United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia to the south and west and Oman to the east and northeast. The stable classification facts below let you cite fixed international identifiers, and the verification guide that follows shows you how to confirm the volatile figures (population, currency, government details, economy, and entry rules) without freezing numbers that change.

Classification facts (stable)

These are the fixed identifiers assigned by international standards bodies. They describe how the UAE is classified in global systems, not its political or territorial claims.

Field	Value
UN M49 code	784
ISO alpha-2	AE
ISO alpha-3	ARE
UN region	Asia
UN subregion	Western Asia
UN membership	Member state
World Bank capital field	Abu Dhabi

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, M49 classification overview (

The M49 code is a statistical identifier, not a political or territorial statement. It groups countries for data-collection convenience; it does not settle sovereignty or border questions.

Country basics

The United Arab Emirates is a country in Western Asia, on the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. The capital city is Abu Dhabi.

For current population figures, do not rely on a single number. The World Bank country API returns the latest UN population estimate for the UAE, but the figure changes every year and is a projection between censuses. The United Nations Population Division publishes its own estimates with slightly different methodology. Both are estimates, not exact counts, and the reference year is always stated in the dataset. For census-based numbers, the UAE Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre is the national statistical office to check.

How to verify current population, languages, currency, government, economy and travel requirements

The figures that describe the United Arab Emirates change often. For every volatile number below, the source and the reference year are named, and you should check the source before citing it in your own work.

Population. The United Nations World Population Prospects is the standard source for population estimates between censuses. The UAE conducts censuses through the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC). Because the country has a very high share of non-national residents, population figures change quickly and depend heavily on migration estimates. Always state which dataset you are using: UN estimate, World Bank estimate, or national census.

Languages. The official language is Arabic. English is widely used in business, education, and daily life, and many other languages are spoken by migrant communities. Language statistics are not tracked in a single official database; the most recent reliable estimates come from academic and UNESCO reports. Check the UNESCO Institute for Statistics for education-language data and the national statistical office for census or survey results.

Currency. The official currency is the UAE dirham (AED), subdivided into 100 fils. Exchange rates change daily; the dirham has been pegged to the U.S. dollar since 1997. Use the central bank or a current exchange-rate service for live figures. Do not rely on static numbers.

Government and economy. The UAE is a federation of seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah). The federal capital is Abu Dhabi. The political system is a federal monarchy; the president is elected by the Federal Supreme Council from among the seven rulers. The economy is dominated by oil and gas, with diversification into tourism, finance, and logistics. For current GDP, income classification, and poverty statistics, use the World Bank country API and the IMF country page, and cite the reference year for each figure.

People, language and culture. Arabic is the official language; English is widely used in business and government contexts. The resident base is heavily skewed toward expatriate workers, so demographic figures depend on residency definitions. Verify the size of the resident base from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre and compare with UN estimates; figures differ because of timing and whether they include the large non-citizen workforce. Life expectancy, literacy, and health metrics should be cited from WHO or UNESCO with their reference year, not from aggregated comparison sites. The UAE hosts a diverse expatriate community; the official language is Arabic, but English is common in commerce, and other languages are spoken by migrant communities. Religious and cultural norms are shaped by Islamic tradition, but the country’s constitution provides for freedom of religion within limits; official figures on religious demographics are not published by the government, so any percentage should be attributed to a survey or estimate with its year.