Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia Area: total: 82,880 sq km land: 82,880 sq km water: 0 sq km Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains Terrain: flat barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountain in east Capital: Abu Dhabi Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn Population: 2,563,212 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups: Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other 8% Nationality: noun: Emirati(s) adjective: Emirati Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu Religions: Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4% Literacy: 77.9%

Executive branch: • Chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since November 2004) • Head of government: Prime Minister MUHUMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum (since January 2006) • Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president • Electiosn: president and vice president elected by the Federal Supreme Council (composed of rulers of the seven emirates) for five-year term National Holiday: 2 December (1971) ACD Member: ACD Member since 2004 Prime Mover (PM) on Working Group: None Co-Prime Mover on Working Group: None United Arab Emirates government official web site : www.emirates.org

Currency (code): Emirati dirham (AED) GDP: $74.51 billion (2005 est.) GDP per capita: $29,100 (2005 est.) Exports - commodities: crude oil, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates Exports - partners: Japan , South Korea , India , Thailand Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food Imports - partners: China , India , Japan , Germany , UK , France , US Agriculture - products: dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fishing Industries: petroleum, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicraft, textiles Source: The World Fact Book 2005 (www.cia.gov)