Territory of the United Arab Emirates. natural resources of the Middle East. Administrative-territorial division of the UAE

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, with an average population density 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). The monetary unit is the 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 pastoral nomadism (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. Average monthly temperatures here they 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 years, 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. Shelter found in UAE in winter migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia, 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. ancient history 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. IN old fortress Al Fahidi, 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. In the emirates there are many monuments of modern Arabic architecture(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 the best hotels are located near the sea and have their own 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, 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 shops with helpful salespeople. 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 .

See what "United Arab Emirates" is in other dictionaries:

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

The UAE is a country located in the Persian Gulf. The full name is the United Arab Emirates, the place is popular with Russian tourists. For everyone, the UAE evokes different associations, for some it is mosques and minarets, for others gorgeous beaches, and for the third a bunch of chic boutiques and shops.

Location

The United Arab Emirates is one of the countries of the Middle East, occupies a certain part of the Arabian Peninsula. To the east, Oman is adjacent to the UAE, Saudi Arabia is adjacent to the south and west, and Iran is to the north. The area of ​​the United Arab Emirates is 83.6 thousand square meters. km., it is comparable to the size of the Czech Republic, Serbia or Austria.

Much of the territory goes under the Arabian Desert. For human life, only five percent of the territory falls, and for agriculture, even 1.2 percent.

Population statistics for 2017 - 10 million people.

Division into Emirates

Abu Dhabi is considered the largest emirate, its area is 67320 sq. km, which is 80.5 percent of the territory of all emirates. Second place is occupied by Dubai with 3880 sq. km, almost 17 times inferior to Abu Dhabi. The smallest is Ajman, its area is 259 square meters. km.

Dubai is recognized as the most convenient and populated emirate. Dubai is home to 2.5 million people. Least of all people live in Umm al-Quwain, only 75 thousand. Sheikh is given full power, it is determined by the constitution.

Climate conditions in the UAE

Summer in the Emirates is unbearably hot, daytime temperatures can approach 40-44 degrees. On the territory of the Arabian Desert, the thermometer scale can show up to 51-53 degrees. In the Persian Gulf, the water temperature often reaches 36-38 degrees, it can be dangerous when swimming for a long time. Also, at the maximum air temperature in summer season the sand heats up very strongly, it becomes literally “burning”.

Tourism

Emirates tourism statistics are hard to track as all Emirates maintain their own visitor statistics. It often happens that the same tourist flies to Dubai airport, but wants to live in Abu Dhabi, then this tourist can be counted more than once.

In 2017, according to statistics, about 19 million tourists visited the Emirates.

The tourism industry is rapidly going up in the Emirates. In 2015, 14.2 million people visited the country, in 2016 - 17 million people, but by 2030 the UAE wants to receive 30 million visitors.

Due to tourism in the country for the year there is an increase of approximately 68.6 billion dirhams, which is as much as 18.3 billion dollars. The Emirate of Dubai in tourism GDP is twice the oil revenue.

The country's tourism industry employs 3 percent of the population, and the figure is increasing every year. One of the main tourist destinations— Dubai. In 2017, out of 19 million people who visited the country, 15.2 million people ended up in Dubai.

Dubai will soon overtake London in retail sales and become the main "Mecca of shopping".

However, in 2018 the growth rate of tourism and retail is likely to decline. In the emirates, there are no VAT and VAT taxes, which gives the minimum price on the shelves. In 2018, it is planned to introduce VAT at a rate of 5 percent, then prices will start to rise. The United Arab Emirates wants to significantly increase the flow of tourism. By 2020, it is planned to build many more hotels, in which the capacity will reach 57,000 rooms.

In addition to shopping, many tourists are interested in visiting sandy beaches, as well as world-famous ones: Dubai Mall, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the famous fountains of Dubai, Ferrari World parks. Dubai is home to 200 different nations, so there are chic restaurants with various cuisines.

Politic system

The UAE is 7 emirates, each has its own ruler, whose power is limited.

Now federal structures regulate the banking sector, territorial waters, labor Relations extradition of people who have committed crimes. Other issues can be decided by the emirs. The highest representatives of the state are the President and the Prime Minister. The main authorities are:

• The Supreme Council;
• Council of Ministers;
• federal Supreme Court;
• federal national council

The supreme body representing the executive and legislative power is the Supreme Council, in which there are 7 emirs. The Supreme Council can elect / remove the President, as well as the Prime Minister, reserves weighty decisions. For a decision to be made, the consent of 5 emirates is required, and two of them are mandatory - Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Such an interesting democratic form is taking place in the United Arab Emirates. The Supreme Council is convened 4 times a year, and also in cases of urgent need.

Council of Ministers. When the Prime Minister is appointed by the Supreme Council, he proposes the composition of ministers to the President. With the approval of the president, cabinet work begins. The Council of Ministers resolves important issues at the current moment in the country, it consists of 22 members.

The Federal Council is the parliament of the Emirates, it has 40 deputies. Dubai and Abu Dhabi present 8 candidates each, Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah nominate 6 candidates each, Umm al-Quwain, Ajman and Fujairah nominate 4 candidates each.

The federal national council can discuss laws and make constitutional changes. The Federal National Council is an advisory body, it has no power, it can propose ideas to the government.

The Federal Supreme Court is the highest body representing the judiciary.

History of the UAE

About 8 millennia ago, on the site of the present Arab Emirates, a civilization was born - Umm-an-Nar. At that time, the climate was milder, and agriculture developed. Then came the era of deserts, the centers of culture began to fade.

Before the onset of the 12th century, there were no large settlements on the territory, the territory was inhabited by nomads, residents from oases.

The year 632 was remembered for the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah by an important battle.

The 12th century is characterized by the flourishing of ports, the establishment of trade across the Indian Ocean, the development of trade, and the exchange of cultures.

The 16th century is remembered by the arrival of the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, there is a partial capture of ports.

In the 17th century, the Dutch come to replace the Portuguese, they take the Persian Gulf under their control.

18th century - the displacement of the Dutch by the British, then the emirates fall under the rule of Britain.

1971 - Great Britain leaves the Persian Gulf, 7 emirates form the state - the United Arab Emirates.

Who lives in the Emirates

In the Emirates, there is a difficult system of legal relations. For each emirate there is a choice - the presence of its own judicial system or adjacency to the federal one. Often in the UAE they rely on Sharia prohibitions. Sharia courts can resolve issues related to guardianship, divorce, and family disputes. The secular courts are responsible for criminal and administrative part. There is a place for Islamic punishment in the UAE. For example, dozens of people receive lashes as punishment. The death penalty, stoning to death, is legal in this country, but it is used extremely rarely.

In the UAE, many things are subject to prohibition and punishment. For apostasy from Islam - execution. Abortions are not respected in the country - they are given 1 year in prison or a fine of 10,000 dirhams. For non-traditional orientation there is a risk of getting up to 12 years in prison. Oral humiliation with sexual overtones is punishable by a battle with whips. Drunk driving can also land you in jail and get a hefty fine. Drinking alcohol in public places is also punishable by fines. An interesting feature is that 40 percent of all violations are committed by minors.

Economy

As many people think that the United Arab Emirates only do what they pump oil. In fact, this is completely false. Not all emirates are engaged in oil, its reserves are concentrated in two emirates, these are: Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Umm al-Quwain has small oil reserves, but they do not need to be taken into account. If you look at the 2017 statistics, you can see that only 4 percent of Dubai's GDP is allocated to oil. The main oil rigs are concentrated in Abu Dhabi. GDP in this emirate reaches 60 percent.

All emirates are rapidly advancing their economy, the growth of agriculture is noticeable. Cultivation of dates in the Emirates is widely developed. The Emirates are engaged in the development of the financial sector, the insurance business, and the service sector. One of the most profitable industries for the UAE is tourism. Transport plays an important role in the country's GDP.

Transport

The biggest successes of the UAE are the widely developed air and water transport. In the UAE, you will find many of the world's leading airlines. This:

• Emirates;
• Etihad;
• Air Arabia;
• Fly Dubai

Emirates is often used for long distances with transfers.

Dubai International is a huge air hub between the European and Asian parts, it is in 3rd place in the world in terms of passenger traffic. In 2016 alone, 83,600,000 people were received by the airport in Dubai.

Dubai is famous for its giant harbour. There are chic aircraft carriers belonging to the US Navy flotilla.

Transport within the country does not lag behind, a subway was built in Dubai, besides, automation is widely developed here, you will not meet drivers in the subway. Buses, a taxi network are widely used in the Emirates, there is a place for trams.

Armament in the UAE

The UAE has its own small army, the number of which is 65 thousand people. This is explained by the fact that only their own citizens are taken to the service, there is no recruitment of Indians or Pakistanis into the army, and there are not so many indigenous people in the Emirates.

The Emirates Air Force has 100 F-16 fighters, 30 transport aircraft, 2 reconnaissance aircraft, 13 helicopters, 2 AWACS aircraft.

As for ground weapons, here you can find powerful tanks from France, there are 388 of them, there are armored vehicles, tanks from England in the amount of 76 pieces, a lot of armored vehicles. The biggest disadvantage of the UAE army is the lack of experience.

The tourism industry in the Emirates, thanks to the oil found in huge quantities in the coastal waters of this state, is developing rapidly. Oil allows the emirs of the UAE to build luxury hotels with excellent infrastructure. foreign tourists The UAE is attracted not only by the warm sea with coral reefs and sandy beaches, but also by ancient fortresses, forts, mosques, deserts with oases, palm groves on the banks of reservoirs with waterfalls, camel races and much more.

The United Arab Emirates, sometimes referred to simply as the Emirates or UAE, is located in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, on the coast of the Persian Gulf. The UAE borders Saudi Arabia to the south and Oman to the east. total area UAE - 83,600 sq. km., and the total length of the state land border is 867 km.

Most of the territory of the UAE is occupied by the Rub al-Khali desert with a few oases. There are mountains in the north and east of the country. The highest point in the country is Mount Jabal Bil Ays (1934 meters).

The capital of the UAE is Abu Dhabi, which is now home to more than 1.5 million people. The settlement of people on the territory of modern Abu Dhabi existed already 4 thousand years ago. The city itself was formed in the middle of the 18th century.

The official language of the population of the UAE is Arabic, belonging to the Semitic group of the Afroasian language family.

More than 76% of the population of the UAE are Sunni Muslims, 9% are Christians, and more than 10% are adherents of other religions.

The UAE is a union of emirates (kingdoms) led by emirs. In other words, the UAE is allied absolute monarchies. The UAE is governed by the Supreme Council of Rulers, which consists of the emirs of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain.

The post of President of the UAE is held concurrently by the Emir of Abu Dhabi (this post is hereditary). The Prime Minister of the country (also by inheritance) is the Emir of Dubai.

The parliament in the UAE is also peculiar - it is called the National Council, it includes 40 representatives of all emirates.

The UAE consists of seven emirates - Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Qaiwain.

The climate in the UAE is subtropical, with hot summers and dry winters. The highest average air temperature in the UAE is observed in July and August - more than +40C, and the lowest - in January and February (from +10 to +14C). Average annual rainfall in coastal areas- 120 mm per year, and in the mountains - 350 mm.

You can relax in the UAE all year round.

In the north of the UAE is the Persian Gulf, and in the east - the Gulf of Oman (both belong to Pacific Ocean). The total coastline is 734 km, of which 644 km is the coast of the Persian Gulf.

The water temperature in the Persian Gulf in summer exceeds +33C, and in winter it drops to +16C in the north and +22-24C in the south.

UAE is Islamic country, and therefore it is natural that religion has left its mark on the culture and traditions of the inhabitants of this country. The traditional entertainment of the inhabitants of the UAE is camel racing. They take place during holidays and festivals (for example, during the Dubai Shopping Festival). All Muslim holidays are celebrated in the UAE - Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, etc.

Integral elements of UAE culture are Arabian horse racing, boat racing and falconry.

Cuisine in the UAE is traditional for Arab countries (very similar to Lebanese cuisine). Daily food - rice, meat (lamb, poultry), dairy products, fish (sea bass, tuna), seafood (lobster, crabs, shrimp).

We recommend that tourists in the UAE try hummus (chicken with peas), kibbe (lamb cutlets), tabbouleh (couscous, tomato, onion, mint and parsley salad), mutabel (pasta or caviar from eggplant), “kusa mashi” (stuffed zucchini), “varak enab” (stuffed cabbage from grape leaves), “felafel”, “kebab”, “shawarmu”, stuffed perch with spices, grilled (or fried).

Desserts in the UAE are very sweet. Try Umm Ali (bread pudding with raisins and nuts), donuts with honey or pistachio pudding.

The traditional non-alcoholic drink in the UAE is coffee. Every year, each UAE resident consumes an average of 3.5 kg of coffee. For comparison: in Saudi Arabia per inhabitant per year accounts for an average of 1.9 kg of coffee, in the USA - 4.17 kg, in Brazil - 5.6 kg, and in Germany 6.97 kg. UAE residents often add camel milk to their coffee.

Alcohol in the UAE is served in hotel restaurants (except Sharjah), as well as in some golf clubs.

When tourists in the UAE get tired (if they get tired) of relaxing on sandy beaches, they can make excursions and see very interesting sights. To begin with, we recommend visiting the emirate of Fujairah, where you will see dried-up estuaries, ancient fortresses and forts, palaces, hot sulfur springs, palm groves and waterfalls.

Of all the emirates, the most attention is paid to the preservation of its cultural heritage applies Sharjah. According to UNESCO, the Emirate of Sharjah is cultural capital the Arab world.

Travelers in the UAE can visit several archaeological sites. Especially a lot archaeological sites in Jumeirah, which was once a staging post for the ancient caravan route between Oman and Iraq.

Most big cities in the UAE - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman.

Each emirate is a different beach resort. Many tourists claim that the most best beaches in the UAE are located in the emirates of Fujairah and Dubai, but, apparently, it all depends on personal preferences. The beaches in the Emirates are owned by hotels or municipalities. Some public beaches are free, while others charge a small amount of money for entry. Topless sunbathing is not allowed. Tourists can pay for using the beach of any hotel (from 200 to 700 dirhams).

The sea in the UAE is calm, but there are ebbs and flows. Be careful when swimming.

Top 8 public beaches in the emirate of Dubai:

1. Mamzer Beach (consists of 5 beaches in bays and 2 large pools)
2. Jumeirah beach park(the entrance fee is about 5 dirhams)
3. Russian Beach (also known as Open Beach)
4. Kite Beach (infrastructure is not developed, you need to take food and drinks with you)
5. Burj Beach (very popular beach with volleyball and football courts)
6. Ghantoot Beach (owned by the hotel, entrance fee 10 dirhams)
7. Jebel Ali Beach (this beach is especially popular among surfers)
8. JBR Beach (free beach is very popular among tourists and locals, but there is practically no infrastructure, but there is a cafe)

The UAE also has many mineral and hot springs. Most popular local balneological resort- Hatt in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, in the vicinity of which there are beautiful lakes and palm groves. Many tourists come to the hot sulfur springs of Ain Al-Ghamur in the Emirate of Fujairah.

From the UAE, tourists usually bring hookahs, jewelry, perfumes, Arabic coffee pots, coffee cups, bed linen, prayer rugs, camel figurines.

Banks:
Sat-Wed: 08:00-13:00 (some banks are open from 16:30 to 18:30) Thu: 08:00-12:00

The shops:
Sat-Thu: 09:00-13:00 and 16:00-21:00

Many supermarkets are open 24 hours a day. Some shops are open on Fridays as well.

Officially, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Commander-in-Chief of the UAE Armed Forces.

In fact, the emir of Abu Dhabi, the president of the UAE.

Third son of Sheikh Zayed. An interesting point is that he and Khalifa are stepbrothers. Khalifa was born to his first wife, Hassa bint Mohammed ibn Khalifa. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed was born to his third wife, Fatima bint Mubarak Al-Ketbi.

Sheikhini Fatima bint-Mubarak Al-Ketbi had only 6 sons: Mohammed, Hamdan, Hazza, Tanun, Mansur and Abdullah. They are called "Bani Fatima" or "sons of Fatima" and form the most powerful bloc in the Al Nahyan family.

The sons of Fatima have always been influential, some political scientists even assign them a leading role in the changes in Abu Dhabi that have taken place since 2004. They received full power only in 2014, when Sheikh Khalifa had a stroke. Now it is difficult to say whether the vector of their domestic and foreign policy will change. Wait and see.

Mohammed bin Zayed went to school in Al Ain, then in Abu Dhabi. Entered Sandhurst Academy (UK) in 1979. Trained in military skills of piloting a helicopter, driving armored vehicles, parachuting. After returning from England, he underwent military training in Sharjah, became an officer in the UAE Armed Forces.

He was an officer in the Amiri Guards (an elite unit), a pilot in the UAE Air Force, and eventually became the Commander-in-Chief of the UAE Armed Forces.

In 2003, he was proclaimed the second Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. After the death of his father on November 2, 2004, he became crown prince. Since December 2004, Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, member of the Supreme Petroleum Council.

So far, world leaders and political scientists are eyeing Sheikh Mohammed. It is known that he believes that the UAE should play a much larger role in world politics. He loves falconry, like his father. He is interested in poetry and writes poetry himself in the Nabati style.

Sheikha Fatima bint-Mubarak Al-Ketbi

The third wife of Sheikh Zayed, the mother of six of his sons, including Crown Prince Mohammed (the de facto ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE).

This woman played a big role in UAE politics during the reign of her husband Sheikh Zayed and remains very influential to this day. She is called the "Mother of the Nation".

The exact date of her birth is unknown. She was probably born in the mid-40s. In the 60s, she married Zaid Al-Nahyan, becoming his third wife.

In 1973, she founded the Abu Dhabi Women's Awakening Society, the first women's community organization in the UAE. In 1975, she created and headed the Main Women's Union of the UAE. The main sphere of interest of these organizations was education, because at that time girls in the UAE did not study at all. In 2004, Fatima facilitated the appointment of the first female minister.

Now she still heads the Main Women's Union, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the Family Development Foundation and several other organizations. And this despite the advanced age! Naturally, Fatima has a gigantic influence on the politics of Sheikh Mohammed and the affairs of Bani Fatima.

Dubai

The emirate of Dubai is ruled by the Al Muktum family.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Muktum

Ruling Emir (officially since January 4, 2006, actually since January 3, 1995), Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE since February 11, 2006.

Sheikh Mohammed is called the "Architect of Modern Dubai". This is a very versatile educated person and is now the most famous leader in the UAE.

Mohammed became the third son of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid ibn Said Al Muktum. His mother Lafita was the daughter of the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Hamadan ibn Zayed Al Nahyan. As a child, Muhammad received both a secular and a traditional Islamic education. In 1966 (at the age of 18) he studied in the UK at the Mons Cadet Corps and in Italy as a pilot.

In 1968, Mohammed attended his father's meeting with Sheikh Zayed at Argoub el Sedira, where the rulers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi agreed on the imminent establishment of the UAE. After the formation of the UAE, he was the Minister of Defense and the head of the police in Dubai.

On October 7, 1990, Mohammed's father and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid ibn Said, died. Power passed to the eldest son - Sheikh Muktum ibn Rashid, who was very fond of equestrian sports, was an excellent athlete, but did not reach for politics and government.

On January 4, 1995, Muktum ibn Rashid appoints Mohammed as crown prince and, in fact, transfers power to him in the emirate of Dubai. On January 4, 2006, Muktum ibn Rashid died of a heart attack, Mohammed ibn Rashid becomes the official ruler of Dubai.

The list of achievements of Muhammad ibn Rashid is huge. He diversified the economy of Dubai, now oil revenues account for only 4% of the emirate's GDP, Dubai has become a shopping mecca, second only to London, the largest trading and financial center.

With his support or on his initiative, created:, Burj Al Arab, Emirates airline, artificial islands Palm and World, the world's largest artificial harbor Jebel Ali, Dubai Internet City and hundreds of other projects.

He became famous for his raids on enterprises, where he personally checked whether employees were in their places, and fired those who were absent. Sheikh Mohammed ibn Rashid is famous for his intolerance of corruption, and hundreds of officials were imprisoned for his rule, convicted of taking bribes and using their position for personal gain.

Now (note: the article was written at the end of 2017) he is already 68 years old, but he is full of energy and successfully implements his plan for the development of Dubai until 2021. He recently took part in the Arab Strategic Forum, and you can’t say that he is 68.

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 the 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 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 sheikhs located along south coast 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.