institutions, play a dynamic and permanent role. And thus, the UAE has a cultural life that combines the traditional Emirati heritage with international traditions of arts, music, sports, and entertainment. Among the various favored local arts and sports, we can mention folk dance, falconry, horse, and camel racing. The country started to be an international hub for film festivals, modern arts, architecture, and high-level sports competitions, which makes the Emirati culture more open and diverse than several countries in the region. |
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| Languages Spoken | Arabic - English |
| Currency Used | Dirham AED |
| Area (km2) | 84,600 |
| Country Name | United Arab Emirates |
| Capital | Abu Dhabi |
| Population | 9.3 Millions |
| Inter. Airports | Dubai (DXB - Abu Dhabi (AUH) - Sharjah (SHJ) |
