Country Overview |
The United Arab Emirates is located in the Middle East in southern portion of the Arabian Peninsula. It is located between Oman and Saudi Arabia, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The UAE has an area of 83,600 square kilometers, 1,066 kilometers of land boundaries, and 1,318 kilometers of coastline. The population of the United Arab Emirates is around nine million people. The United States is located in North America with borders to the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, between Mexico and Canada. The US has an area of about 10 million square kilometers, 12,048 kilometers of square kilometers, and 19,925 kilometers of coastline. As of 2014, the population is approximately 319 million.
|
Government Structure
"UAE's economic program led to a rise of several non-oil sectors" (Economic Sectors). The UAE has a mixed economy and is a federal state consisting of seven emirates. The economy depends on the oil and natural resources available in the UAE. The United Arab Emirates have advanced through the years in expansion and in technological ways. The country has become more efficient, creating higher quality technology which has increased the standard of living. The United Arab Emirates has also been working on diversity, trying to become less dependent on available natural resources.
Government OverviewThe United Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation with certain powers reserved for the federal government, and other reserved for the seven emirates. The UAE has their own Constitution. The legal system is based from a combination of Islamic and civil law. The government includes an Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch. The Executive Branch consists of a chief of state, head of government, and a cabinet. The president is elected from the monarchs who rule the seven emirates. The president then appoints a cabinet and prime minister. Political parties are prohibited in the UAE.
|
Economic HistoryIn the past, the UAE has struggled with poverty and underdevelopment. They used to have a low standard of living along with an un-modern state. In 2009, the United Arab Emirates faced a major crisis and recession as oil and real estate prices significantly dropped. Authorities attempted to minimize the problem through an increase in spending and boosting liquidity in bank sectors. Ultimately, the standard of living has increased over the years. Recently however, the struggle with poverty has been minimized and the spending crisis has been resolved, all supporting the modernization and diversity of the UAE. The UAE has made drastic economic improvements in recent years. Originally having poverty rates over 19% (2003), the economy has grown and become much stronger over time. The oil revenues and foreign relations have allowed the UAE to solve critical problems such as those created by the 2009 crisis. The diversification of income sources is a reason why the economy has been so successful in recent years, as the country has tried to focus on other economic sectors than natural resources. Forecasts also show how the GDP is expected to continue to rise as the transformation of the economy into other sectors such as tourism and logistics provide another source of income for the UAE.
|