Airports:
35 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
2 (2004 est.)

Military United Arab Emirates

Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense
Force, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 653,181
note: includes non-nationals (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 526,671 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 30,706 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.6 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.1% (FY00)

Transnational Issues United Arab Emirates

Disputes - international:
because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment
of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is still unknown; boundary
agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire
border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves,
but contents of the agreement and maps showing the alignment have
not been published; UAE engage in direct talks and solicit Arab
League support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Lesser
and Greater Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island

Illicit drugs:
the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its
proximity to southwest Asian drug producing countries; the UAE's
position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money
laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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@United Kingdom

Introduction United Kingdom

Background:
Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the
19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary
democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith,
the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface.
The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously