1] (202) 243-2400
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michele SISON
embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4,
Abu Dhabi
mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200
FAX: [971] (2) 414-2469
consulate(s) general: Dubai

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with
a wider vertical red band on the hoist side

Economy United Arab Emirates

Economy - overview:
The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a
sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas
output (about 33% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate
with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has
undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of
small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard
of living. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves
should last for more than 100 years. The government has increased
spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening
up its utilities to greater private sector involvement.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $57.7 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $23,200 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 58.5%
services: 37.5% (2002 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
22% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
2.16 million
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2003)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 7%, industry 15%, services 78% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
2.4% (2001)

Budget:
revenues: $17.35 billion
expenditures: $23.85 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.4
billion (2003 est.)

Public debt:
18.1% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish

Industries:
petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some
boat building, handicrafts, pearling

Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2000)

Electricity - production: