World Factbook
United Arab Emirates
Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black, with a wider vertical red band on the left side meaning: the flag incorporates all four pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), oil (black), and unity (red); red is a traditional color that was part of all the emirates' flags before their unification
Capital
name
Abu Dhabi
etymology
in Arabic, abu means "father," and dhabi refers to a personal name, Dhabi or Zabi, that comes from the word zab , or "gazelle"
time difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
24 28 N, 54 22 E
Suffrage
limited
note: rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that accounts for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
30 years
Constitution
history
previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996
amendment process
proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council president
Country name
former
Trucial Oman, Trucial States
etymology
self-descriptive country name; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Egyptians, who referred to the region as "Ar Rabi;" "emirates" derives from amir , the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince;" the former name, Trucial States, refers to a maritime truce from 1820 between the British and the Arab sheikhdoms
abbreviation
UAE
local long form
Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
local short form
none
conventional long form
United Arab Emirates
conventional short form
none
Independence
2 December 1971 (from the UK)
Legal system
mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law
Government type
federation of monarchies
Judicial branch
note
note: the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts, the country’s two largest financial free zones, adjudicate civil and commercial disputes
highest court(s)
Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases)
subordinate courts
Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws); the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system
judge selection and term of office
judges appointed by the federal president after approval from the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiration of their appointment terms
Executive branch
note
note: the Federal Supreme Council (FSC) is composed of the 7 emirate rulers and is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; the FSC establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power
cabinet
Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president
chief of state
President MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al Nuhayyan (since 14 May 2022)
election results
2022: MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al-Nuhayyan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote - NA
head of government
Prime Minister and Co-Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al Maktum (since 5 January 2006)
most recent election date
unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, after the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan
election/appointment process
president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council -- composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates -- for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
expected date of next election
2027
National holiday
Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)
National color(s)
green, white, black, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 ( both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas); Faya Palaeolandscape (c)
Political parties
note: political parties are banned; all candidates run as independents
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
40 (20 indirectly elected; 20 appointed)
electoral system
other systems
legislature name
Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihadi)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
10/7/2023
expected date of next election
October 2027
percentage of women in chamber
50%
National anthem(s)
title
"Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)
history
music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1986; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for Tunisia's and Libya's anthem
lyrics/music
AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
National symbol(s)
golden falcon
Administrative divisions
7 emirates ( imarat , singular - imarah ); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 243-2408
chancery
3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 243-2400
chief of mission
Ambassador Yousif AL OTAIBA (since 28 July 2008)
consulate(s) general
Houston, Los Angeles, New York
email address and website
info@uaeembassy-usa.org https://www.uae-embassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[971] (2) 414-2241
embassy
Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi
telephone
[971] (2) 414-2200
mailing address
6010 Abu Dhabi Place, Washington DC 20521-6010
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Eric GAUDIOSI (since August 2025)
consulate(s) general
Dubai
email address and website
abudhabiacs@state.gov https://ae.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt