nts;
desertification

_#_Note: strategic location along southern approaches to
Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

_*_People
_#_Population: 2,389,759 (July 1991), growth rate 5.7% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 30 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 3 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 30 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Emirian(s), adjective--Emirian

_#_Ethnic divisions: Emirian 19%, other Arab 23%, South Asian
(fluctuating) 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East
Asians) 8%; less than 20% of the population are UAE citizens (1982)

_#_Religion: Muslim 96% (Shia 16%); Christian, Hindu, and other
4%

_#_Language: Arabic (official); Persian and English widely spoken in
major cities; Hindi, Urdu

_#_Literacy: 68% (male 70%, female 63%) age 10 and over but definition
of literacy not available (1980)

_#_Labor force: 580,000 (1986 est.); industry and commerce 85%,
agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 5%; 80% of labor force is foreign

_#_Organized labor: trade unions are illegal

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: United Arab Emirates (no short-form name);
abbreviated UAE

_#_Type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central
government and other powers reserved to member emirates

_#_Capital: Abu Dhabi

_#_Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat,
singular--imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), Ajman, Al Fujayrah,
Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, Ras al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

_#_Independence: 2 December 1971 (from UK; formerly Trucial States)

_#_Constitution: 2 December 1971 (provisional)

_#_Legal system: secular codes are being introduced by the UAE
Government and in several member shaykhdoms; Islamic law remains
influential

_#_National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1971)

_#_Executive branch: president, vice president, Supreme Council of
Rulers, prime minister, Council of Ministers

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis
Watani Itihad)

_#_Judicial branch: Union Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--President Shaykh Zayid bin Sultan Al NUHAYYAN,
(since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Dhabi;
Vice President Shaykh Maktu