United Arab Emirates
🇦🇪 Western Asia
How United Arab Emirates ranks globally
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.
Key indicators
💹 Economy
👥 People
🌍 Quality of Life
GDP over time
How United Arab Emirates measures up
How United Arab Emirates is governed
Head of state; traditionally the ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Heads the federal government; traditionally the ruler of Dubai.
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.
Did you know?
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.
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