The United Arab Emirates, also known as the UAE, is one of the more stable
countries within the Middle East. The UAE is nestled on the Persian Gulf and
is made up of seven emirates, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Ras al-Khaimah,
Fujairah, Umm al-Quwain, and Sharjah.
The United Arab Emirates were founded as such in the year 1971. Before then,
they were called the Trucial States – a reference to a truce made back
in the 19th century between Arab Sheiks and Great Britain.
The United Arab Emirates does really well on the world’s financial market
because it is quite wealthy as a source of oil. While the United Arab Emirates
may not have a lot of other natural resources, in recent years, more financial
and banking institutions have been opening up there, fuelling much growth in
the economic sector. In fact, foreign investment in the UAE began in the 1970s
and has sky rocketed since then.
With a federal constitutional monarchy, the Al Nahyan Clan of Abu Dhabi alongside
Dubai’s Al Maktoum Clan runs the United Arab Emirates. The rulers of each
of the seven emirates comprise the Supreme Council, who in turn elects the Council
of Ministers. The country’s Federal National Council, featuring forty
members, reviews all the proposed laws for the United Arab Emirates. In the
courts, both Islamic and secular laws are upheld on the civil, criminal, and
high levels.
The United Arab Emirates was ruled by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan from
the founding of the nation in the early 1970s until his death on the 2nd of
November 2004. Now his son, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan, rules this Arabic
nation.
The United Arab Emirates maintains strong ties with both Islamic and Arab world
cultures. Through the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, the government of the UAE
works hard to preserve traditional forms of Islamic culture and art.
The vast majority of UAE residents belong to the Muslim religion. It is estimated
that about 85 percent of them are Sunni, while the rest are Shi’a. Other
major religions in the country include Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, and with
a smattering of other minor religions, including Sikh and Parsi.
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