Special Features
About UAE
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is situated along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula between 22� 50 and 26� north latitude and between 51� and 56� 25 east longitude. Qatar lies to the north-west, Saudi Arabia to the west, south and south-east and Oman to the south-east and north-east. Occupying a total area of about 83,600 sq.km. (32,400 sq. miles) roughly the size of Portugal, the UAE has 700 km. of coastline, 600 km. along the Arabian Gulf and 100 km. bordering the Gulf of Oman.The United Arab Emirates is composed of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
The strategic geographical location of the UAE to the east of the Arab world is very important for the security and stability of this vital part of the Arab world.
The total area of the country is 83,600 sq.km. This includes an archipelago with an area about 5,900 sq.km. The total population in 1995 was 2,411,041 persons. The city of Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE.
The Federation was established on the 2nd December, 1971. His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was elected President for five years, which has since been renewed five consecutive times.
On the first day of its establishment, the Federation drew its constitutional framework. It started forming the Federal Government, the Federal National Council and the Supreme Council for the Federation. The Supreme Council is composed of the rulers of the Seven Emirates, presided over by H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It is the highest authority in the country and formulates the general policy of the country on both internal and external levels.
Since the establishment of the Federation, the country has become a member of regional and international organizations. It has joined the Arab League and the United Nations. The country is also a member of the Arab Gulf Co-operation Council (AGCC) and a number of other international organizations.
The UAE, since its establishment, has witnessed a remarkable and swift economic development which is very difficult to attain even in the most developed communities. It has rapidly maximized the benefits obtained through its immense oil proceeds to cater for the basic requirements of its society.
The UAE has lived up to the expectation of the international community and generously stood by its sister Arab countries and other developing countries in the rest of the world.
Few would have believed that the UAE’s efforts to develop a tourism industry would have been successful in such a short space of time.
Those who knew what the UAE really had to offer visitors have been less surprised by the country’s meteoric rise in the tourism field. Tourism has, in fact, proved itself to be a sustainable industry with long term growth potential.
Investment in infrastructure in the form of airports, hotels and other facilities has meant that visitors to the Emirates are assured of comfortable travel, a warm welcome and top class accommodation. Apart from the natural allure of Arabia underpinned by its history, culture and environment, tourists are now able to take advantage of its warm, sunny weather and to enjoy a wide range of pursuits from camel or horse riding in the desert to deep sea diving
