The United Arab Emirates is a Persian Gulf federation of seven emirates including Abu Dhabi and Dubai, transformed from a 1970s pearling-and-fishing coast into a global hub for finance, aviation and luxury tourism.
Geography & landscape
United Arab Emirates sits in Western Asia, in the northern hemisphere of Asia. With an area of approximately 83,600 km², it is a smaller nation, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the sub-tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Abu Dhabi, lies near coordinates 24°, 54°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Asia, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Western Asia region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across United Arab Emirates.
People & society
The population of United Arab Emirates is around 9.5M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
The official language is Arabic, used in government, education and most public life. Regional dialects, minority languages and immigrant communities add further linguistic texture.
Government & politics
United Arab Emirates is structured as a federal absolute monarchy. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Abu Dhabi, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of United Arab Emirates is the UAE Dirham (AED). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Abu Dhabi and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of United Arab Emirates shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet United Arab Emirates through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Abu Dhabi, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +971, and clocks are set to the GST (UTC+4) time zone. ISO standards identify United Arab Emirates as AE (alpha-2) and ARE (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇦🇪, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Abu Dhabi | — |
| Continent | Asia | — |
| Sub-region | Western Asia | — |
| Population | 9.5M | people |
| Area | 83,600 | km² |
| Currency | UAE Dirham (AED) | — |
| Calling code | +971 | international dialling |
| Time zone | GST (UTC+4) | standard time |
| Government type | Federal absolute monarchy | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | AE | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | ARE | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | 24 | degrees |
| Longitude | 54 | degrees |
Did you know?
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world at 828 metres — more than twice the height of the Empire State Building.
