United Arab Emirates

1971 (December 2, Thursday): Formation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

1979 (November 4, Sunday): Oil embargo impacts the UAE economy

1990 (August 2, Thursday): UAE joins the coalition forces during the Gulf War

2004 (November 3, Wednesday): Death of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE

2009 (October 26, Monday): Dubai World Debt Crisis, impacting the UAE economy

2010 (August 1, Sunday): Severe flooding in Fujairah and surrounding areas

2015 (January 18, Sunday): Severe sandstorms across the UAE, reducing visibility

2016 (January 6, Wednesday): Flash floods in several Emirates, causing damage

2019 (February 19, Tuesday): UAE’s successful mission to land the first Arab spacecraft on Mars (Hope Probe)

2020 (January 1, Wednesday): The UAE launches the “Hope” Mars mission, first interplanetary mission by an Arab nation

2020 (March 25, Wednesday): COVID-19 pandemic restrictions introduced

2021 (February 9, Tuesday): The UAE hosts Expo 2020 (delayed from 2020 due to the pandemic)

2022 (July 19, Tuesday): Severe heatwave across the UAE with temperatures exceeding 50°C (122°F)

2023 (April 6, Thursday): Earthquake in northern UAE causes minor damage, no fatalities

Continent: Asia (Middle East)
Location: Southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia to the south, Oman to the southeast, Persian Gulf to the north
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Language: Arabic (official), English (widely spoken)
Currency: United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
Population: ~9.5 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Gulf Standard Time (GST)

Borders: Saudi Arabia, Oman
Landscape: Coastal plains, deserts (including Rub’ al Khali or the Empty Quarter), mountains in the east
Major Rivers: None (UAE has no major rivers due to its desert terrain)
Major Mountains: Hajar Mountains (in the eastern part of the country)
Deserts: Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter), Abu Dhabi Desert
Lakes: Artificial lakes (mainly due to damming of rivers)
Volcanoes: None
Highest Point: Jebel Jais (1,934 m / 6,314 ft)
Lowest Point: Persian Gulf (sea level)
Climate: Arid, desert climate with hot summers, mild winters, and very little rainfall
Geological Features: Desert terrain, oil-rich sedimentary basins, mountains in the east

Ethnic Groups: Emirati (local Arabs), significant expatriate communities from South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh), Southeast Asia, and the West
Religion: Islam (official religion), Christianity, Hinduism, and other religions due to the large expatriate population
Urban Population: ~85% (last updated: 2023)
Aging Population: ~5% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Modern architecture (e.g., Burj Khalifa), luxury shopping, cultural diversity, desert landscapes
Cuisine: Shawarma, hummus, falafel, kabsa, dates, Arabic coffee, and sweets like baklava
Arts: Traditional music and dance, modern art galleries, film industry
Sports: Football (soccer), camel racing, horse racing, motorsports (Formula 1), cricket

Economy Type: Diversified, but oil and gas remain dominant
GDP: Approx. $501 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Oil and gas, real estate, tourism, aviation, trade, construction
Key Exports: Petroleum, natural gas, chemicals, aluminum
Unemployment Rate: ~2.1% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the economic hubs, with extensive trade, tourism, and construction sectors

Government Type: Federation of absolute monarchies
Head of State: President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Federal National Council (advisory body)
Constitution: Adopted in 1971, amended several times

Burj Khalifa: Tallest building in the world, located in Dubai
Palm Jumeirah: Artificial island, known for its luxury resorts
Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi
Dubai: Dubai Mall, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Fountain
Desert Safaris: Experience traditional Bedouin life and sand dune adventures
Fujairah: Beaches and hiking in the Hajar Mountains