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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven
sovereign states: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Qaiwain, Ras al
Khaimah and Fujairah. Located mainly along the eastern coast of the Arabian
Peninsula, the country faces the Arabian Gulf to the north and the Gulf of
Oman, which is part of the Indian Ocean, to the northeast. To the east is
Oman, to the south and west is Saudi Arabia and to the northwest is Qatar.
In the south and west of the country, the land is mainly
desert, with sand dunes, salt flats and a few oases. The largest oases are
Al Ain, 160 km east of Abu Dhabi and Liwa in the southwest. At Al Ain, date
palms are grown. Liwa consists of about 30 oases spread out over the desert. |
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In the Arabian Gulf there are reefs, numerous shallow
inlets and more than 100 islands. The capital of the country, Abu Dhabi, is
located on one of these islands. The city has so many parks and gardens that
it is called "The Garden City of the Gulf." In the northeast are the Hajar
mountains. Beyond the mountains, on the east coast, which faces the Gulf
of Oman, there is a strip of fertile land that has been used for agriculture
for thousands of years.
Hot summers and mild winters characterize the UAE. From
December to March, the weather is pleasant, with temperatures averaging 28°C
in the daytime and 14°C at night. From May to September, temperatures can reach
more than 45°C. Some rainfall occurs, mainly during the winter. Generally,
rainfall does not exceed 13 cm a year. Inland, in the desert area bordering on
the Empty Quarter, the summers are extremely hot. The temperature can rise to
50°C, the sand gets as hot as 80°C and it seldom rains. |
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For the Bedouin tribes who live in the desert, changes in
weather once meant the difference between life and death. Emiratis have learned
to pay attention to northerly winds named Shamaliya that indicate changes in
weather characterized by rain, thunderstorms and violent dust storms.
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| Official Name: |
United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| Capital: |
Abu Dhabi |
| Type of Government: |
Federation of 7 emirates, each ruled
as a sheikdom within the federation, led by a
7-member Supreme Council |
| Population: |
2.5 million |
| Area: |
83,600 sq. km |
| Major Ethnic Groups: |
Arabs, South Asians, Iranians |
| Language: |
Arabic |
| Religion: |
Islam |
| Unit of Currency: |
Dirham |
| National Flag: |
Red vertical stripe at the hoist and
three equal horizontal stripes of green,
white and black |
| Date of formation of the country: |
December 2, 2021 |
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