UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Formal Name : United Arab Emirates (Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah) L ocation : The UAE

E is situated on the Arabian Peninsula between Oman and Saudi Arabia and bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. People Population (2009 est., U.A.E. Government): 8.9 million. Ethnic groups (U.A.E. Government): Indian (1.75 million); Pakistani (1.25 million); Bangladeshi (500,000); other Asian (1 million); European and African (500,000); and Emirati (890,000). Religions: Muslim (96%), Hindu, Christian. Languages: Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali. Flag:The UAE flag has three equal horizontal bands of green (on top), white, and black, with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side. GOVERNANCE Dubai's government operates within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, and has been ruled by theAl Maktoum family since 1833. The current ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and member of the Supreme Council of the Union (SCU). Dubai appoints eight members in two-term periods to the Federal National Council (FNC) of the UAE, the supreme federal legislative body. HISTORY The U.A.E. was formed from the group of tribally organized Arabian Peninsula sheikhdoms along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman. For centuries, the sheikhdoms were embroiled in dynastic disputes. It became known as the Pirate Coast as raiders based there harassed foreign shipping, despite both European and Arab navies patrolling the area from the 17th to the 19th century. Early British expeditions to protect India trade from raiders at Ras al-Khaimah led to campaigns against other harbors along the coast in 1819. The next year, a general peace treaty was signed to which all the principal sheikhs of the coast adhered. Raids continued intermittently until 1835, when the sheikhs agreed not to engage in hostilities at sea. In 1853, they signed a treaty with the United Kingdom, under which the sheikhs (the "Trucial Sheikhdoms") agreed to a "perpetual maritime truce." It was enforced by the United Kingdom, and disputes among sheikhs were referred to the Political Resident, a British civil servant, for settlement. Primarily in reaction to the ambitions of other European countries, the United Kingdom and the Trucial Sheikhdoms established closer bonds in an 1892 treaty, similar to treaties entered into by the U.K. with other Gulf principalities. The sheikhs agreed not to dispose of any territory except to the United Kingdom and not to enter into relationships with any foreign government other than the United Kingdom without its consent. In return, the British promised to protect the Trucial Coast from all aggression by sea and assist the Sheikhs in the case of land attack. In 1955, the United Kingdom sided with Abu Dhabi in the latter's dispute with Saudi Arabia over the Buraimi Oasis and other territory to the south. A 1974 agreement between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia almost settled their border dispute, but the agreement was never ratified by the U.A.E. Government. The border with Oman also remains officially unsettled, although the two governments agreed to delineate the border in May 1999. In 1968, the U.K. announced its decision to end the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms which had been, together with Bahrain and Qatar, under British protection. The nine attempted to form a union of Arab emirates, but by mid-1971 they were unable to agree on terms of union. Bahrain became independent in August and Qatar in September, 1971. When the British-Trucial Sheikhdoms treaty expired on December 1, 1971, they became fully independent. On December 2, 1971, six of them entered into a union called the United Arab Emirates. The seventh, Ras al-Khaimah, joined in early 1972. Abu Dhabis ruler, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan was elected by the Supreme Council as President and Dubais ruler, Sheikh Rashid bin Said al Maktoum, became Prime Minister. The U.A.E. sent forces to help liberate Kuwait during the 1990-91 Gulf War. U.A.E. troops have also participated in peacekeeping missions to Lebanon, Somalia, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. In 2004, the U.A.E.'s first and only president until that time, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, died. His eldest son and Crown Prince, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, succeeded him as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. In accordance with the Constitution, the U.A.E.'s Supreme Council of Rulers elected Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as U.A.E. Federal President. Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan succeeded Khalifa as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. In January 2006, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, U.A.E. Vice President and Prime

Minister and Ruler of Dubai, passed away and was replaced by his brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. POLITICAL SYSTEM Administratively, the UAE is a federation of seven emirates, each with its own ruler. The constitution of the United Arab Emirates separates powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches Government system: Federal presidential system and Constitutional monarchy 1. A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss it. 2. Constitutional monarchy (or limited monarchy) is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it becomes a written, uncodified or blended constitution. This form of government differs from absolute monarchy in which an absolute monarch serves as the source of power in the state and is not legally bound by any constitution.

President elected by the seven absolute monarchs constituting the Federal Supreme Council o Federal Supreme Council: The Federal Supreme Council consists of the individual rulers of the seven emirates. The President and Vice-President are elected by the Supreme Council every five years. Legislature: The Federal National Council (al-Majlis al-Watani al-Ittihadi) is the UAEs legislative body and consists of 40 members. Twenty chosen by the ruler, 20 by election Federal judiciary: The Federal Judiciary is a constitutionally completely independent body (under Article 94) and includes the Federal Supreme Court and Courts of First Instance. Supreme Council of Rulers appoints the five judges headed by a president to the Supreme Court. The judges are responsible for deciding if federal laws are constitutional, mediating between inter-emirate disputes. It also possesses the authority to try cases involving cabinet and senior federal officials. Although secular law is applied, the basis of legislation is Sharia (Islamic Law) and involves three of the four schools including (mainly) Maliki, but also the Hanbali and Shafi'i schools. ECONOMY SYSTEM o At the time of independence, the UAE was already regarded as a rich country with GDP per capita exceeding US$ 2,000. o In 2011, UAE is ranked as the 14th best nation in the world for doing business based on its economy and regulatory environment(Dubai is the richest city in Western Asia) o There are various deviating estimates regarding the actual growth rate of the nations GDP, however all available statistics indicate that the UAE currently has one of the fastest growing economies in the world Trade organizations GDP GDP growth GDP per capita Labour force by occupation Main industries OPEC and WTO $201 billion (2009 est.) -3.5% (2009 est.) $42,000 (2009 est.) Agriculture (7%), Industry (15%), Services (78%) (2000 est.) In 2009, more than 85% of the UAE's economy was based on the exports of natural resources) Petroleum and Petrochemicals, Fishing, Aluminum, Cement, Fertilizers, Commercial Ship Repair, Construction Materials, Boat Building, Handicrafts, Textiles Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Re-exports, Dried Fish, Dates Japan 26.5%, South Korea 10.9%, India 10.7%,

Export goods Main Export partner

Iran 7.5%, Thailand 6.1%, Pakistan 4.7% (2008) o Recently, the Emirate of Dubai has started to look for other sources of revenue. High-class tourism and international finance are the new sectors starting to be developed (like the palm islands)

EDUCATION SYSTEM Education in the UAE has grown rapidly. With free education for the citizens, UAE has succesfully increased the rate of literacy, from about 53.5% in 1988 to almost 90% nowaday. To maintain their achievement, the Ministry of Education has produced a policy document outlining a strategy for further educational development in the UAE up to the year 2020, based on several five-year plans. The UAE Ministry of Education has several goals to ensure that UAE students are fully prepared to compete in global market place. One of them is more of a focus on learning of English. In addition, English-language education is being integrated into other subjects, such as math and science. Moreover, IT education is also the main concern of the country's Ministry of Education, therefore the government has goal to provide a computer for every ten children in kindergarten, every five pupils in primary schools, every two students in preparatory schools and one computer per student in universities. Primary & Secondary Education Kindergarten Age level from: 4 to 5 years old Student to teacher ratio: 20 to 1 Primary Length of programme in years: 6 Age level from: 6 to 12 years old Curriculum: Emphasises basic literacy and numeracy skills, and includes basic instruction in language, mathematics, and sciences. Student to teacher ratio: 20 to 1 *Primary school education is compulsory for all UAE citizens Middle Length of programme in years: 3 Age level from: 12 to 15 years old Secondary Length of programme in years: 3 * the 10th year: common studies the 11th year: specialization in science or arts the 12th year: examination for certificate Age level from: 15 to 18 years old Certificate/Diploma awarded: Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma) Curriculum: Focuses on preparing students for University, technical or vocation training, or for the joining the workforce directly. Student to teacher ratio: 15 to 1 Technical Secondary School Length of programme in years: 6 * Prepatory Cycle: Engineering course for Basic Skills (leading to the Intermediate Certificate) Secondary cycle: Technical Secondary Diploma is awarded Age level from: 12 to 18 years old Certificate/Diploma awarded: Technical Secondary Diploma Student to teacher ratio: 15 to 1 Higher Education Based on The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities 2011

WORLD RANK 1389 2252 2413

UNIVERSITY University of United Emirates Arab Higher Colleges of Technology American University of Sharjah

Based on QS World University Rangkings 2011 UNIVERSITY OF UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Overall Ranking 338 Art and Humanities Natural Sciences Life Sciences 367 355 299

Global Partnership The Sorbonne INSEAD New York University Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Special Education Vocational and rehabilitation centers have been developed throughout the country. A partnership between the government of Abu Dhabi and the New England Center for Children, a Massachusetts school serving children with autism, established a comprehensive education program as well as trains UAE nationals to provide services in Arabic. ART & CULTURE The UAE has a diverse and vibrant culture and art, most of them are influenced by islam, such as the architecture, music, cuisine, and lifestyle. Architecture The architecture is influenced by the global-city type. The cities are dominated by a-urban-features like skycrappers, large shopping malls, etc. Futhermore, to create a balance between their global and local aspect, they have adopted policies which are projecting arab-islamic architectural design (arch windows, gates, and decorative stucco) Folk dance Liwa is a traditional dance in arab states, and UAE is obviously one of them. First, a large number of people arrange themselves into a circle formation, and then one of them paces in the circle and start to play an instrument called mizmar (which sounds like an oboe) for around six minutes. Next, the others clap and dance in their place or rhythmically pace inside the circle. The whole dance takes around 25 minutes and can be played by men and women in a celebration. Cuisine. UAEs cuisine is a blend of arab and asian cuisine. The traditional food uses a lot of meat, cereals, and dairy due the desert condition. For example: shawarma, kebab, and falafel; a deep fried ball from chickpeas which is wrapped in a flatbread and eaten as a snack Dress Emirati men wear thawb, an ankle-length white shirt with an izaar (something like kilt, but thinner) underneath. And the women wear abaya, a long black dress which cover the whole body except the face, hands and feet. Some of them choose to cover their hands with black glove and niqab to cover their face as well.