THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th-century treaties. In 1971, six of these states -- Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn -- merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ra's al Khaymah joined in 1972. The UAE's per-capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates for political reform. The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel -- brokered by the US -- in Washington, D.C. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.

Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 83,600 sq km
land: 83,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 1,066 km
border countries: Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline: 1,318 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east
Elevation: highest point: Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
mean elevation: 149 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas
Land use: agricultural land: 5.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 4.6% (2023 est.)
other: 89.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 940 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates -- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah -- are home to nearly 85% of the population
Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Geography - note: strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for crude oil; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) together account for over 90% of UAE's area and two-thirds of the population

Population: total: 10,093,593 (2025 est.)
male: 6,831,802
female: 3,261,791
Nationality: noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati
Ethnic groups: Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Filipino 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.)
Languages: Languages: Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian
major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 74.5% (official) (Sunni 63.3%, Shia 6.7%, other 4.4%), Christian 12.9%, Hindu 6.2%, Buddhist 3.2%, agnostic 1.3%, other 1.9% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.4% (male 842,577/female 802,302)
15-64 years: 81.4% (male 5,812,470/female 2,353,750)
65 years and over: 2.2% (2024 est.) (male 169,084/female 52,030)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 23.4 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 20.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 3 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 33.4 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 35.8 years (2025 est.)
male: 38.1 years
female: 29.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.62% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 1.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates -- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah -- are home to nearly 85% of the population
Urbanization: urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.008 million Dubai, 1.831 million Sharjah, 1.567 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.47 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 3.25 male(s)/female
total population: 2.13 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 78.6 years
female: 81.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.78 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.99 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 31.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 2.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 10.7% (2025 est.)
male: 13.9% (2025 est.)
female: 2.4% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 67.4% (2018 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.8% national budget (2021 est.)
Literacy: total population: 98.8% (2024 est.)
male: 99% (2024 est.)
female: 98.4% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years (2023 est.)
male: 15 years (2023 est.)
female: 16 years (2023 est.)

Environmental issues: air pollution; water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills
International environmental agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Land use: agricultural land: 5.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 4.6% (2023 est.)
other: 89.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 271.703 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 12.788 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 126.038 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 132.876 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 38.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions: energy: 1,573.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 47.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 448.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 2.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.618 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 2.297 billion cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 55 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 2.466 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 150 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: none
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
local short form: none
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
abbreviation: UAE
etymology: self-descriptive country name; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Egyptians, who referred to the region as "Ar Rabi;" "emirates" derives from amir, the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince;" the former name, Trucial States, refers to a maritime truce from 1820 between the British and the Arab sheikhdoms
Government type: federation of monarchies
Capital: name: Abu Dhabi
geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: in Arabic, abu means "father," and dhabi refers to a personal name, Dhabi or Zabi, that comes from the word zab, or "gazelle"
Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Legal system: mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law
Constitution: history: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996
amendment process: proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council president
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years
Suffrage: limited
Executive branch: chief of state: President MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al Nuhayyan (since 14 May 2022)
head of government: Prime Minister and Co-Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al Maktum (since 5 January 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president
election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council -- composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates -- for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
most recent election date: unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, after the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan
election results: 2022: MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al-Nuhayyan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote - NA
expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch: legislature name: Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihadi)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 40 (20 indirectly elected; 20 appointed)
electoral system: other systems
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/7/2023
percentage of women in chamber: 50%
expected date of next election: October 2027
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president after approval from the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiration of their appointment terms
subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws); the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system
Political parties: note: political parties are banned; all candidates run as independents
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yousif AL OTAIBA (since 28 July 2008)
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2408
email address and website: info@uaeembassy-usa.orghttps://www.uae-embassy.org/
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Eric GAUDIOSI (since August 2025)
embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi
mailing address: 6010 Abu Dhabi Place, Washington DC 20521-6010
telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200
FAX: [971] (2) 414-2241
email address and website: abudhabiacs@state.govhttps://ae.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Dubai
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 2 December 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black, with a wider vertical red band on the left sidemeaning: the flag incorporates all four pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), oil (black), and unity (red); red is a traditional color that was part of all the emirates' flags before their unification
National symbol(s): golden falcon
National color(s): green, white, black, red
National anthem(s): title: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)
lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
history: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1986; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for Tunisia's and Libya's anthem
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 ( both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas); Faya Palaeolandscape (c)

Economic overview: high-income, oil-driven Middle Eastern economy; fastest GDP growth of Gulf states; diversification through tourism, construction, and services; strong foreign direct investment orientation; continued government investment and business-friendly reforms
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $745.994 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $718.95 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $693.842 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $68,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $68,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $68,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $537.079 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.7% (2023 est.)
industry: 47.7% (2023 est.)
services: 51.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 45.6% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 12.4% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 27.1% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 108.6% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -93.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: dates, cucumbers/gherkins, camel milk, goat milk, tomatoes, chicken, goat meat, eggs, milk, camel meat (2023)
Industries: petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 7.09 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 6.4% (2024 est.)
male: 4.1% (2024 est.)
female: 12.1% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 26.4 (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures: on food: 12.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% (2018 est.)
highest 10%: 20.5% (2018 est.)
Budget: revenues: $23.248 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $19.349 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2017: 19.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 0.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $558.402 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $521.897 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $425.156 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 11%, India 11%, Japan 10%, Iraq 6%, Thailand 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $481.852 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $427.992 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $347.529 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 19%, India 7%, USA 6%, Turkey 4%, Japan 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: gold, broadcasting equipment, cars, refined petroleum, diamonds (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $237.931 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $189.491 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $138.433 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 3.672 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 3.672 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 3.672 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 3.672 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 3.672 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 44.462 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 157.974 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 613 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 501.067 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 7.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 75.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 4.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy: Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 5.35GW (2025 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 19.7% (2023 est.)
Coal: consumption: 5.411 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 5.512 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 4.146 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 846,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas: production: 55.8 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 67.734 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 6.863 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 18.938 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 6.091 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 450.432 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2.259 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 22.4 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 203 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: most TV and radio stations state-owned, but many private organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; widespread use of satellite dishes to access pan-Arab and other international broadcasts (2022)
Internet country code: .ae
Internet users: percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 3.95 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A6
Airports: 42 (2025)
Heliports: 204 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 655 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 2, container ship 3, general cargo 122, oil tanker 16, other 512
Ports: total ports: 20 (2024)
large: 1
medium: 4
small: 9
very small: 6
ports with oil terminals: 17
key ports: Abu Zaby, Jabal Az Zannah/Ruways, Khawr Fakkan, Mina Jabal Ali, Zirkuh

Military and security forces: United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (includes special operations forces), National Guard (includes Coast Guard) (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 4.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 6.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 65,000 active Armed Forces (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military is equipped with mostly modern imported armaments, and a smaller amount of domestically produced weapons; foreign suppliers have included China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Türkiye, and the US; the UAE's domestic defense industry produces or co-produces such items as armored vehicles, naval vessels, precision munitions, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones for both internal use and export (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-40 for voluntary service; 18-30 years of age for compulsory national service for men with a 36-month service obligation for those without a secondary education and 11 months for secondary school graduates; women may volunteer for national service (11-month service obligation regardless of education) (2025)
Military deployments: maintains a few hundred troops in Somalia and Yemen (2025)
Military - note: the UAE Armed Forces (UAEAF) are responsible for defending the state, its resources, and territory, preserving internal security, and supporting the UAE's foreign policy objectives; key security concerns include regional stability and cross-border threats, such as piracy and terrorism; in recent years, the UAE has undertaken a military modernization program to go along with an assertive security policy which has included military involvements in Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yementhe UAE has close security ties to France and the US; it hosts a multi-service French military base, which includes the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and hosts thousands of US military troops, mostly air and naval personnel; it also has defense ties with a number of other countries, including Australia, China, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea, and the UK, as well as NATO and fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, particularly Saudi Arabiathe UAEAF traces its origins to the establishment of the Trucial Oman Scouts in 1951, a joint UK-Abu Dhabi organization modeled after Jordan’s Arab Legion, which became the Abu Dhabi Defense Force in 1965; the modern UAEAF were formed in 1976 (2025)

Space agency/agencies: UAE Space Agency (created in 2014); Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC; established 2006) (2025)
Space program overview: has an ambitious and growing national space program; focused on satellite development, including communications, remote sensing, and navigation, as well as deep space exploration; is building expertise, infrastructure, technology, and research and development capabilities; has elected to use foreign partners to launch payloads from spaceports abroad; has looked to invest in foreign commercial space companies and develop global partnerships; has a foreign-assisted astronaut training program; seeking to establish UAE as an international hub for space education; founding member of the Arab Space Cooperation Group; works with major global and regional players, including China, Egypt, the ESA, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, and the US; sees its commercial space industry as a key to diversifying and developing the country’s non-oil economy; dozens of space companies operate in the UAE, including international and start-ups, plus several space-science research centers (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1997 - initiated a national space sector2009 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (DubaiSat-1) developed jointly with South Korea and launched by Russia2017 - announced Mars 2117 project, which included building a “Mars Science City” as the first step to establishing a human settlement on Mars within 100 years2018 - first domestically produced RS satellite (KhalifaSat or DubaiSat-3) launched by Japan2019 - first UAE astronaut (trained by Russia and US) in space on the International Space Station2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration2021 - became first Arab country to successfully place a probe (al Amal or Hope) in Mars orbit; announced plans to launch a probe in 2028 to land on an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter2025 - domestically produced advanced RS/Earth imaging satellite (MBZ-SAT) launched by US

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 7,634 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs: USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

United Arab Emirates