Country profile

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates · Western Asia

👥 Population

11,513,149

World Bank · 2025

🏛 Capital

Abu Dhabi

🗺 Area

83,600 km²

💹 GDP (nominal)

$552.32B

World Bank · 2024

📈 HDI

0.940

UNDP · 2023

📍 Pop. density

138 /km²

💱 Currency

AED

United Arab Emirates dirham

🗣 Languages

Arabic

About United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates is a country in Western Asia, with Abu Dhabi as its capital. It is home to roughly 11.51 million people, giving a population density of about 138 people per square kilometre. The country covers 83,600 km² of land and shares land borders with 2 neighbouring countries. Its economy is valued at approximately $552.32B in nominal GDP (2024), and it records a Human Development Index of 0.940. The official currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED), and the main language is Arabic.

How United Arab Emirates is governed

🏛 Federal monarchy (federation of emirates)

Head of State

President

Head of state; traditionally the ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Head of Government

Prime Minister

Heads the federal government; traditionally the ruler of Dubai.

Legislature

Federal National Council

Unicameral (half-elected, advisory) — Federal National Council — 40 members, half appointed / half indirectly elected

Who holds the power?

The UAE is a federation of seven emirates, each an absolute monarchy under its own ruler. The rulers form the Federal Supreme Council, which elects a President (by convention the ruler of Abu Dhabi) and a Prime Minister (by convention the ruler of Dubai). The Federal National Council is only partly elected and purely advisory. Real power rests with the hereditary rulers, above all Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Development profile (each axis 0–100%, higher is stronger)

Key indicators

Latest available data · World Bank & UNDP.

💹 Economy

GDP (PPP)

$870.44B

GDP/capita (PPP)

$79,229

GDP growth

4.0%

Inflation

1.3%

Unemployment

2.2%

👥 People

Life expectancy

83.1 yrs

Fertility rate

1.21

Pop. growth

4.7%

Urban population

86.0%

Infant mortality /1k

3.8

🌍 Quality of Life

Internet users

100.0%

Literacy rate

98.8%

Physicians /1k

2.99

Renewable energy

1.0%

United Arab Emirates's GDP over time (nominal, US$)

Travel & practical

Capital

Abu Dhabi

Currency

AED

Dialing code

+971

Internet TLD

.ae

🌐 Get a United Arab Emirates eSIM 🏨 Where to stay in United Arab Emirates

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Fun facts about United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates is the 85th most populous country in the world, with about 11.51 million people.
By land area it is the 114th-largest country in the world, covering 83,600 km².
It has the world's 30th-largest economy by nominal GDP ($552.32B).
United Arab Emirates shares land borders with 2 countries.
It is classed by the UN as a country of very high human development, with an HDI of 0.940.
United Arab Emirates has a population density of about 138 people per square kilometre.

Compare United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates vs Saudi Arabia

Neighbouring countries

Oman

Saudi Arabia

More countries in Asia