United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Where Tradition Meets Modernity

The United Arab Emirates, officially known as the United Arab Emirates, is a country located in southwest Asia, east of the Arabian Peninsula, on the southern coast of the Arabian Gulf. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the west, Qatar to the north, and Oman to the southeast. Its capital is Abu Dhabi, and according to the 2017 statistics, its population is approximately 9.4 million people. The total area of the country is 83,000 square kilometers.

Despite being called the United Arab Emirates, Emiratis make up only around 12% of the total population, while Indians constitute the largest percentage of the population, accounting for over 27% due to the significant influx of foreign labor. The UAE ranks 22nd in the world in terms of its economy and seventh in global oil reserves. The country's government system is a federal presidential constitutional system, with legislative authority vested in the Federal National Council.

Name and History:

The name of the country traces back to the seven emirates that formed a union to become what is now known as the United Arab Emirates in 1971. These seven emirates are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah.

The earliest archaeological findings in the UAE date back to 7000 BC. With the advent of the Iron Age, fortifications resembling a castle from the third century AD were discovered. With the spread of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad sent Amr ibn al-As to spread the message in the eastern regions of the peninsula. Most of the tribes in the region embraced Islam, but some reverted to their previous beliefs after the death of Prophet Muhammad. With the arrival of the armies of the Caliph Abu Bakr, the region returned to Islam after the Battle of Dibba in the Emirate of Fujairah.

The most significant historical event for the UAE occurred after the departure of the Portuguese, during which two major powers emerged in the region: the Qawasim, who spread in the eastern Gulf regions, and the Bani Yas, from whom the rulers of Abu Dhabi (Al Nahyan) and Dubai (Al Maktoum) descended. The region's economy relied primarily on pearl diving, but with the emergence of cultured pearls in the 1920s and 1930s, the economy gradually declined until the discovery of oil and the establishment of the federal state in 1971.

Climate:

The climate of the UAE is influenced by the Indian Ocean, and it is tropical and arid, with slight variations across different regions. Summer temperatures can reach up to 47 degrees Celsius at the highest, typically ranging between 35-40 degrees Celsius. Winter is very short, lasting only around three months from December to February.

Official Language: Arabic
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Official Currency: UAE Dirham
Population: Approximately 9.4 million
Area: 83,000 square kilometers
Establishment Date: 1971 AD