The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a Middle Eastern federation of seven states situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia. The seven states, termed emirates, are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.
The UAE is rich in oil and, although it lacks other natural resources, it expects recent additional economic diversification to draw more financial and banking firms.
History
Main article: Emirates of the United Arab Emirates Administrative divisions
There is an Omani enclave surrounded by UAE territory, known as Wadi Madha. It is located halfway between the Musandam peninsula and the rest of Oman, on the Dubai-Hatta road in the Emirate of Sharjah. It covers approximately 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi) and the boundary was settled in 1969. The north-east corner of Madha is closest to the Khor Fakkan-Fujairah road, barely 10 metres (33 ft) away. Within the enclave is a UAE exclave called Nahwa, also belonging to the Emirate of Sharjah. It is about 8 kilometres (5 mi) on a dirt track west of the town of New Madha. It consists of about forty houses with its own clinic and telephone exchange.
Exclaves and enclaves
There is an Omani enclave surrounded by UAE territory, known as Wadi Madha. It is located halfway between the Musandam peninsula and the rest of Oman, on the Dubai-Hatta road in the Emirate of Sharjah. It covers approximately 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi) and the boundary was settled in 1969. The north-east corner of Madha is closest to the Khor Fakkan-Fujairah road, barely 10 metres (33 ft) away. Within the enclave is a UAE exclave called Nahwa, also belonging to the Emirate of Sharjah. It is about 8 kilometres (5 mi) on a dirt track west of the town of New Madha. It consists of about forty houses with its own clinic and telephone exchange.
Exclaves and enclaves
Main article: Politics of the United Arab Emirates Politics
Main article: Demographics of the United Arab Emirates Demographics
See also: Islam in the United Arab Emirates, Roman Catholicism in the United Arab Emirates, Music of the United Arab Emirates, Cinema of the United Arab Emirates, UAE Public Library and Cultural Center, and Yowla
Rooted in Islamic culture, the UAE has strong ties with the rest of the Arab and Islamic world. The government is committed to preserving traditional forms of art and culture, primarily through the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. The first known manuscript produced in the UAE was Al jawaher wal la'li, a text which discusses the emirates of the nation.
Culture and religion
See also: Islam in the United Arab Emirates, Roman Catholicism in the United Arab Emirates, Music of the United Arab Emirates, Cinema of the United Arab Emirates, UAE Public Library and Cultural Center, and Yowla
Rooted in Islamic culture, the UAE has strong ties with the rest of the Arab and Islamic world. The government is committed to preserving traditional forms of art and culture, primarily through the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. The first known manuscript produced in the UAE was Al jawaher wal la'li, a text which discusses the emirates of the nation.
Culture and religion
Main article: Economy of the United Arab Emirates Economy
The education system up to the secondary level is monitored by the Ministry of Education. It consists of primary schools, middle schools and secondary schools. The public schools are government-funded and the curriculum is created to match the United Arab Emirates development's goals and values. The medium of instruction in the public school is Arabic with emphasis on English as a second language. There are also many private schools which are internationally accredited. Public schools in the country are free for citizens of the UAE, while the fees for private schools vary.
The higher education system is monitored by the Ministry of Higher Education. The Ministry also is responsible for admitting students to its undergraduate institutions, including the five largest centers of higher education: United Arab Emirates University, Zayed University, Gulf Medical College, University of Sharjah and Higher Colleges of Technology. There are also many other private universities and colleges in the country, including the American University of Sharjah. Finally, other universities based in foreign countries have established campuses in the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE has shown a strong recent interest to improve education and research. Recent enterprises include the establishment of the CERT Research Centers and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
Education
The education system up to the secondary level is monitored by the Ministry of Education. It consists of primary schools, middle schools and secondary schools. The public schools are government-funded and the curriculum is created to match the United Arab Emirates development's goals and values. The medium of instruction in the public school is Arabic with emphasis on English as a second language. There are also many private schools which are internationally accredited. Public schools in the country are free for citizens of the UAE, while the fees for private schools vary.
The higher education system is monitored by the Ministry of Higher Education. The Ministry also is responsible for admitting students to its undergraduate institutions, including the five largest centers of higher education: United Arab Emirates University, Zayed University, Gulf Medical College, University of Sharjah and Higher Colleges of Technology. There are also many other private universities and colleges in the country, including the American University of Sharjah. Finally, other universities based in foreign countries have established campuses in the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE has shown a strong recent interest to improve education and research. Recent enterprises include the establishment of the CERT Research Centers and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
Education
Main article: Human rights in the United Arab Emirates Human rights
Main article: Transport in the United Arab Emirates Transportation
The national airline of Abu Dhabi was formerly Gulf Air, operated jointly with Bahrain and Oman. On September 13, 2005, Abu Dhabi announced that it was withdrawing from Gulf Air to concentrate on Etihad Airways, designated as the new national carrier of the UAE, established in November 2003.
In 1985, Dubai established its airline Emirates, which, as of 2007, is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world.
Technology, media and telecommunications
Media is one of the first industries that the emirate of Dubai has sought to develop through a number of micro-cities. Dubai Media City has helped to make Dubai the media hub for the region, encompassing both the creation of media, from print through television and new media, and the advertising and marketing industry.
A number of international news organizations, including Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France Press, Bloomberg, Dow Jones Newswires, CNN and the BBC, all have a presence in Dubai Media City, and enjoy complete freedom to report on local and regional events.
The leading English-language newspapers based in the UAE are:
From late 2007, the international editions of The Times of London and its sister paper The Sunday Times will be printed in Dubai for local distribution.
Gulf News, the highest circulating broadsheet
7DAYS, the highest circulating tabloid
Khaleej Times, the second-highest circulating broadsheet
Emirates Today, a government-owned newspaper
Xpress, a tabloid published every Thursday, by Gulf News Media
Internet access is strictly filtered over the local proxy server of the telecommunication company Etisalat [1]. However some facilities such as educational facilities and free zones have unlimited internet access. Officials have never released a clear statement concerning the reason for VOIP being blocked. The only statement released was that the UAE has no regulation for VOIP and only the local telecommunication companies are allowed to use this technology.
The relative cost of broadband services in the U.A.E compared to Europe is very high, for example a 2Mbps connection would cost AED349 per month from either Etisalat or Du, compared to approximatly AED70 per month for up to 8Mbps in Europe. This shows that recent competition in the market has not brought benifits to the customer in terms of reduced cost of services.
Internet
New sports are becoming popular alongside traditional camel racing. Examples of these new sports include golf, with two European Tour events in the country (the Dubai Desert Classic and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship) and the world's richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, held annually in March.
Aside from the international circuit events, the UAE has a healthy indigenous sporting environment with the local community participating in a wide variety of clubs and establishments. The seven emirates regularly compete in national leagues and cups in a multiplicity of sports that are controlled by specialized governing bodies. Top sporting venues (both indoor and outdoor) and an all-year-round good climate ensure that the activities continue throughout the winter season.
Sports
Like most other sporting nations, the UAE has a huge interest in football. The United Arab Emirates Football Association was first established in 1971 and since then has dedicated its time and effort to promoting the game, organising youth programmes and improving the abilities of not only its players, but of the officials and coaches involved with its regional teams. The U.A.E. football team qualified for the World Cup in 1990 - with Egypt it was the third consecutive World Cup with two Arab nations qualifying after Kuwait and Algeria in 1982 and Iraq and Algeria again in 1986.
The UAE team narrowly won the Kirin Cup with a sixty-eighth minute goal against host country Japan.
A new manager, Dick Advocaat, joined the UAE team in July in time for a four-team friendly in Switzerland, in which they beat both Qatar and Kuwait but lost 5–4 on penalties in the final against Egypt.
In April, Dubai Holding agreed to provide the national team with Dh20 million (US$5.45 million) sponsorship money over the next four years. The fund will also go towards developing the sport.
The UAE also recently won the Gulf Cup soccer championship held in Abu Dhabi January 2007.
Football (soccer)
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (part of the ATP International Series Gold at the Aviation Club, Dubai) was bigger than ever in 2000 with no less than six of the top-seeded women's players taking centre court, a first time appearance by tennis' golden boy, Andre Agassi, and the return of the celebrated Roger Federer, who was seeking his third title crown, resulting in some dramatic court action. In an unprecedented move, Dubai Duty Free, organisers of the championship, decided to switch the men's tournament to the first week of the competition so that it ran from 21 to 27 February and the women's was played from 28 February to 5 March.
Tennis
Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in Sharjah has hosted 4 international Test matches so far. Sheikh Zayed Stadium and Al Jazira Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi also hosts international cricket. Dubai also has two cricket stadiums (Dubai Cricket Ground No.1 and No.2) and is now home to the International Cricket Council. [2]
Cricket
The inhabitants of the Gulf states have enjoyed camel racing for many years as it is considered a traditional sport.
The UAE now has no less than 15 race tracks across the seven emirates. Nad Al Sheba, 10 kilometers outside of Dubai, Al Wathba, 30 kilometers south-east of Abu Dhabi, and Al Ain track, which is 20 kilometers west of Al Ain, are all large, well-equipped camel tracks with high-tech facilities. Two smaller tracks are located in Sharjah, one in Ra's al-Khaimah and one in Umm al-Qaiwain. Others are spread throughout the desert areas.
Camel racing
In February 2007 it was announced that Bernie Ecclestone had signed a seven year deal with Abu Dhabi, to host a Formula 1 race there from the 2009 season. The 5.6 km circuit is to be set on Yas Island and it will include street and marina sections similar to Monaco's course.
F1
U.A.E. hosts Dubai Sevens round of the IRB Sevens World Series at Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground.
Rugby Sevens
The U.A.E. is well-known for its falconry as it is also considered a traditional sport. Many of UAE's rulers were enthuastists in falconry as the nation imports falcons from all across the globe.
Falconry
See also
The national airline of Abu Dhabi was formerly Gulf Air, operated jointly with Bahrain and Oman. On September 13, 2005, Abu Dhabi announced that it was withdrawing from Gulf Air to concentrate on Etihad Airways, designated as the new national carrier of the UAE, established in November 2003.
In 1985, Dubai established its airline Emirates, which, as of 2007, is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world.
Technology, media and telecommunications
Media is one of the first industries that the emirate of Dubai has sought to develop through a number of micro-cities. Dubai Media City has helped to make Dubai the media hub for the region, encompassing both the creation of media, from print through television and new media, and the advertising and marketing industry.
A number of international news organizations, including Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France Press, Bloomberg, Dow Jones Newswires, CNN and the BBC, all have a presence in Dubai Media City, and enjoy complete freedom to report on local and regional events.
The leading English-language newspapers based in the UAE are:
From late 2007, the international editions of The Times of London and its sister paper The Sunday Times will be printed in Dubai for local distribution.
Gulf News, the highest circulating broadsheet
7DAYS, the highest circulating tabloid
Khaleej Times, the second-highest circulating broadsheet
Emirates Today, a government-owned newspaper
Xpress, a tabloid published every Thursday, by Gulf News Media
Internet access is strictly filtered over the local proxy server of the telecommunication company Etisalat [1]. However some facilities such as educational facilities and free zones have unlimited internet access. Officials have never released a clear statement concerning the reason for VOIP being blocked. The only statement released was that the UAE has no regulation for VOIP and only the local telecommunication companies are allowed to use this technology.
The relative cost of broadband services in the U.A.E compared to Europe is very high, for example a 2Mbps connection would cost AED349 per month from either Etisalat or Du, compared to approximatly AED70 per month for up to 8Mbps in Europe. This shows that recent competition in the market has not brought benifits to the customer in terms of reduced cost of services.
Internet
New sports are becoming popular alongside traditional camel racing. Examples of these new sports include golf, with two European Tour events in the country (the Dubai Desert Classic and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship) and the world's richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, held annually in March.
Aside from the international circuit events, the UAE has a healthy indigenous sporting environment with the local community participating in a wide variety of clubs and establishments. The seven emirates regularly compete in national leagues and cups in a multiplicity of sports that are controlled by specialized governing bodies. Top sporting venues (both indoor and outdoor) and an all-year-round good climate ensure that the activities continue throughout the winter season.
Sports
Like most other sporting nations, the UAE has a huge interest in football. The United Arab Emirates Football Association was first established in 1971 and since then has dedicated its time and effort to promoting the game, organising youth programmes and improving the abilities of not only its players, but of the officials and coaches involved with its regional teams. The U.A.E. football team qualified for the World Cup in 1990 - with Egypt it was the third consecutive World Cup with two Arab nations qualifying after Kuwait and Algeria in 1982 and Iraq and Algeria again in 1986.
The UAE team narrowly won the Kirin Cup with a sixty-eighth minute goal against host country Japan.
A new manager, Dick Advocaat, joined the UAE team in July in time for a four-team friendly in Switzerland, in which they beat both Qatar and Kuwait but lost 5–4 on penalties in the final against Egypt.
In April, Dubai Holding agreed to provide the national team with Dh20 million (US$5.45 million) sponsorship money over the next four years. The fund will also go towards developing the sport.
The UAE also recently won the Gulf Cup soccer championship held in Abu Dhabi January 2007.
Football (soccer)
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (part of the ATP International Series Gold at the Aviation Club, Dubai) was bigger than ever in 2000 with no less than six of the top-seeded women's players taking centre court, a first time appearance by tennis' golden boy, Andre Agassi, and the return of the celebrated Roger Federer, who was seeking his third title crown, resulting in some dramatic court action. In an unprecedented move, Dubai Duty Free, organisers of the championship, decided to switch the men's tournament to the first week of the competition so that it ran from 21 to 27 February and the women's was played from 28 February to 5 March.
Tennis
Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in Sharjah has hosted 4 international Test matches so far. Sheikh Zayed Stadium and Al Jazira Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi also hosts international cricket. Dubai also has two cricket stadiums (Dubai Cricket Ground No.1 and No.2) and is now home to the International Cricket Council. [2]
Cricket
The inhabitants of the Gulf states have enjoyed camel racing for many years as it is considered a traditional sport.
The UAE now has no less than 15 race tracks across the seven emirates. Nad Al Sheba, 10 kilometers outside of Dubai, Al Wathba, 30 kilometers south-east of Abu Dhabi, and Al Ain track, which is 20 kilometers west of Al Ain, are all large, well-equipped camel tracks with high-tech facilities. Two smaller tracks are located in Sharjah, one in Ra's al-Khaimah and one in Umm al-Qaiwain. Others are spread throughout the desert areas.
Camel racingIn February 2007 it was announced that Bernie Ecclestone had signed a seven year deal with Abu Dhabi, to host a Formula 1 race there from the 2009 season. The 5.6 km circuit is to be set on Yas Island and it will include street and marina sections similar to Monaco's course.
F1
U.A.E. hosts Dubai Sevens round of the IRB Sevens World Series at Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground.
Rugby Sevens
The U.A.E. is well-known for its falconry as it is also considered a traditional sport. Many of UAE's rulers were enthuastists in falconry as the nation imports falcons from all across the globe.
Falconry
See also
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