United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a federal semi-constitutional monarchy of seven emirates in the Arabian Peninsula, with Abu Dhabi as its capital and Dubai as its largest city. The territory, long known as the Trucial States, remained under British influence until six emirates, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain, united on 2 December 1971 to form the UAE, with Ras Al Khaimah joining on 10 February 1972. The Federal Supreme Council, made up of the seven ruling emirs, holds the highest authority in the federation; Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan served as the country's first president from 1971 to 2004 and directed its rapid development through oil revenues, and the position has continued in the Al Nahyan family, with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan now serving as president while Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai holds the posts of vice president and prime minister. With over 11 million people as of 2024 and the world's seventh largest oil and natural gas reserves, the UAE has the world's twenty-ninth largest economy by nominal GDP.