The capital of the United Arab Emirates. What do the names of the emirates and their cities mean?

The country of sheikhs - the United Arab Emirates - is located in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. The shores are washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean (Gulf of Oman).

Why go to the UAE

UAE - Dreamland, where skyscrapers made of glass and metal take off into the sky among the sands of an endless desert; a place where ancient customs are combined with the latest technologies. If you like excellent hotel service, shopping from morning to evening, swimming in the ever-warm sea and picky about the choice of entertainment - you are here. The Emirates are home to the world's largest aquarium, a ski resort in the desert, amazingly beautiful mosques and, of course, many shopping centers with thousands of shops.

Visa to the UAE

A visa is not required to travel to the UAE. Upon arrival in the UAE, a tourist's passport is stamped free of charge on arrival in the country. The visa is valid for 30 days. In the case of several entries / exits from the country, you need to obtain visas each time.

The country unites 7 emirates. The largest emirate is , the smallest is . All emirates, except, have sections on the coast of the Persian Gulf. located on the coast of the Gulf of Oman.

When choosing tours in the UAE, tourists prefer the emirates and.

Weather in the UAE

The season in the UAE lasts all year round - warm and almost no rain. best time to visit the Emirates is considered the period from late October to April, when it is not very hot. The water in the sea off the coast of the UAE is always warm: the temperature does not fall below 18°C. In winter, the water in the pools of the UAE hotels is heated, its temperature is 25-27 °C. In summer, the air temperature can reach 50 °C, and the sea - 35 °C.

Round trip flights to UAE

Ticket prices shown are for 1 person departing from Berlin

Attractions UAE

The Emirates cannot boast of many historical sights, like the cities of Europe or Asia. The rapid development of the country began only half a century ago. However, the lack of ancient ruins and ancient houses of the city of the UAE is more than compensated by ultra-modern skyscrapers, luxurious amusement parks, beautiful embankments and, of course, oriental bazaars in air-conditioned shopping centers.

The very best in the Emirates

If you want to definitely touch history and culture, then you should pay attention to beautiful mosques - for example, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in - or the Bastakiya district, where clay houses, a fort building and the atmosphere of an Arab village have been preserved.

Picturesque oases are “scattered” throughout the emirates, and in the emirates there are healing mineral springs. Wildlife lovers are recommended to visit the unique mangrove reserve, the zoo and the Sheikh's Palace in the city of Al Ain in Abu Dhabi.

On excursions to the UAE, you can go to the desert in jeeps and ATVs, travel around all the emirates and even visit the neighboring Sultanate of Oman, sail on a yacht on man-made islands or simply in the Persian Gulf, even fly by helicopter near the Burj Khalifa or on hot-air balloon over the surroundings.

shopping

People go to the UAE for quality shopping - there are many multi-storey shopping centers and markets. The most famous of them are Dubai Mall (The Dubai Mall), Mall of the Emirates (Mall of the Emirates), the Souk Madinat Jumeirah quarter next to the Palm Jumeirah, the Gold Souk in the Dubai district of Deira, Abu Dhabi Mall. ​

Souvenirs

The most popular souvenirs brought by tourists from the UAE are chocolate and candies based on camel milk, amazing dates with and without filling, soft toys, seven sands - a bottle of multi-colored sand from different emirates, small carpets, hookahs, jewelry and jewelry.

Transport

Compared to Russia, public transport in the UAE is very poorly developed. This is due to the fact that almost every resident has his own car. Buses and metro are mainly used by labor migrants and tourists. Regular urban bus service only available in Abu Dhabi. A bus ticket is inexpensive - about 1.5 dirhams.

Most tourists take taxis. Each machine is equipped with a counter. If you are traveling from one emirate to another, be prepared for the fact that a certain amount will be added for crossing the “border” (each emirate has its own, but not more than $ 5). You will also have to pay extra for travel on toll roads.

The metro is popular with both locals and tourists. It is fully automatic, there are no drivers. In total, the Dubai Metro has 2 lines, they are connected to each other and to the tram line. There are 3 categories of tickets for payment - "gold" (with a panoramic view and a guarantee of a seat in the head / tail car, they cost 2 times more than regular tickets), women's and children's tickets (tickets to a certain section of the car) and ordinary. Ticket prices range from 1.8 to 11 dirhams.

There is a tram line in the Dubai Marina area, and a monorail railway on the Palm Jumeirah, which tourists like to ride. One trip on the monorail costs 15 dirhams.

To rent a car in the UAE, you will need an International Driving Permit and a credit card. All registered cards issued in the Russian Federation are considered credit cards. In some cases, it is possible to rent a car with a Russian ID and without presenting a credit card. However, if you are stopped by the police, you will have to pay a huge fine. When renting, the amount on the bank card is “frozen” (750-2000 dirhams), it is important that it is available.

Alcohol

The UAE is a Muslim country where alcohol is banned. Each emirate establishes its own law on alcohol - for example, it doesn’t even smell like it: you can’t not only use it, but even transport and store it. Surrounded by , there are a couple of liquor stores. You can find alcoholic cocktails on the menu, but be prepared that they will be expensive. Alcohol can be brought into a hotel room in some emirates. You can buy wine, beer and other drinks in duty-free shops upon arrival, but very little. The quantity is monitored - alcohol lovers can easily deprive their favorite drink.

Customs and traditions

The religion in the UAE is Islam. Believers pray 5 times a day. The call to prayer is heard through the loudspeakers of mosques, as well as on radio and television.

holy month Ramadan- a special period for Muslims, a time of fasting, humility and prayers. Its beginning is determined by lunar calendar, every year is a new date. In 2018, Ramadan lasts from May 15 to June 14, in 2019 - from May 5 to June 3.

During Ramadan, Muslims are forbidden to eat and drink before sunset, so many cafes and restaurants are closed during the day. Tourists are not recommended to eat or drink on the street, and when going on excursions, it is worth taking food rations with you. Many hotels are being renovated just in Ramadan. However, there are also advantages from visiting the UAE at this time, and considerable ones - there are almost no traffic jams in cities and on the highway, there are no queues to attractions (many increase their opening hours until late at night), there are fewer crowds in shops, and in hotels and on beaches much quieter and more spacious.

On the street, women are strictly forbidden to appear in open or translucent clothes. Firstly, it’s indecent, and secondly, the locals will immediately call the police and “half-naked”, according to the Arabs, the tourist will be fined a round sum (the vice police is especially fierce). We recommend that you dress in such a way that your clothes cover your knees, elbows and décolleté. You can not hug and kiss on the street in public places.

Kitchen

The UAE is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf, so there will be plenty of seafood on the hotel menu: there are grilled lobsters, various fish, and shellfish. Many tourists like to try kebabs, hearty snacks based on chickpeas, exotic fruits, dates. In the emirates, they sell camel milk ice cream and milk itself.

Good to know about the UAE

• The plane is flying from Moscow to 5 o'clock. Transfer to hotels is about 1.5 hours, to hotels in Abu Dhabi - about 2 hours.
• Time in UAE ahead of Moscow by 1 hour.
• In the three emirates - , and - charged tourist tax for accommodation. The tax is payable upon check-in at the hotel (in dirhams, foreign currency or bank card). The amount of tax in and is $2 to $6 per night depending on the star rating of the hotel. In Abu Dhabi, tourists pay $5 per night, regardless of the hotel category.
• In most hotels in the UAE upon check-in deposit is taken. Depending on the hotel, the spread can be very large: from $10 to $400 per day or from $50 to $600 for a period. Sometimes the deposit is calculated from the cost of the room (most often 50% of the cost of the night). The amount is returned upon departure from the hotel. In some hotels, you can agree not to pay a deposit if you empty the minibar and turn off the phone.
• It is not recommended to drink tap water in the UAE, it is desalinated or purified sea water. Bottled water is produced from oasis springs. Medium water bottle price(0.5 liters) - 1.2 dirhams.
• Religion in the UAE - Islam Sunni persuasion.
• Language in the UAE - Arab. Most people know English language, on it signs, road signs, pointers are duplicated.
• It is strictly not recommended to photograph local residents without permission, especially women. Also refrain from taking photos near government agencies.
• In the UAE, many objects do not have a permanent address - residents are guided by signs and nearby buildings.
• If you are ill, contact the insurance service at the telephone number listed in insurance policy received when purchasing the tour. If you just call an ambulance, you can get an impressive bill.
• In the UAE, cleanliness is very strict. Fine for a discarded wrapper or cigarette butt on the street or the beach is from 200 dirhams (3,200 rubles).
• Friday and Saturday in the UAE - weekend Thursday is a shortened working day. Banks, post office and government agencies close early- The working day starts at 8 am and ends at 3 pm, sometimes at 1 pm.
• Mosquitoes and mosquitoes not in the UAE, so you can do without a fumigator. Most shopping centers and public places are equipped with powerful air conditioners. To keep warm, bring sleeves with you.
• Snorkeling and diving in the UAE there is only in, in the rest of the emirates there is no bright underwater life. Flippers and a mask for those who came here on an excursion are given free of charge.
• Surprisingly, in the UAE cannot be imported nothing that was produced in Israel and even things with the Israeli logo - will be taken away at customs and may be denied entry. If you have a favorite keychain with mogendovid or you are bringing Dead Sea cosmetics to someone, it is better to leave them at home or use the mail service. The list of items prohibited for export is standard: no weapons, antiquities and cultural heritage. From the unusual - from the Emirates palm trees cannot be exported Weather by months

State structure The United Arab Emirates is a unique combination of republican and monarchical systems. The UAE is a federal state, consisting of seven emirates - absolute monarchies. The state is headed by the Emir of Abu Dhabi, the government is headed by the Emir of Dubai.

The coast of the Federation of Arab Principalities of the Persian Gulf was granted to Great Britain by treaty in the 19th century to control defenses and to assist in foreign affairs. In 1971, six of the seven emirates of "Treaty Oman" - Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai and Umm al-Quwain - announced the creation of a federation called the United Arab Emirates. The seventh emirate, Ras al-Khaimah, joined it in 1972. In terms of GDP per capita, the UAE is next to the leading Western European countries. Huge financial resources from oil revenues and a moderate approach to issues foreign policy allowed the UAE to take a vital place in the affairs of the region. The largest emirate - Abu Dhabi - occupies 85% of the territory, one third of the population of the UAE lives here.

All emirates are absolute monarchies, only in Abu Dhabi there are advisory bodies - the Cabinet and the National Advisory Council, which brings this emirate closer to a constitutional monarchy. Each emirate has its own government and administrative bodies.

The rulers of the emirates are Legislature- The Supreme Council, which elects for a period of two years the president and vice-president of the federation. The president appoints the prime minister and members of the cabinet. The Federal Council of Ministers, headed by the President, is accountable to the Supreme Council. Federal national council consists of 40 representatives from each emirate and is an advisory body. Since the founding of the UAE in 1971, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who has ruled Abu Dhabi since 1966, has been the head of state and president. On November 3, 2004, after the death of his father Khalifa ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, he became the second president of the United Arab Emirates.

The official name of the country: United Arab Emirates

Common country name: Emirates

Official name in country language: al-Imarat al-Arabiya al-Muttahid

Common name in country language: No

Former name: Oman Negotiated

Abbreviation: UAE

Administrative-territorial division of the UAE

The UAE consists of 7 emirates:

• Abu Dhabi
• Ajman
• Dubai
• Ras Al Khaimah
• Umm Al Quwain
• fujairah
• Sharjah

The capital of the UAE is the city of Abu Dhabi.

UAE Constitution: adopted December 2, 1971; operating on a permanent basis since 1996

UAE legal system: based on a dual system - Sharia courts and civil courts; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage in the UAE: No

Executive branch in the UAE: head of state - President, ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi; Vice President and Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister. Cabinet: Council of Ministers - appointed by the president. In addition - the Supreme Council of the Union, consisting of the seven rulers of the emirates; The Supreme Council of the Union is the highest constitutional body in the UAE, determines the general policy and sanctions of federal legislation, and the Council of Ministers is responsible to the Supreme Council for the implementation of these policies; meets four times a year; the rulers of the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have veto power.

Elections: The post of President of the United Arab Emirates is combined with the post of Emir of the capital emirate of Abu Dhabi. Since the emirate itself is an absolute monarchy, power in it, and therefore in the entire state, is inherited. The President of the UAE is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Chairman of the Supreme Defense Council. The head of state signs decrees and resolutions, confirmed by the Supreme Council, normative acts adopted by the Council of Ministers. In addition, the president appoints members of the diplomatic corps, senior civil and military officials, declares an amnesty or confirms death sentences. The Vice-President is appointed by the Supreme Council of the Union for a 5-year term. The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister are appointed by the President.

Legislative branch in the UAE: The legislative power in the UAE is represented by the Federal National Council (Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani), which consists of representatives from each emirate, the number of which is enshrined in the constitution and is determined depending on the population, political and economic situation in a particular emirate. Each emirate is free to choose its own method of electing representatives to the National Council. Currently, the Council consists of 40 deputies (8 each from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, 6 each from Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, and 4 each from Fujairah, Quwain and Ajman).

The National Council is not a legislative body in the full sense of the word, since it does not have legislative initiative. Its powers include only the discussion of laws proposed by the Council of Ministers and to make amendments and additions at its discretion. The Council also has the power to veto any bill. However, in this case, the President has the right to pass the law after approval by the Supreme Council of the Union.

Judiciary in the UAE: The judiciary in the UAE is represented by the Supreme Union Court, which is the supreme federal court of the United Arab Emirates. It consists of a chairman and 4 independent judges (judges are appointed by the president). The High Court governs relations between the emirates, members Supreme Union, federal and local authorities.

Coat of arms of the United Arab Emirates

The emblem of the United Arab Emirates depicts a yellow falcon - a symbol of autocracy in the country, most occupied by the desert. The tail unit symbolizes the seven emirates - seven feathers.

If earlier falconry was a way of subsistence for the inhabitants of the coast, now it has been preserved as an elite entertainment, accessible only to the most affluent people. Now in the UAE such hunting is prohibited (in order to preserve the number of desert animals), and fans of this sport have to fly to other desert countries, for example, to Turkmenistan. By the way, in Dubai there is a special hospital for falcons with anesthesia equipment, cardiac pacemakers and x-ray machines.

On the chest of a falcon in a red circle (a symbol of courage and independence in the struggle for freedom) on blue sea ​​waves the wooden schooner "dhow" glides smoothly. It was on such ships that Arab divers went to sea for pearls. And not only they - warlike pirates plowed the sea. Trade and maritime affairs have long been the main occupations of the inhabitants of the coast. From the West and the East, jewelers, pearl and jewelry merchants came to the ports of the Arabian Peninsula.

UAE flag

The flag is made in pan-Arab colors: red, green, white and black, symbolizing overall Arab unity. Separately, each of the colors has its own meaning: green - fertility; white - neutrality; black - "black gold". Merchant ships in the United Arab Emirates often use a red flag with national flag at the top left.

AND Fujairah . The territory of the emirates has long been a haven for pirates, because of this it received the name. Pirate Coast. At the beginning of the XIX century. British authorities in India began open hostilities against the coastal Arab tribes, culminating in the signing of a number of treaties with local rulers and the establishment of a British protectorate (from 1853 to Negotiated Oman ). In 1971, six principalities proclaimed the creation of an independent federal state of the UAE, which was joined in 1972 by Ras al-Khaimah. The head of the federation is the president (one of the emirs), the legislative power belongs to the Federal nat. council (only advisory functions).
B. h. is occupied by deserts, the coast is indented by bays and framed by small islands and coral reefs. On SW. low mountains (Yibir, 1934 m). Summer is very hot. Precipitation is scarce, falls irregularly, in the main. in the mountains, where sudden oncoming storms sometimes cause significant destruction. On the back mountain slopes oases. The population is more than 2.4 million people. (2001), mainly Arabs, as well as immigrants from Pakistan, Iran, India and other countries. Immigrants make up approx. 3/4 inhabitants. State. language - Arabic, religion - Islam (80% - Sunnis, 16% - Shiites). Population density 27 people. per 1 km², 85% of the townspeople. Oil production (Abu Dhabi - 83%, Dubai - 15%), oil refining, production of steel, aluminum, fertilizers, cement, plastics for machine tools and clothing, construction and repair of ships. Large gas reserves (approx. 4% of the world). Dates, vegetables, cereals are grown; developed birds, livestock, fish. Main trade. and prom. Center - Dubai. Good road network. In 1988, the port of Jebel Ali was opened with the world's largest artificial harbor. Sea resorts. Cash unit - dirham.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Federation of 7 independent states lying along east coast Arabian Peninsula. The federation includes Abu Dhabi (Abu Zabu), Ajman, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Qawain, Sharjah, Al Fujairah. Previously, their territory was called the "Coast of Pirates". In the north, the state borders on Qatar, in the west and south - on Saudi Arabia. In the north it is washed by the Persian Gulf, in the east - by the Gulf of Oman. The area of ​​the country is about 77,700 km2.
The population (estimated in 1998) is about 2,303,000 people, average density population of about 30 people per km2. Ethnic groups: Arabs - 42%, Iranians, Pakistanis, Indians. Language: Arabic (state), others. Religion: Muslims (of which Shiites - 16%, the rest Sunnis) - 80%, Christians, Hindus. The capital is Abu Dhabi. Largest cities: Abu Dhabi (605,000 people in 1990), Dubai (266,000 people in 1990). The state structure is a federation of emirates. The head of state is the President, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Ad Nahyan (in office since December 2, 1971, re-elected in 1991). The head of government is Prime Minister Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashed Al Maktoum (in office since November 20, 1990). Currency unit- dirham. Average life expectancy (for 1998): 73 years - men, 75 years - women. The birth rate (per 1,000 people) is 18.6. Mortality rate (per 1000 people) - 3.1.
Since 1883, the states that make up the federation have been called "Treaty States" or Oman Treaty, since then a treaty was signed between them and Great Britain in order to eradicate piracy in the region. Until 2 December 1971, the states were under British military protection. On December 2, 1971, the state gained full independence under the name of the United Arab Emirates. In February 1994, the President of the country introduced Sharia law to deal with the following crimes: murder, theft, adultery, drug use and sale. The country is a member of the UN, World Bank, IMF, ILO, League Arab countries, OPEC.
The sights of the country are the famous markets and one of the largest duty-free shops at the Dubai International Airport.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a state in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The area of ​​the UAE is 83.6 thousand sq. km; population 4.4 million people. In the Emirates, there are twice as many men as women, the city dwellers make up 76% of the country's population. The UAE is a federal state that emerged in 1971 as a result of the unification of six Arab principalities: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah. In 1972, the principality of Ras al-Khaimah joined them. The largest emirate - Abu Dhabi - occupies 85% of the territory, one third of the population of the UAE lives here. The capital of the UAE is the city of Abu Dhabi. Trade and tourist capital emirates is considered to be Dubai.
The Emirates occupy a crescent-shaped strip of deserts with oases stretching mainly along the coast of the shallow Persian Gulf, as well as the deep Gulf of Oman of the Indian Ocean. Low-lying plains predominate, in the east - the spurs of the Hajar mountains (1127 m), in the west - rocky deserts. In the south, in the desert, the UAE borders on Saudi Arabia (cm. Saudi Arabia), in the west - with the Emirate of Qatar, in the east, the extreme ledge of land near the Strait of Hormuz (Muscat) is occupied by the enclave of Oman a.
All emirates are absolute monarchies, only in Abu Dhabi there are advisory bodies - the Cabinet and the National Advisory Council, which brings this emirate closer to a constitutional monarchy. Each emirate has its own government and administrative bodies. The rulers of the emirates make up the legislative body - the Supreme Council, which elects the president and vice-president of the federation for a period of two years. The president appoints the prime minister and members of the cabinet. The Federal Council of Ministers, headed by the President, is accountable to the Supreme Council. The Federal National Council consists of 40 representatives from each emirate and is an advisory body. Since the founding of the UAE in 1971, the head of state has been Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who has ruled Abu Dhabi since 1966. His deputy in the Supreme Council of the seven Emirates sheikhs is the ruler of Dubai.
The basis of the country's economy is the export-oriented oil and gas industry. The oil refining, petrochemical, metallurgical (aluminum smelting), and cement industries are developing. The traditional occupations of the population are fishing, pearling, handicrafts (carpets, woolen fabrics, gold and silver products), oasis agriculture ( date palms, orchards, cereals, mainly in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain) and nomadic animal husbandry (in most of the territory). The Emirate of Abu Dhabi plays a leading role in the development of the UAE economy. Trade and financial center of the UAE - Dubai. Seaports: Jebel Ali (Dubai), Rashid (Dubai), Zeid (Abu Dhabi), Mina Khaled (Sharjah). International airports: Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Fujairah. The monetary unit is the federal dirham (since May 1973).
natural conditions
The location of the country in tropical latitudes determines its climate. The average monthly temperatures here range from +18 °C; sometimes dropping to +10 °C, in winter up to +35 °C, sometimes rising to +48 °C in summer. The arid subtropical climate provides blue clear skies all year round. In the east, in Fujairah, summers are somewhat cooler and more humid due to the proximity of the ocean and mountains. Precipitation is about 100 mm per year, in the mountains - 300-400 mm per year.
There are no permanent rivers. Temporary streams flow through the valleys, most of the year they are dry channels - wadis. Significant areas are occupied by salt marshes and sandy deserts, the vegetation here is mostly sparse, consisting of dry herbs and shrubs. Acacia, tamarisk grow in oases, date and coconut palms, grapes, lemon trees, cereals, and tobacco are cultivated. The country is located in the atmospheric tropical maximum zone, so you can not be afraid of the impact of climate on blood pressure, but it is desirable to have healthy kidneys.
In addition to the large oases of the coast - Abu Dhabi, Dubai-Rashid-Sharjah, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah, El-Fujairah, as well as stretching away from it - Qatar Et-Tarifa, Ez-Zanna, there are also oases located inland, among which Buraimi is the most significant. Very beautiful ocean coast in Fujairah. The most picturesque are the rocky outskirts of the Hatta fortress, a two-hour drive from Dubai, the Al Ain oasis and the Healy oasis near Buraimi. In the UAE, migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia find shelter in winter, and the paths of those who fly further also pass through these places.
Story
In the 7th century, the southern coast of the Persian Gulf became part of the Arab Caliphate, which spread Islam among the locals. During this period, the cities of Dubai, Sharjah, El Fujairah arose. As it weakens central government in the Caliphate, local tribal leaders - sheikhs increasingly felt like independent rulers. In the 10th-11th centuries, Eastern Arabia was part of the Karmatian state, and after its collapse fell under the influence of Oman.
Europeans rushed to the Persian Gulf at the end of the 15th century. The Portuguese were the first to gain a foothold here, having conquered Hormuz, Bahrain and Julfar (the modern emirate of Ras al-Khaimah). Since the 18th century, the population of the coastal Arab principalities, which was mainly engaged in coastal trade, has been drawn into the struggle with the English East India Company, whose ships monopolized cargo flows between the ports of the Persian Gulf and deprived the inhabitants of the main source of livelihood. This led to ongoing conflicts between the East India Company and the local Arab population, which the British called pirates, and the region of the principalities - "Pirate Coast".
The East India Company constantly sent military expeditions to the Persian Gulf, and in 1820 forced the emirs and sheikhs of seven Arab principalities to sign the "General Treaty", which marked the beginning of English dominance in this territory and the final division of Oman into three parts - the Imamate of Oman, the Sultanate of Muscat and "Pirate Coast". Since 1853, these principalities have been called Oman Trucial
British military bases were established on the territory of the principalities (in particular, on the territory of the principality of Sharjah). Political power was exercised by an English political agent. The establishment of the English protectorate did not lead to the destruction of the patriarchal system. The locals continued to hold on to ancient traditions. They could not offer serious resistance to the colonialists, due to their small number and constant civil strife between different clans. The dominant tribe in these territories was and is the Bani-yaz tribe, which originally inhabited the fertile oases of Liwa and Al Ain (the current emirate of Abu Dhabi). In 1833, one of the tribes of the Bani-yaz - the clan of Maktums - migrated from the oases and settled in Dubai, declaring the independence of the city. This is how the Maktoum dynasty was founded, which rules the emirate of Dubai.
In the early 1920s, cities in Trucial Oman developed a struggle for independence, reaching a particular scale in Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah. At the same time, the richest oil reserves were discovered in the Persian Gulf. In 1922, the British established control over the right of sheikhs to grant concessions for oil exploration and production. However, there was no oil production in Trucial Oman, and the main income for the principalities was brought by the trade in "fish eye" - pearls. With the start of oil production in the 1950s, foreign investment began to flow into the region, income from the oil trade made it possible to significantly raise the standard of living local population. But the principalities remained under the British protectorate, against which the League of Arab States opposed in 1964, declaring the right Arab peoples to complete independence.
In 1968, after the publication of the decision of the Labor government of Great Britain on its intention to withdraw British troops from the areas located east of Suez, including from the Persian Gulf zone, by the end of 1971, the principalities signed an agreement on the formation of a federation of Arab principalities of the Persian Gulf. This federation was supposed to include Bahrain and Qatar, but later they formed independent states. On December 2, 1971, six of the seven emirates of Trucial Oman announced the creation of the federation of the United Arab Emirates. The seventh emirate, Ras Al Khaimah, joined in 1972.
The granting of independence coincided with the rapid rise in prices for oil and oil products, which made it easier for the new state to take independent steps in the field of economy and foreign policy. Thanks to petrodollars and successful investment in the development of industry, agriculture, the formation of numerous free economic zones, the UAE was able to achieve economic prosperity in the shortest possible time. The ancient history of the emirates is reflected in numerous archeological monuments in the UAE. So, the ancient caravan stop in Buraimi brought surprises - archaeological finds in the Khili oasis, numbering 5 millennia.
In each of the capitals of the emirates there are palaces of rulers, old fortresses. Buildings have special "wind towers" for ventilation. For example, in Dubai, the main economic center of the country, they have ancient palace Sheikh Saed, grandfather of the current ruler. The old Al Fahidi Fort, built in the last century, houses the Dubai Museum. It contains a rich exposition of the emirate's past. The former palace-fortress of the emir in Al-Fujairah has not yet been reconstructed. There are many monuments of modern Arab architecture in the Emirates (the Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai). Ajman is one of the few, if not the only place where ancient Arab sailboats are still being made, on which Sinbad the Sailor sailed.
Tourism
The beaches in the emirates occupy one of the first most popular places in Russian tourists. The sun warms up the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf well. Almost all best hotels are located near the sea and have private beaches. You can also pay attention to the land side: go on a safari to the desert, rush by car along the dunes or sandy wadis, ride a sand surfboard from the crest of a dune, watch camel races, and finally, sit near a fire in an oasis, watching traditional Arabic dances and listening to their songs. Every week in largest cities traditional horse racing takes place - the "sport of kings", the most popular here. You can sign up for a golf club or go explore some mountain stronghold. In the area of ​​​​the ancient fortress of Hatta, above the wadi, a modern mountain resort is equipped, the only one in the UAE. Returning to the sea, you can ride a yacht, fish or go to watch competitions in traditional sports that came here from Europe.
The largest cities of the UAE - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah - are located on the sea and are resorts. Noteworthy is the only "ocean" city - Al Fujairah. The only inner city-oasis of Al Ain is not so much a resort as a place that attracts tourists with oriental exoticism. The extraordinary cleanliness of the cities is striking. It reigns in living quarters and trading floors; motorways are cleared of shoveled sand; in the parks, a hose is connected to each tree.
attracts a lot of attention from tourists shopping centers(the largest in Dubai) and more expensive stores with helpful sellers. Especially popular are the bazaars where they sell carpets, the best place- souk al-jumaa ("Friday market") on the border of Sharjah and Fujairah. Gold Souk in Deira (in Dubai) is the world's leading retailer of gold products and stones: there are no restrictions on import and export.

Encyclopedia of Tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .

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- الإمارات العربية المتحدة‎ al Emarat al Arabiya al Muttahid ... Wikipedia

United Arab Emirates (UAE) - the real personification oriental tale, which contains all the stamps associated with luxury, wealth, magical nature, oriental wisdom and the wonders of technology.

Geographic characteristics

The United Arab Emirates is located on the Arabian Peninsula, in its northeastern part. Overwhelming majority settlements stretched along the coast of the Persian and Oman gulfs. The country also includes islands in the Persian Gulf. The UAE includes: Abu Dhabi (the largest of the seven emirates, having the status of a capital), Dubai (the second largest and most influential), Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah, Sharjah and Ajman (the smallest emirate).

It borders Saudi Arabia to the west, south and southeast, Qatar to the northwest, and Oman to the southeast and northeast. The country has an area of ​​83,600 sq. km, but such artificial man-made projects as the Palm Islands and the archipelagos of the World and the Universe significantly expand its area and the length of the coastline.

The internal political structure of the UAE is unique: the country consists of 7 emirates with a federal structure and a monarchical form of government.

Nature

Desert in the UAE

Most of the country's territory is occupied by the Rub al-Khali desert (one of the largest, hottest and driest deserts in the world). The desert is stretched from the southwest to the northeast, its area is 650 thousand square meters. km. Rub al-Khali is not limited to the area of ​​the UAE, and partially captures the territories of neighboring Oman, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Rub al-Khani, as an arid desert, is characterized by a negligible amount of precipitation and a high percentage of night evaporation.

High temperatures (in summer time the temperature steadily jumps over the 50-degree limit) and the arid climate make the desert almost uninhabitable. The sands in the desert are silicate, dunes, reaching a height of 300 meters, cover deposits of gravel and gypsum. Famous a natural phenomenon Arabian desert - "desert roses". These are bizarrely frozen forms of sand, which is overgrown with crystalline particles of gypsum due to high night evaporations. "Rose" is located at a great depth under the sand, over time, the wind blows off the dune and opens it. Each specimen can be at least a thousand years old.

Approaching the coast of the Persian Gulf, the desert is transformed into clayey plains overlooking the Gulf.

In contrast to the lifelessness of the desert, the coast and waters of the Persian and Oman Gulfs are rich in coastal and underwater flora and fauna. The shores of the bays are inhabited by coral reefs.

In both bays, there is an abundance of commercial fish - for centuries, it was the fishing that was the main activity of the population. There are also crustaceans and mollusks (including pearl ones).

The Gulf of Oman is connected to Indian Ocean through Arabian Sea, so here the bay is considered part of the ocean. The Gulf of Oman is a little colder than the Persian Gulf, and its coast is more rocky, in contrast to the flat Persian. The gulfs are interconnected by the narrow Strait of Hormuz...

The climate of the UAE is desert tropical. The weather is hot at any time of the year. In winter, it resembles the heat of an average Russian summer (up to 26 degrees Celsius), in summer average temperature is 47-49 degrees and often beats these records. A rare phenomenon for the UAE, the phenomenon of precipitation occurs only in winter, they fall only 100 mm per year, and sunny days in the country - 350-355 per year.

In the desert, nighttime temperatures often reach 0 degrees. In addition, sandstorms occur in the deserts, bypassing large resort areas.

In the humid air of the UAE, the oxygen content is low, so the summer period in the country, which lasts from late September to May, is difficult to tolerate due to high humidity ...

Resources

Natural resources

A leap in the economic development of the country happened in the middle of the 20th century, when a large oil field was discovered on the coast. Prior to this, the development of natural resources in the country was not engaged, and the main occupation of the population was fishing.

Rapidly started economic development led to the fact that in a few decades the country has become tourist paradise with an unthinkable number of skyscrapers forming a futuristic business and Cultural Center. Main natural resource oil remains in the country, but today the economy of the UAE is formed in such a way that even after the depletion of natural resources, the economic situation will not decline.

culture

The ethnically indigenous people of the UAE are Arabs. But the Arabs are not the most numerous group of the population, because due to the high need for labor migrants, up to 85% of the non-indigenous population lives in the country. The highest number in the UAE is among Indians and Pakistanis. There are also high proportions of Bedouins, Egyptians, Omanis, Iranians and Filipinos.

The official language is Arabic, but due to the abundance of non-indigenous people, all the languages ​​of the surrounding countries are spoken here - Urdu and Hindi, Farsi and Tagalog. In addition, the unifying language is English. 85% of the population are Muslims (of which 85% are Sunnis, 15% are Shiites), more than half of the non-indigenous population profess Islam.

The United Arab Emirates is a relatively young federal state. The Federation was established on December 2, 1971. The structure includes 6 emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Fujairah. The Emirate of Ras al Khaimah became part of a year later, in 1972. Thus, the history of the United Arab Emirates covers the last 50 years. This story is fast and impetuous, unparalleled in terms of speed and pace of development. In a very short period of time, the country has turned from a desert into a developed state, where the most daring dreams and ideas come true. But more on that later.

Historical finds

Now I would like to go back many centuries and see what the territory of the modern United Arab Emirates was like in the past, who inhabited these lands, and what interesting history can bring us.

Let me start with an amazing discovery made by a group of German scientists from the University of Tübingen in the northeast of the United Arab Emirates. This discovery has expanded our understanding of the prehistoric period in the UAE. In the hilly range of Jebel Faya, an hour's drive from the Emirate of Sharjah, stone tools were found. The age of these tools is estimated at 120-130 thousand years. The owners of the found tools are modern people - Homo Sapiens, who penetrated Arabian Peninsula through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Scientists attributed these finds to the prehistoric period "Homo sapiens of the Middle Paleolithic." Also, not far from the Emirate of Sharjah, archaeologists have found artifacts dating back to the Neolithic, Iron and Bronze Ages.

The discoveries made on the territory of the United Arab Emirates turned the ideas of modern scientists about the path of human migration from the African continent upside down. Previously, most scientists believed that the first migration to Asia occurred 40-60 thousand years ago. Now this time period has doubled, reaching the figure of 120 thousand years ago.

From the depths of centuries

Now let's fast forward to ancient times. The United Arab Emirates is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf, the coast of which was inhabited as early as the 5th millennium BC. e. Presumably, these were pastoral tribes from northern Arabia and the Syrian desert.

In the third millennium BC. The United Arab Emirates became part of the Magan civilization, which this moment practically not studied by modern historians. Presumably, this civilization was originally from Iran or Pakistan. The state of Magan actively traded copper with Mesopotamia.

Later, in the I-II centuries BC. on the territory of the modern United Arab Emirates lived ancient Semitic tribes, from which the ancient Arab people subsequently developed.

The territory of the United Arab Emirates is a sandy desert, where it is difficult to find water, where there is practically no vegetation. Only in rare green oases can you find water and grow date palms , where of the animals there are only camels. It was camels that became the basis for the survival of the inhabitants of these lands. Camels made it possible for the Bedouins to lead a nomadic life, helping them to travel long distances in search of water and food. Clothing was made from camel hair. Camel meat and milk were the main food of the Arabs.

The ancient history of the United Arab Emirates before the adoption of Islam locals They call it “the time of Jahiliyya”, which in Arabic means “the time of ignorance”. Islam came to these lands in the Middle Ages. In the 7th century AD small sheikhdoms, located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman, became part of the Arab Caliphate, which spread Islam among the locals. During this period, the cities of Dubai, Sharjah, El Fujairah arose.

As the Caliphate weakened, the sheikhs received more and more autonomy. In the 8th century, many territories left the Arab Caliphate, becoming different time or wholly independent, or partially dependent states. It was at this moment that the emirates, small states, were formed.

So the local sheikhs (emirates) lived until the 16th century, when they began to fall under the control of European powers. Initially, the territory of the UAE was captured by the Portuguese, and then by the British. European powers controlled maritime trade and port cities.

Bedouins, caravans, desert

While the world was developing, the local people mostly lived in the desert and traded with the help of camel caravans. The Bedouins survived as best they could and no one, in a rapidly developing world, did not care about them. They suffered from a very high temperature, they were tormented by thirst, they ate very simple, meager, monotonous food. The Bedouins had practically no educational institutions, there was no health care system, life expectancy was very short. During these times, Dubai was small village where the height of the houses did not exceed two floors.

The pearl trade helped the Arabs to survive. It was the pearl trade that occupied the lion's share in the economy of the emirates, accounting for approximately 95% of all revenues to the treasury. Dubai has been called the "pearl coast". But only divers for pearls know how hard it was to get it. The danger of being eaten by predatory fish in the Persian Gulf, sea salt that corroded the eyes, pressure drops, all this affected the health of the diver, leading to deafness and blindness. The life of a pearl diver was short, and the profession passed from generation to generation.

The two world wars, the crisis of 1929 and the introduction of synthetic Japanese pearls took a toll on the pearl industry in the United Arab Emirates.

Oil changed everything

In the 50s of the twentieth century, oil was found on the territory of the United Arab Emirates. It was the second key moment in the history of the country. No one even imagined that there was at least a drop of oil on the territory of the United Arab Emirates. But there was oil. And it was enough to exist comfortably.

By now the League Arab States actively fought for the right of all Arab peoples for independence. International pressure forced the British to withdraw. But the British left these territories only by 1971. It was at this moment that the history of the UAE as an independent state began. In 1971, 6 emirates announced the creation of an independent state - the United Arab Emirates.

The rapid growth of the UAE economy, the sharp rise in prices for "black gold" in 1973 gave impetus to the country's unprecedented rapid development. The UAE has become one of the countries with the highest standard of living.

With a barrel price of $75, oil revenues were about $150 million a day. The government of the United Arab Emirates, headed by Sheikh Zayed, used this money very wisely. First of all, a course was taken to improve the lives of local residents. In the Emirates, they began to build houses, hospitals, schools, and began to import food. Enormous funds were spent on the construction of desalination plants. Now the United Arab Emirates ranks second after Saudi Arabia in terms of desalinated water produced.

Harmonious oasis of the future

The United Arab Emirates can be safely called a country of millionaires. It is simply impossible for a local resident to become poor, only in the case of a conscious rejection of all the benefits that the state provides him. Free water and electricity in homes, $100,000 wedding gifts for newlyweds, a piece of land, and a $20,000 birth subsidy for each child are just some of the examples of how the UAE government cares about its citizens.

The country has shown itself financially and militarily on the world stage. The latter made it possible to prevent military encroachments from neighboring countries. Iran once took advantage of the formation of a single state of the UAE and took three oil-rich islands for itself and never returned them to the Emirates.

In order to avoid dependence on the “oil needle”, the government of the United Arab Emirates made a wise decision to differentiate the economy and invest Money in various projects around the world.

Huge investments are directed to the construction and tourism sectors, to the development of agriculture and trade. Many international companies have opened subsidiaries and representative offices in the United Arab Emirates.

At the moment, oil revenues account for 18% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates, tourism brings about the same amount to the country. The main source of income for the UAE is trade and financial transactions.

Differentiating the country's economy, the United Arab Emirates wanted to create something durable and stable, and, it must be admitted, they succeeded in this.

High revenues from oil exports and far-sighted management of money ensured the prosperity and development of the UAE in all areas of the economy. Now the United Arab Emirates is one of the richest countries in the world. And although the majority of the population of the United Arab Emirates at the moment are immigrants, local residents control all sources of income in the country.

Now it’s hard for all of us to imagine that just recently, instead of roads with multi-level interchanges, luxury hotels, beautiful parks and unique sights, there was an endless desert and lonely Bedouin villages.