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Area
77,700 sq km (30,000 sq miles).
Population
2,940,000 (official estimate 1999).
Population Density
37.8 per sq km.
Capital
Abu Dhabi. Population: 398,695 (1995).
Geography
The Emirates are bordered to the north by the Gulf and
the Musandam Peninsula, to the east by Oman, to the
south and west by Saudi Arabia and to the northwest by
Qatar. They comprise a federation of seven small former
sheikhdoms. Abu Dhabi is the largest Emirate, and the
remainder (Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm al
Qaiwain and Ras al-Khaimah) are known collectively as
the Northern States. The land is mountainous and mostly
desert. Abu Dhabi is flat and sandy, and within its
boundaries is the Buraimi Oasis. Dubai has a 16km
(10-mile) deep-water creek, giving it the popular name
of Pearl of the Gulf. Sharjah has a deep-water port on
the Batinah coast at Khor Fakkan, facing the Indian
Ocean. Ras al-Khaimah is the fourth emirate in size.
Fujairah, one of the three smaller sheikhdoms located on
the Batinah coast, has agricultural potential, while
Ajman and Umm al Qaiwain were once small coastal fishing
villages.
Government
Federation of seven autonomous Emirates. Head of State:
Sheikh Zyid bin Sultn An-Nahyn (Emir of Abu Dhabi) since
1971. Head of Government: Vice President Sheikh Maktoum
bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (Emir of Dubai) since 1990.
Language
Arabic is the official language. English is widely
spoken and used as a second language in commerce.
Religion
Mostly Muslim, of which 16 per cent are Shiite and the
remainder Sunni.
Time
GMT + 4.
Electricity
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs are
widespread.
Telephone
IDD is available both to and from all states. Country
code: 971. Outgoing international code (Abu Dhabi): 00.
Main area codes: Abu Dhabi 2; Ajman, Sharjah and Umm al
Qwain 6; Al Ain 3; Dubai 4; Fujairah 9; Jebel Ali 4 and
Ras al-Khaimah 7. There is a good local telephone
network. Telephone calls within each state are free.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network. Network operators include ETISALAT
(website: www.etisalat.co.ae).
Fax
ETISALAT offices at main centres provide a service. All
hotels have facilities.
Internet
Internet cafes provide public access to Internet and
e-mail services. ISPs include Emirates Telecommunication
(website: www.emirates.net.ae).
Telegram
Services are run by ETISALAT, which has offices
throughout the Emirates and are also available through
main post offices.
Post
Airmail letters and parcels take about 5 days to reach
Europe.
Press
English-language daily newspapers include Gulf News,
Khaleej Times and Emirates News. Foreign newspapers are
available in hotel bookshops and supermarkets.
Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice)
and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be
received. From time to time the frequencies change and
the most up-to-date can be found online.
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