United Arab Emirates's capital - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com United Arab Emirates's capital Definitions of United Arab Emirates's capital 1 n a sheikhdom of eastern Arabia and capital of the United Arab Emirates Synonyms: the capital city of a nation Word Family Usage Examples Sign up, it's free! Whether you're a student, an educator, or a life-long learner, Vocabulary.com can put you on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement. Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. - definition of Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. by The Free Dictionary Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. - definition of Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . A·bu Dha·bi (ä′bo͞o dä′bē) A sheikhdom and city of eastern Arabia on the Persian Gulf. The city is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. With enormous oil revenues, the sheikhdom has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

Abu Dhabi (ˈæbuː ˈdɑːbɪ) n (Placename) a sheikhdom (emirate) of SE Arabia, on the S coast of the Persian Gulf: the chief sheikhdom and capital of the United Arab Emirates, consisting principally of the port of Abu Dhabi and a desert hinterland; contains major oilfields. Pop: 476 000 (2005 est). Area: 67 350 sq km (25 998 sq miles) A•bu Dha•bi (ˈɑ bu ˈdɑ bi) n. 1. a sheikdom in the N United Arab Emirates, on the S coast of the Persian Gulf. 670,125. 2. the capital of this sheikdom and the capital of the United Arab Emirates. 363,432. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: From sleepy sheikhdom to capital of bling | Toronto Star From sleepy sheikhdom to capital of bling Richest, tallest, vastest, grandest . . . bigger is always better in Dubai's colossus of materialism, writes Rosie DiManno.

Rolf Schneebeli of the World Gold Council shows off a 1kg gold bar in Dubai in this March file photo. (REUTERS FILE PHOTO) By Rosie DiManno Columnist Sun., June 10, 2007 DUBAI–In 1908, this humble little sheikhdom listed its "wealth" in an inventory document that now resides in a local museum. To wit: 4,000 date trees, 1,650 camels, 45 horses, 380 donkeys, 430 cattle and 960 goats. Life was eked out from the least of resources, an existence of minimalism. These days, Dubai is all about the oasis bling and the superlatives – richest, tallest, vastest, grandest – that stagger imagination. World's tallest skyscraper, rising one floor per week and designed to accommodate future storey additions, should a challenger arise. World's largest cultural project, which has a strong Canadian component through Toronto-based Lord Cultural Resources.

World's largest theme park in Dubailand, eventually growing to three times the size of Manhattan World's three largest artificial islands, the development constructed to resemble a palm tree and a map of the globe. More shopping malls per consumer and more gold per resident than in any city on the planet. Etcetera. It is material gluttony and, while Islam is the official religion in the United Arab Emirates, the god most fervently worshipped here is Mammon. And it was all imagined from sand scratch, not four decades past, when oil was struck offshore and a sleepy emirate, known primarily for fishing and pearl diving – as well as a hub for transhipping contraband goods – dreamed big, even then looking far beyond the finite era of petrodollars. Relatively speaking, Dubai has very little in the way of oil reserves, far less than the capital of the seven-emirate UAE federation, Abu Dhabi, which boasts some 10 per cent of the global total. Indeed, Dubai's oil stores are expected to run out within a few years, perhaps as soon as 2010. Not that it will matter.

The emirate has transformed itself into a financial, real estate, trade and manufacturing colossus, squeezed in between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, invulnerable to the vicissitudes of the oil industry. Dubai intends to secure status as a world tourism leader – more than 6 million visitors last year; aiming for 15 million within three years. Already, 700,000 Britons visit annually. Last week, United Arab Emirates Airlines announced it was launching a direct Toronto-to-Dubai route. Endlessly, and despite its pocket-sized geographical dimensions, Dubai keeps growing – more, more, always more, as if it can't get enough of itself. There are more cranes in tiny Dubai, reportedly, than in all of China. The emirate, tangled in traffic where once camels grazed, is a giant and non-stop construction site, ever more ambitious projects adding to the 46 themed mega malls that already exist, the posh highrises, faux ski hills and rollicking nightlife complete with blatant prostitution. Modesty persists in the details. There are pink, female-only taxis, driven by women.

And Arabic grace notes can be found in the few surviving historical buildings, the cacophony of the gold souk, the desert picnics for families hanging on to a shred of their simple past, the pristine white dishdashas still favoured by many men as they juggle prayer beads and cellphones, the women covered to their eyeballs perambulating among the miniskirts. An autocratic city-state ruled by a hereditary dynasty, Dubai is stoically apolitical, no anti-West or anti-American sloganeering here. It is also an improbable oasis of peace and prosperity in the Middle East, resounding with self-confidence unknown in most of the Arab world, unapologetic in embracing the modern. No significant attempt has been made to impose democratic ideals and the sheikhs aren't being pushed for electoral reform by any grassroots movement. In this benevolent sheikhdom, the native-born are guaranteed white-collar management jobs, qualified or not, and cradle-to-grave benefits.

Alarmed by the growing number of marriages to non-nationals – in all of the Emirates, fewer than 1 in 10 people in the 4.1 million population is a native citizen – the government has encouraged unions from within by establishing the UAE Marriage Fund. With weddings astronomically expensive, the fund contributes up to $20,000 to defray costs for couple who qualify. Throwing money at a problem is always the answer in Dubai and generally this works just fine. Freewheeling capitalism is at the heart of the thing, attracting entrepreneurs and foreign investors who have found a refuge for towering, unobstructed ambition. Free-trade zones established in the desert boast no taxes, no customs, no restrictions on transferring funds and almost no red tape. But what Dubai can't micromanage is the core fact that, with a population of only 1.4 million – most of whom have not been reared to get their hands dirty – self-sufficiency is impossible. Eighty-five per cent of the workforce is foreign, drawn largely from India and South Asia.

Occupations are nearly always stratified by race, with the local mantra as follows: "Asian labourers; Lebanese and Western managers; Emirate owners." 2013 Dubai, United Arab Emirates | World Capital Institute 2013 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Submitted by admin on Sun, 2013-03-03 01:08 2013 Awards Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Nominated as Knowledge-City Region. Dubai is a city-state in the United Arab Emirates, located within the emirate of the same name. The emirate of Dubai is located southeast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and is one of the seven emirates that make up the country. It has the largest population in the UAE (2,104,895) and the second-largest land territory by area (4,114 km2) after Abu Dhabi.[4] Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the national capital, are the only two emirates to have veto power over critical matters of national importance in the country's legislature.[5] The city of Dubai is located on the emirate's northern coastline and heads up the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area.

Dubai is nowadays often misperceived as a country or city-state and, in some cases, the UAE as a whole has been described as 'Dubai'.[6]The earliest mention of Dubai is in 1095 AD, and the earliest recorded settlement in the region dates from 1799. The Sheikhdom of Dubai was formally established in 1833 by Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti Al-Maktoum when he persuaded around 800 members of his tribe of the Beni Yas, living in what is then the Second Saudi State and now part of Saudi Arabia, to follow him to the Dubai Creek by the Abu Falasa clan of the Beni Yas. It remained under the tribe's control when the United Kingdom assumed protection of the Sheikhdom in 1892[7] and joined the nascent United Arab Emirates upon independence in 1971 as the country's second emirate.

Its strategic geographic location made the town an important trading hub and by the beginning of the 20th century, Dubai was already an important regional port.Today, Dubai has emerged as a cosmopolitan metropolis that has grown steadily to become a global city and a business and cultural hub of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region.[8] Although Dubai's economy was historically built on the oil industry, the emirate's Western-style model of business drives its economy with the main revenues now coming from tourism, real estate, and financial services.[9][10][11] Dubai has recently attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and sports events. The city has become symbolic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, such as the world's tallest Burj Khalifa, in addition to ambitious development projects including man-made islands, hotels, and some of the largest shopping malls in the region and the world.

This increased attention has also highlighted labor and human rights issues concerning the city's largely South Asian paid workforce.[12] Dubai's property market experienced a major deterioration in 2008--2009 as a result of the worldwide economic downturn following the financial crisis of 2007-2008.[13] However, Dubai has made a steady and gradual recovery with help coming from neighboring emirates.As of 2012, Dubai is the 22nd most expensive city in the world, surpassing London (25th) and is the most expensive city in the Middle East, surpassing Israel's Tel Aviv (31st).[15][16] Dubai has also been rated as one of the best places to live in the Middle East, including by US American global consulting firm Mercer who rated the city as the best place to live in the Middle East in 2011. (Source: ). Extra files: United Arab Emirates | Article about United Arab Emirates by The Free Dictionary United Arab Emirates | Article about United Arab Emirates by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Acronyms , Wikipedia .

United Arab Emirates, federation of sheikhdoms (2005 est. pop. 2,563,000), c.30,000 sq mi (77,700 sq km), SE Arabia, on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The federation, commonly known as the UAE, consists of seven sheikhdoms: Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi , Arab. Abu Zabi, sheikhdom (1995 pop. 928,360), c.26,000 sq mi (67,300 sq km), part of the federation of seven United Arab Emirates, SE Arabia, on the Persian Gulf. ..... Click the link for more information. (territorially the largest of the sheikhdoms), Ajman Ajman , sheikhdom (1995 pop. 118,812), c.100 sq mi (260 sq km), part of the federation of seven United Arab Emirates, SE Arabia, primarily on the Persian Gulf. The smallest member of the federation, Ajman consists principally of a town (1995 pop. ..... Click the link for more information.

, Dubai Dubai , sheikhdom (2010 est. pop. 1,800,000), c.1,500 sq mi (3,890 sq km), part of the federation of seven United Arab Emirates, SE Arabia, on the Persian Gulf. Nearly all of the sheikhdom's settled population is concentrated in the city of Dubai (2006 pop. ..... Click the link for more information. , Fujairah Fujairah , sheikhdom (1995 pop. 76,254), c.450 sq mi (1,170 sq km), part of the federation of seven United Arab Emirates, SE Arabia, on the Gulf of Oman. Agriculture, fishing, boatbuilding are principal industries; there also is a port. ..... Click the link for more information. , Ras al-Khaimah Ras al-Khaimah , sheikhdom (1995 pop. 144,430), c.650 sq mi (1,680 sq km), United Arab Emirates, SE Arabia, on the Persian Gulf; the northernmost of the seven sheikdoms in the federation. .....

Click the link for more information. , Sharjah Sharjah , sheikhdom (1995 pop. 400,339), c.1,000 sq mi (2,590 sq km), part of the federation of seven United Arab Emirates, SE Arabia, on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The modernized town of Sharjah (1995 pop. ..... Click the link for more information. , and Umm al-Qaiwain Umm al-Qaiwain , sheikhdom (1995 pop. 35,157), c.300 sq mi (780 sq km), part of the federation of seven United Arab Emirates, SE Arabia, on the Persian Gulf. It is the least populous and least developed emirate. ..... Click the link for more information. . The city of Abu Dhabi (1991 est. pop. 798,000) in Abu Dhabi is the capital. Land and People The land is largely hot, dry desert. Located in the eastern portion of the federation is a portion of the Jabal al Akhdar Mts.

Less than half of the inhabitants of the UAE are Arabs, while South Asians make up about 40%, and there are also Iranians, East Asians, and Westerners. Only about 20% of the UAE's population are native citizens. The nonindigenous population was first attracted by the employment provided by the UAE's petroleum boom. Muslims comprise 96% of the population (80% of these are Sunni, the balance Shiite) and the remaining 4% are largely Christian or Hindu. The official language is Arabic, but Farsi and English are widely used, and Hindi and Urdu are spoken by many of the South Asians. Economy Industries involving the area's oil and natural-gas deposits are still critical to the economy, and provide the bulk of export earnings. However, the country's increasingly diversified economy relies also on international banking, financial services, regional corporate headquarters, and tourism. The traditional occupations of fishing and pearling are still practiced, and there is some agriculture (dates, vegetables, watermelon, poultry). Aluminum, fertilizer, and textiles are manufactured, and there is commercial ship repair. Imports include machinery and equipment, chemicals, and food; trading partners are Japan, India, Great Britain, South Korea, and China.

The UAE has a large trade surplus. Government The UAE is governed under the constitution of 1971, which was made permanent in 1996. A Federal Supreme Council (FSC), composed of the seven emirate rulers, is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE. The president, who is the head of state, is elected by the FSC for a five-year term, with no term limits. The government is headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the president. The highest legislative body is the unicameral Federal National Council, with 40 members. The members were previously all appointed by the rulers of the constituent states, but beginning in 2006 elections (initially participated in only by a select group of voters) were held for half the members; the rest are still appointed. Local matters are dealt with by the sheikhs. Administratively, the country is divided into the seven emirates. History The states that comprise the UAE were formerly known as the Trucial States, Trucial Coast, or Trucial Oman.

The term trucial refers to the fact that the sheikhs ruling the seven constituent states were bound by truces concluded with Great Britain in 1820 and by an agreement made in 1892 accepting British protection. Before British intervention, the area was notorious for its pirates and was called the Pirate Coast. After World War II the British granted internal autonomy to the sheikhdoms. Discussion of federation began in 1968 when Britain announced its intended withdrawal from the Persian Gulf area by 1971. Originally Bahrain Bahrain or Bahrein , officially Kingdom of Bahrain, constitutional monarchy and archipelago (2005 est. pop. 688,300), 266 sq mi (689 sq km), in the Persian Gulf. The two main islands are Bahrain and Al Muharraq, connected by a causeway. ..... Click the link for more information. and Qatar Qatar or Katar , officially State of Qatar, independent emirate (2005 est. pop.

863,000), c.4,400 sq mi (11,400 sq km), E Arabia, coextensive with the Qatar peninsula, which projects into the Persian Gulf. The capital and largest city is Doha. ..... Click the link for more information. were to be part of the federation, but after three years of negotiations they chose to be independent. Ras al-Khaimah at first opted for independence but reversed its decision in 1972. After the 1973 rise in oil prices, the UAE was transformed from an impoverished region with many nomads to a sophisticated state with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world and a broad social welfare system. In 1981 the UAE joined the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The fall of the shah of Iran in 1979, the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, and the Iran-Iraq War Iran-Iraq War, 1980–88, protracted military conflict between Iran and Iraq. It officially began on Sept.

22, 1980, with an Iraqi land and air invasion of western Iran, although Iraqi spokespersons maintained that Iran had been engaging in artillery attacks on Iraqi towns ..... Click the link for more information. threatened the stability of the UAE in the 1980s. In 1990, Iraq accused the UAE and Kuwait of overproduction of oil. The UAE participated with international coalition forces against Iraq during the Persian Gulf War Persian Gulf Wars, two conflicts involving Iraq and U.S.-led coalitions in the late 20th and early 21st cent. The First Persian Gulf War, also known as the Gulf War, Jan.–Feb. ..... Click the link for more information. (1991). Since the Gulf War the UAE has expanded its international contacts and diplomatic relations. A dispute erupted with Saudi Arabia in 1999 over relations with Iran, a traditional enemy; while Saudi Arabia appeared willing to seek improved ties, the emirates still regarded Iran as a foe.

Sheikh Zaid ibn Sultan al-Nahayan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, was president of the UAE from the founding of the federation until his death in 2004, when his son and heir, Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zaid Al Nahayan, was elected to succeeded him. The financial crisis that resulted in Dubai in 2009, as the speculative bubble there collapsed and the government-owned Dubai World conglomerate struggled with huge debts, affected all the sheikhdoms to some degree and shook the banking system, and Dubai was forced to seek significant financial aid from Abu Dhabi. In 2011 Emirati forces aided Bahrain in suppressing prodemocracy demonstrations. The UAE itself did not experience Arab Spring Arab Spring, in modern North African and Middle Eastern history, antigovernment demonstrations and uprisings that, from late 2010, swept many of the regions' Arab nations. ..... Click the link for more information. protests, but in 2013 more that 60 people were convicted of plotting the government's overthrow. An Islamist group that has called for political reforms and engaged in social service work was said to be behind the plot. Bibliography See D.

Hawley, The Trucial States (1971); E. Mallakh, The Economic Development of the United Arab Emirates (1981); M. Peck, The United Arab Emirates (1986); A. O. Taryam, The Establishment of the United Arab Emirates (1987). United Arab Emirates (UAE, al-Amirat al-Arabiya al-Muttahida), a state in Southwest Asia, on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bounded by Qatar on the north, Saudi Arabia on the south and southwest, and Oman on the northeast and southeast, and it is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf on the north and the Gulf of Oman on the east. The UAE comprises the emirates of Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate, with an area of 65,000 sq km, Dubai (Dubayy), Sharjah (Ash Shariqah), Ajman (Ujman), Ras al-Khaimah (Ra’s al Khay-mah), Umm al-Qaiwain (Umm al Qawain), and Fujairah (Al Fujayrah).

The population of the emirates is Abu Dhabi, more than 100,000 (1973); Dubai, more than 100,000; Sharjah, about 60,000; Ajman, more than 5,000; Ras al-Khaimah, more than 30,000; Umm al-Qaiwain, 5,000; and Fujairah, more than 15,000. The UAE also includes a number of islands in the Persian Gulf. The emirates cover an area of 83,600 sq km (according to the UN Statistical Yearbook for 1972), and their total population was estimated at 320,000 in late 1973, up from 200,000 in 1972 (UN estimate). The provisional capital is Abu Dhabi. Constitution and government. The UAE is a federal state, and all the emirates are absolute monarchies. Only Abu Dhabi, which has a cabinet and a national consultative council, resembles a constitutional monarchy.

In accordance with the provisional federal constitution of the UAE, adopted in June 1971, the rulers of the emirates make up the Supreme Council, a legislative body that elects a president and a vice-president. The president appoints the prime minister and cabinet members. The 40-member Federal National Council is an advisory body, and the number of seats allocated to each emirate on the council depends on its influence within the UAE. Natural features. The UAE extends for 600 km along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. Its predominantly low coast is indented by shallow bays and is fringed by numerous islands. Coral reefs stretch for a considerable distance along the coast. Most of the area is covered with sandy desert plains and salt flats. In the west are rocky deserts, and in the east lie the spurs of the Oman Mountains, consisting of mesa massifs (maximum elevation, 1,127 m) composed of limestone, serpentinite, and shale. The chief mineral resource is petroleum. The climate is tropical and dry, with January temperatures of about 20°C and July temperatures of about 30°-35°C, reaching a maximum of 50°C.

The plains receive between 100 and 150 mm of rainfall annually and the mountains between 300 and 400 mm, with the maximum occurring in winter. There are no permanent rivers, but wadis are numerous. In the country’s few oases grow vineyards, date palms, acacias, and tamarisks; mangoes, bananas, lemons, and tobacco are also cultivated here. The mountains are covered with savanna vegetation. Rabbits, jerboas, gazelles, and several species of lizards and snakes inhabit the desert regions. The coastal waters in the Persian Gulf are rich in pearls and fish, including sardines and herring. Population. Arabs constitute more than 90 percent of the total population. A considerable number of them are Palestinians and immigrants from other Arab countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. In addition to Arabs, the urban population includes Iranians, Baluchi, immigrants from India, Pakistan, and Africa, and a small number of British and Americans. Outside the cities, the native Arab population has preserved its tribal social structure.

The major sedentary Arab tribes in the UAE are the Qawasim, Manasir, Bani Yas, and Dhawahir, and the largest tribe of nomads and seminomads is the Bani Qitab. The official language is Arabic. The overwhelming majority of the people are Sunni Muslims. Both the Muslim (lunar Hegira) and Gregorian calendars are used. Between 1963 and 1971 the population increased at an average annual rate of 3 percent. Immigration has been stimulated by the rapid development of the oil industry. Most of the population is concentrated along the coast and in the oases. In 1970 urban dwellers accounted for 52 percent of the total population. The largest cities are Abu Dhabi (46,000 inhabitants in 1973), Dubai, and Sharjah. Historical survey. The territory occupied by the emirates was part of Oman in antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the beginning of modern times. However, over the centuries, many of the principalities in the area enjoyed considerable independence.

In the sixth century B.C ., the area came under the control of the Persian Achaemenid dynasty, and from the third to the sixth century A.D ., it was part of the Sassanian state. In the seventh century, during the rise of feudalism, the territory was incorporated into the Caliphate, and Islam became the dominant religion. In the mid-eighth century, the inhabitants of the area, chiefly those of Sharjah and Dubai, took part in an uprising of Omani tribes against the vicegerent of the Umayyad caliph. As a consequence, de facto independent princes ruled the principalities from the mid-eighth century to the late ninth century, when they became vassals of the Abbasids. In the 13th century, the area was several times invaded by the Hulaguids. From the early 16th to the mid-17th century part of the region came under Portuguese rule, and later Iran, Turkey, the rulers of Oman, and the Wahhabis fought for control over the area. From time to time the rulers of one of the principalities, usually Sharjah, would seize the coastal regions of southwestern Iran.

In the 18th century, the population of the area, which had been engaged chiefly in coastal trade, was drawn into a conflict with the British East India Company, whose ships monopolized the cargo traffic between the ports of the Persian Gulf, depriving the inhabitants of their livelihood. There were incessant conflicts between the East India Company and the local Arabs, whom the British regarded as pirates, and the British named the region the Pirate Coast. In the early 19th century, the East India Company sent military forces to the region under the pretext of combating piracy, and in 1820 it compelled the emirs and sheikhs of seven Arab principalities to sign the General Peace Treaty, which paved the way for British control over the area and for the permanent partition of ancient Oman into the Imamate of Oman, the Sultanate of Muscat, and the Pirate Coast. Subsequently, in 1835, 1839, 1853, and 1892, new agreements were signed between representatives of the East India Company and local rulers, resulting in the establishment of a British protectorate.

After seizing this strategically important territory, the British colonialists renamed it Trucial Oman in 1853 and established military bases, mostly in Sharjah. Political authority was exercised through a British “political agent,” who was subordinate to a resident based first in Bushire (Iran) and later in Bahrain. British domination did not alter the feudal or tribal relations that survived in Trucial Oman. In the 1920’s an anti-British movement arose in Trucial Oman. Centered in Sharjah and Ras al-Khaiman, the movement caused concern to the colonial authorities, particularly after rich oil reserves were discovered in the area, chiefly in Abu Dhabi, and drilling was begun by foreign oil monopolies. To strengthen their position, the colonial authorities encouraged the adoption of plans, which they had proposed as early as the 1920’s, to create a federation of principalities. In 1968, after Britain’s Labour government had announced the withdrawal of British forces from regions east of the Suez Canal, including the Persian Gulf, by the end of 1971, the Trucial States signed an agreement to form a federation of Arab sheikhdoms in the Persian Gulf.

The federation was to include Bahrain and Qatar, which were also protectorates of Great Britain. The plan failed, however, owing to disagreements among the future participants in the federation and to the sporadic opposition of Saudi Arabia and especially Iran. The growth of the national liberation movement in the Near East, the breakdown of the imperialist colonial system, and a drastic weakening of Great Britain’s military, political, and economic power compelled Britain to relinquish its protectorate over Trucial Oman, as well as Qatar and Bahrain, and to withdraw its troops from the area (the withdrawal was completed by the end of 1971). The independent state of the United Arab Emirates, proclaimed on Dec. 2, 1971, comprised the sheikhdoms of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Umm al-Qaiwain, and Ajman. In 1972, Ras al-Khaimah joined the federation. On Dec. 2, 1971, Great Britain and the UAE concluded a friendship treaty providing for “consultation, in the event of need, regarding all matters of interest to both sides.” On Dec.

6, 1971, the UAE joined the Arab League, and on Dec. 9, 1971, it became a member of the UN. In December 1971, diplomatic relations were established between the Soviet Union and the UAE. In the 1970’s the UAE took part in all Arab summit talks and participated in attempts to resolve the Middle East crisis. G. L. B ONDAREVSKII Economy. The UAE’s economy is based on the extraction of oil, which began on an industrial scale in the 1960’s. The emirate of Abu Dhabi is one of the major producers of crude oil in the Near East, holding tenth place among capitalist and developing countries in 1972. In 1973,62.7 million tons of oil were produced by Abu Dhabi and 12 million tons by Dubai. Oil exploration and extraction are conducted by mixed companies owned by both national and foreign capital (British, Anglo-Dutch, French, American, and Japanese).

In 1974, 25 percent of the stock of these companies was transferred to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, whose share is to increase to 51 percent by 1982. The Abu Dhabi National Petroleum Company was formed in late 1973. Since 1972, the government of the UAE has received concessionary payments from the foreign companies and 55 percent of their net profits from the sale of oil. The income from oil, totaling more than £450 million in Abu Dhabi in 1973 and £72 million in Dubai, is used for economic development. Also important are the extraction of salt and ochre. Special attention is being given to creating an infrastructure and building industrial enterprises. Among enterprises under construction in 1974, largely with foreign capital, were a cement factory, a gas plant, a sulfur factory, an oil refinery, and a petrochemical works. Abu Dhabi has assumed the leading role in the economic development of the UAE. The trade and financial center of the UAE is Dubai: about 85 percent of its imports are reexported to the other emirates and to neighboring countries.

Feudal and clan-tribal relations persist in certain economic sectors not associated with the petroleum industry. The traditional occupations are fishing (a catch of about 15,000 tons in 1973), pearl fishing (which provided 90 percent of the national income before the 1960’s but whose importance has since declined sharply), oasis agriculture (date-palms, fruit, cereals, raised mainly in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, and Umm al-Qaiwain), and nomadic livestock raising. Handicrafts, which are especially well developed in Dubai and Sharjah, include rug-making, the weaving of wool cloth, and the chasing of gold and silver objects. Motor vehicles provide the chief means of transportation, although pack animals are still used. In 1973 the country had about 720 km of motor-vehicle roads. The chief ports are Abu Dhabi and Rashid, in Dubai. A dry dock for the repair of oil supertankers was under construction in Dubai in 1974. The cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah have international airports.

The principal exports, in addition to oil, are fresh and dried fish, dates, and pearls. The main imports are equipment (Abu Dhabi 46 percent and Dubai 27 percent), food, and various consumer goods, such as clothing and electrical houshold appliances. The chief trading partners are Great Britain (supplying more than 35 percent of Abu Dhabi’s imports and about 20 percent of Dubai’s imports), the USA (14 percent), Japan, Switzerland, India, and the Federal Republic of Germany. Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm al-Qaiwain also derive revenue from the sale of their postage stamps. The monetary unit is the federal dirham, introduced in May 1973. G. V. M ILOSLAVSKII Education. Until the mid-20th century, the only schools in the sheikhdoms and sultanates of the UAE were small study groups affiliated with mosques. The first secular primary schools were founded in the 1950’s, and a law providing for free education was enacted in the 1960’s.

The educational system consists of preschool institutions for children between the ages of four and six, four-year primary schools, three-year lower secondary schools, and three-year upper secondary schools. Boys and girls are educated separately. In rural localities, primary school education lasts no more than two or three years. In the 1973–74 school year the UAE had about 100 schools with an enrollment of about 50,000 students, of whom 32,000 attended primary schools, 14,000 lower secondary schools, and 3,000 upper secondary schools. Vocational training is offered in business and agricultural schools and in centers for training personnel for the petroleum industry in Abu Dhabi. In the 1973–74 school year more than 700 persons were enrolled in vocational schools and centers. Specialized secondary schools include a secondary polytechnical school, a secondary business school, and a pedagogical institute (all founded in 1972) in Abu Dhabi and a women’s pedagogical institute (founded in 1968) in Sharjah. There are no institutions of higher learning.

United Arab Emirates What is the Capital of United Arab Emirates? - Capital-of.com Dates of religious and Civil holidays around the world. Capital of United Arab Emirates The Capital City of United Arab Emirates is the city of Abu Dhabi. The population of Abu Dhabi in the year 2006 was 4,621,399. United Arab Emirates is an Arabic speaking country on the coasts of the (Arabian Peninsala and the Persian Gulf (Indian Ocean. Additional Information Abu Dhabi | national capital, United Arab Emirates | Britannica.com national capital, United Arab Emirates Written By: Arab Monetary Fund Abu Dhabi, Arabic Abū Ẓaby, city and capital of Abū Ẓaby emirate, one of the United Arab Emirates (formerly Trucial States, or Trucial Oman), and the national capital of that federation. The city occupies most of a small triangular island of the same name, just off the Persian Gulf coast and connected to the mainland by a short bridge. Abu Dhabi was formerly an undeveloped town of only local importance, but the emirate’s oil revenues enabled it to evolve into a modern city with a fully developed infrastructure . Mosque (foreground) in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Chris Mellor—Lonely Planet Images/Getty Images Time-lapse video of Abu Dhabi city, United Arab Emirates. © Beno Saradzic; original score by Vladimir Persan (A Britannica Publishing Partner) No settlement existed at Abu Dhabi town before 1761, when tribesmen of the Āl bū Falāh clan of the Banū Yās, rulers of Abu Dhabi then as now, settled there. They moved their headquarters to this coastal islet from the inland Līwā (Al-Jiwāʾ) oasis in 1795. Through most of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the town, though capital of one of the chief sheikhdoms of the Trucial Coast, yielded pride of place in trade and economic importance to the towns of Dubai and Al-Shāriqah , capitals of neighbouring Trucial sheikhdoms. At the beginning of the 20th century, Abu Dhabi town’s population was estimated at 6,000; pearl diving from the rich offshore banks and some local trade (chiefly in the hands of Iranians and Hindus) sustained the economy.

Pearling declined with the development of the Japanese cultured-pearl industry and the worldwide economic depression beginning in 1929. The discovery (1958) and commercial production (since 1962) of the rich oil fields of Abū Ẓaby emirate revolutionized the political and economic position of the town. Great Britain, as the protecting power of the then Trucial States, established a separate Political Agency at Abu Dhabi in 1961, removing the sheikhdom from dependence on the political agent at Dubai. As capital of the chief oil-producing state in the region, Abu Dhabi town had large sums available for urban development. The town modernized slowly, however, because of the extremely conservative policies of Sheikh Shakhbūṭ ibn Sulṭān Āl Nahyān (reigned 1928–66). In the latter year, he was deposed in favour of his younger brother Zāyid ibn Sulṭān , former governor of the Abu Dhabi-controlled portion of Al-Buraymī oasis.

Sheikh Zāyid began developing a road network radiating from Abu Dhabi town and had a seawall built along the northern end of the island containing the town. Under an ambitious five-year development plan, inaugurated in 1968, the town was thoroughly modernized. Electricity, running water, and a central sewerage system were installed; modern government buildings, hotels, housing projects, and a new port extension were built. An oil refinery on nearby Umm al-Nār Island began production in 1976. Abu Dhabi’s international airport is at the south end of the island. Light industry is concentrated at nearby Muṣaffaḥ. Motor roads link the cities of Abu Dhabi with Dubai (northeast), Al-ʿAyn (Al-Ain) oasis (east), and Qatar (west). Abu Dhabi (city), United Arab Emirates. © Vladimir Maravic/Shutterstock.com Kankan When Britain finally left the Persian Gulf and when the United Arab Emirates achieved political independence (December 1971), a compromise decision made Abu Dhabi the provisional national capital. It was made the permanent capital of the United Arab Emirates in the early 1990s.

Since that time, a number of projects have been initiated to expand the city as a centre for tourism and commerce. Development plans in Abu Dhabi rapidly led to the construction of a variety of landmark hotels, the establishment of an international airline, Etihad (Al-Ittiḥād) Airways, to serve the capital, and the development of a range of commercial and residential properties. Pop. (2005 prelim.) 633,136. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. © mirubi/Fotolia United Arab Emirates's capital: Synonyms in English United Arab Emirates's capital: Detailed Synonyms for United Arab Emirates's capital in English United Arab Emirates's capital: United Arab Emirates's capital [the ~] noun the United Arab Emirates's capital – a sheikhdom of eastern Arabia and capital of the United Arab Emirates 1 Related Definitions for "United Arab Emirates's capital": a sheikhdom of eastern Arabia and capital of the United Arab Emirates1 Related Synonyms for United Arab Emirates's capital

Question: Which sheikhdom is the capital of the United Arab Emirates?
Answer: Abu Dhabi