A union of seven Arab kingdoms on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, the United Arab Emirates consists of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Qaiwain, Ras al Khaimah, and Fujairah emirates. The capital and the largest town of the federation is Abu Dhabi. The country's relief, or geographical layout, consists of a low-lying, flat desert coastal plain. The climate is hot and dry year-round.
Natural vegetation is very sparse.
The native population, largely of Arab descent, follows Islam, the official religion. A large number of people still live a nomadic life. Arabic is the official language, but Hindi, Urdu, and Persian are also widely spoken. A large portion of the work force consists of foreign skilled laborers. The United Arab Emirates University is the country's only institution of higher learning.