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Introduction
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven independent states located in the south eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the Arabian Gulf to the north, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and the Sultanate of Oman and the Gulf of Oman to the east. Before the discovery of oil in the 1950s, the UAE was a group of emirates under the protection of the British. Oil facilitated a process of rapid growth and modernisation to the area, and the emirates became independent as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971. Its seven member states are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Al Fujayrah, Ras al Khaymah, Ash-Shariqah, and Umm al Qaywayn. Located in the emirate of the same name, the city of Abu Dhabi is the federal capital and the largest city.
The main centres for expatriates are Abu Dhabi and Dubai, for which we have detailed information below.
History
In the early 19th century, the area that is now the UAE was known as the 'Pirate Coast' because of the occupation of its inhabitants.
Beginning in 1820, Great Britain entered into treaties with various leaders in the area out of a desire to protect its ships in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. In addition, Britain was allowed to handle foreign relations for the area known as 'Trucial Oman' or 'the Trucial States' because of the Perpetual Maritime Truce that the Arab rulers signed with the British in 1853.
Relations with Britain continued in the same way until the first decades of the 20th century.
Around 1914, Saudi Arabia re-emerged as a powerful force in Central Arabia, becoming a threat even to the Ottoman power. Because Russia, France and Germany sought to intensify their presence in the area, the British had to formalise relations with the Trucial States of Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait.
In 1968, Britain decided to withdraw all its military forces from the region.
The United Arab Emirates became fully independent on 2 December 1971, although Ras al-Khaimah did not join until 1972.
From that time, it has attracted attention -- first because of its oil reserves and its strategic location but now in addition to those, because of its programme of economic and social development. In the last quarter of the twentieth century, the UAE has witnessed the creation of a truly modern welfare state. Education, health care and social services are available to all citizens.
Government
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, presided over the UAE state from its inception in 1971 until his demise in 2005. His son Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al- Nahayan succeeded him and is the current president of the UAE. The Vice-President and Prime Minister are the rulers of Dubai, Sheikh Mahommed bin Rashid al Maktoum. There is also a Cabinet, and its posts are distributed among the seven emirates. (The members of the Cabinet are the government ministers, such as Minister of the Interior, etc).
The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces is the President while the second in command (Deputy Supreme Commander) is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed AlNahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The Minister of Defence is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The parliament is known as the Federal National Council (FNC). It was established on 13th February 1972 and is considered a landmark in the country's constitutional and legislative process. The FNC advises the Cabinet and the Supreme Council but cannot overrule them. According to the constitution, the FNC consists of 40 members who are drawn proportionately from each of the seven emirates. Each ruler appoints the members for his emirate.
Distribution of FNC members is as follows:
Abu Dhabi 8 members
Dubai 8 members
Sharjah 6 members
Ras al Khaimah 6 members
Umm al Qawain 4 members
Ajman 4 members
Fujairah 4 members
The FNC is structured as follows:
A Speaker and his two deputies and two elected observers.
The Parliamentary Section Executive Committee headed by the speaker, the council's undersecretary, the secretary general and four elected members.
There are also eight specialised committees dealing with studies regarding draft laws and general issues in addition to the legislative, legal, educational, health, social, planning, labour, oil and mineral resources, agriculture and fisheries and public work sectors.
The FNC has powers to amend and review all legislation and also to summon Ministers to review and criticise the work of their ministries.
Despite the fact that there is a federal government, each ruler is completely sovereign in his domain. Abu Dhabi has a National Consultative Council whose members come from some of the oldest families and tribes making up the population.
Economy
First exported in 1962, petroleum dominates the economy of the UAE.
The immense wealth has been invested in capital improvements and social services in all seven of the emirates. Petroleum production is centred in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Industrial development is essentially petroleum related and is limited by a lack of trained personnel and raw materials. The desert supports limited irrigation for agriculture; in addition, fishing, sheep herding and poultry provide domestic food sources. The UAE enjoys a large trade surplus because of its petroleum exports.
The seven constituent parts of the UAE are Abu Dhabi, the largest and richest in terms of oil, Dubai, the commercial centre, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm al Qawain and Ajman. The main cities and towns of each emirate are all on the southern shores of the Arabian Gulf except for Fujairah, which is a coastal strip on the Gulf of Oman outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Abu Dhabi is the only one of the seven emirates to qualify as an oil state in the same sense as Kuwait or Qatar. Like these, Abu Dhabi has diversified into petrochemicals and other oil-related industries. Dubai is the second-richest emirate. Its oil income is now about one quarter of Abu Dhabi's; however, in the years before Abu Dhabi became rich, Dubai supported itself as the main trading and smuggling port in the region. In addition to being one of the main business centres of the Gulf today, it also has a huge dry-dock complex, one of the Middle East's busiest airports and a large free trade zone at Jebel Ali.
The UAE has a long tradition of agriculture in its oases where crops have been grown for 5000 years. Underground water was chanelled to palm groves and small fields and the technique is still used today. Since the formation of the UAE in 1971, this small scale traditional farming has been complemented by investment that has seen thousands of hectares being cultivated.
According to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, agricultural production stands at over Dh 2 billion per year. An average crop season yields over 600,000 tons of crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, lettuce, cabbage and animal feed.
Local Newspapers
The two main English dailies may be accessed by clicking on:
www.gulfnews.com
www.khaleejtimes.com/Index00.asp
Education
Western children have the options of attending international schools located in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Dubai
American School of Dubai
www.asdubai.org
Dubai British School
www.dubaibritishschool.ae
Australian International School
www.ais.ae
Abu Dhabi
The American International School
www.aisa.sch.ae
The British School - Al Khubairat
www.britishschool.sch.ae
The Abu Dhabi Grammar School
www.agsgrmmr.sch.ae
Healthcare
Abu Dhabi
Private Hospitals
Emirates Hospital
www.emirateshospital.ae
Ahalia Hospital
www.ahaliagroup.com
Middle East Specialised Medical Centre
www.mesmc.com
Government Hospitals
Sheik Khalifa Medical Centre
www.skmc.gov.ae
Dubai
Private Hospitals
Canadian Specialist Hospital
www.cshdubai.com
American Hospital Dubai
www.ahdubai.com
Emirates Hospital
www.emirateshospital.ae
International Private Hospital
www.inthospital.com
The Manchester Clinic
www.manchester-clinic.com
Government Hospitals
Rashid Hospital & New Dubai Hospital
www.dohms.gov.ae
Housing
Most expatriates live in apartment blocks or villa style housing, with some living in employer owned gated compounds. If your employer does not provide company housing, please refer to the following leasing agents or websites.
Alternatively we recommend you refer to the accommodation section in either the local newspaper or yellow pages.
Dubai
www.afrealestate.com/content/residential.aspx
www.dubaiproperties.ae/tenants.php
www.realestate-dubai.gov.ae
Abu Dhabi
guide.theemiratesnetwork.com/living/property.php
www.hayattrealestate.co.ae
Security
The United Arab Emirates is regarded as a safe location, has a low crime rate, and whilst conservative is very tolerant of western expatriates. Any expatriate employee or family member who respects local culture and custom and takes appropriate precautions generally has few security concerns.
Tourism & Recreation
Dubai
There is a wide range of recreation and entertainment in Dubai which may be accessed by clicking on:
www.dubaitourism.ae
www.uae.gov.ae/Government/tourism.htm
Many residents of Dubai and Abu Dhabi take advantage of the many opportunities to drive to the Northern Emirates or east to Fujairah which sits on the Arabian Sea. Four wheel drive expeditions into the desert area are commonly known 'Wadi bashing' and are a popular pastime, as are excursions to Al Ain which is a large inland oasis.
Abu Dhabi
There is a wide range of recreation and entertainment in Abu Dhabi which may be accessed by clicking on:
www.uae.gov.ae/Government/tourism.htm
