Map of United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates is a country in Asia with its capital at Abu Dhabi, home to about 11.51 million people across 83,600 km². The interactive map below plots 8 cities and towns, 1 mountain summits and 15 ports recorded for United Arab Emirates in YearMaps.
- Population
- 11.51 million
- Area
- 83,600 km²
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi
- Continent
- Asia
Interactive Map of United Arab Emirates
Centred on Abu Dhabi at 24.4667° N, 54.3666° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), also known simply as the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, situated at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal semi-constitutional monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as its national capital. The UAE borders Oman to the east and northeast, and Saudi Arabia to the south and southwest. It shares maritime borders with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran in the Persian Gulf, and with Oman in the Gulf of Oman. In 2024, the UAE had an estimated population of over 11 million. Dubai is the country's largest city. Islam is the state religion. Arabic is the official language while English remains the most spoken language and the language of business.
The present-day United Arab Emirates is located within the historical region of Eastern Arabia, which was oriented to maritime trade and seafaring. The Portuguese arrived in the region around 1500 and set up bases on the territory while waging wars against the Persians. By the 19th century, with pearling becoming a major economic activity, piracy became rampant in the gulf, prompting British intervention. Local sheikhdoms formed a pact with the United Kingdom to create the Trucial States, a British protectorate that was effectively shielded from attempted Saudi and Omani suzerainty. The Trucial States remained under British influence until full independence as the United Arab Emirates in 1971. Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi and the country's first president (1971–2004), oversaw rapid development of the Emirates by investing revenues from newly found oil into healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The United Arab Emirates is considered a middle power in global affairs; Dubai serves as an international hub of finance, tourism, and commerce. Only 11% of the population are native Emiratis; the vast majority of inhabitants are expatriates and migrant workers, most of whom are from South Asia. The UAE has the world's seventh-largest oil reserves and seventh-largest natural gas reserves. The UAE has the most diversified economy among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), having become less reliant on natural resources in the 21st century and increasingly focusing on tourism and business. The UAE is a member of the United Nations, Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement, World Trade Organization, and BRICS; it is also a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The Federal Supreme Council, made up of the seven ruling emirs, is the highest state authority.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: United Arab Emirates (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of United Arab Emirates
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.
- Climate
- Desert; cooler in eastern mountains.
- Terrain
- Flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east.
- Highest point
- Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m.
- Lowest point
- Persian Gulf 0 m.
- Coastline
- 1,318 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 1,066 km; border countries: Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km.
- Natural resources
- Petroleum, natural gas.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 5.5% (2023 est.); arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.); forest: 4.6% (2023 est.); other: 89.7% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Frequent sand and dust storms.
- Geographic 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.
- Languages
- Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian.
- 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.)
- 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.)
- Economy
- 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.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
United Arab Emirates in Numbers
- Population
- 11.51 million
- GDP
- US$552.3 billion
- GDP per person
- US$50,274
- Life expectancy
- 83.1 years
- Population growth
- 4.68% a year
- Population density
- 155 per km²
- Urban population
- 86.0%
- Surface area
- 98,648 km²
- Forest cover
- 4.6%
- Arable land
- 0.8%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 100.0%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
United Arab Emirates in Depth
History
Stone tools recovered reveal a settlement of people from Africa some 127,000 years ago and a stone tool used for butchering animals discovered on the Arabian coast suggests an even older habitation from 130,000 years ago. In time, lively trading links developed with civilisations in Mesopotamia, Iran, and the Harappan culture of the Indus Valley. This contact persisted and became wider, probably motivated by the trade in copper from the Hajar Mountains, which commenced around 3,000 BCE. Sumerian sources talk of the Magan civilisation, which has been identified as encompassing the modern UAE and Oman.
Geography
The United Arab Emirates is situated in the Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia; it is in a strategic location slightly south of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil.
The UAE lies between 22°30' and 26°10' north latitude and between 51° and 56°25′ east longitude. It shares a 530-kilometre (330 mi) border with Saudi Arabia on the west, south, and southeast, and a 450-kilometre (280 mi) border with Oman on the southeast and northeast. The land border with Qatar in the Khor Al Adaid area is about nineteen kilometres (12 miles) in the northwest; however, it is a source of ongoing dispute.
Economy
The United Arab Emirates has developed from a juxtaposition of Bedouin tribes to one of the world's wealthiest states in only about 50 years, boasting one of the highest GDP (PPP) per capita figures in the world. Economic growth has been impressive and steady throughout the history of this young confederation of emirates with brief periods of recessions only, e.g. in the global financial and economic crisis years 2008–09, and a couple of more mixed years starting in 2015 and persisting until 2019. Between 2000 and 2018, average real gross domestic product (GDP) growth was at close to 4%. It is the second largest economy in the GCC (after Saudi Arabia), with a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of US$414.2 billion, and a real GDP of 392.8 billion constant 2010 USD in 2018.
Demographics
According to an estimate by the World Bank, the UAE's population in 2020 was 9,890,400. Immigrants accounted for 88.52% while Emiratis made up the remaining 11.48%. This unique imbalance is due to the country's exceptionally high net migration rate of 21.71, the world's highest. UAE citizenship is very difficult to obtain other than by filiation and only granted under very special circumstances.
The UAE is ethnically diverse. The five most populous nationalities for expatriates in the emirates of Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman are Indian (25%), Pakistani (12%), Emirati (9%), Bangladeshi (7%), and Filipino (5%). Expatriates from Europe, Australia, and North America make up around 100,000 of the population.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: United Arab Emirates (CC BY-SA 4.0).
United Arab Emirates: Key Facts
| Currency | United Arab Emirates dirham |
|---|---|
| Official language | Arabic |
| Head of state | Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
| Head of government | Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
| Form of government | federal monarchy, absolute monarchy |
| Calling code | +971 |
| Internet domain | .ae |
| Highest point | Jebel Jais |
| Lowest point | Persian Gulf |
| Established | 1971 |
Facts from Wikidata Q878 (CC0).
History of United Arab Emirates: Empires and States
The atlas records 24 polities whose mapped territory included part of United Arab Emirates, from Akkadian Empire in 2250 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Akkadian Empire | 2250–2201 BCE | Most |
| Parthian Empire | 126 BCE – 237 CE | Most |
| The Sasanian Empire | 238–632 CE | Most |
| Rashidun Caliphate | 633–665 CE | Most |
| The Umayyad Caliphate | 666–750 CE | Most |
| The Abbasid Caliphate | 751–898 CE | Most |
| Qarmatians | 899–979 CE | A large part |
| Buyid Dynasty | 970–1055 CE | A large part |
| Great Seljuk Empire | 1056–1168 CE | A large part |
| Uyunid Emirate | 1072–1235 CE | A large part |
| Mahdids | 1169–1474 CE | A large part |
| Hamdanid Emirates | 1236–1259 CE | A large part |
| Bahrani Dynasty | 1260–1520 CE | A large part |
| Kingdom of Portugal | 1521–1581 CE | A large part |
| The Portuguese Empire | 1521–1581 CE | A large part |
| The Ottoman Empire | 1552–1563 CE | A large part |
| Yarubid dynasty | 1626–1740 CE | Most |
| Sultanate of Oman | 1757–1799 CE | Most |
| Emirate of Diriyah | 1800–1819 CE | Most |
| Trucial States | 1820–1894 CE | Most |
| Qatar Dynasty | 1820–1904 CE | A large part |
| The British Empire | 1820–1997 CE | Most |
| Kingdom of Great Britain | 1895–2023 CE | Most |
| United Arab Emirates | 1973–2024 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (Arabic: الإمارات العربية المتحدة al-ʾImārāt al-ʿArabīyah al-Muttaḥidah) or simply the Emirates (الإمارات al-ʾImārāt) is a country rich in history and culture at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Boasting attractions ranging from the glittering and cosmopolitan cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, to the vast and unforgiving desert landscapes of the Empty Quarter, it makes an easy starting point for travels in the Middle East.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: United Arab Emirates (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in United Arab Emirates
8 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai | 1.38 million | Dubay | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Sharjah | 1.10 million | Sharjah | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Abu Dhabi | 603,492 | Abu Dhabi | National capital |
| 4 | Al Ayn | 408,733 | Abu Dhabi | Populated place |
| 5 | Ras al Khaymah | 160,849 | Ras Al Khaymah | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Al Fujayrah | 94,163 | Fujayrah | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Jabal Ali | 80,000 | Dubay | Populated place |
| 8 | Umm al Qaywayn | 44,411 | Umm Al Qaywayn | Admin-1 capital |
Highest Mountains in United Arab Emirates
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jabal Yibir | 1,527 m | 5,010 ft | Asia |
Jabal Yibir
Mountain · 1,527 m
Jabal Yibir is a mountain rising to 1,527 metres (5,010 ft) in the United Arab Emirates, in the Asia region. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
Jabal Yibir (Arabic: جَبَل يِبِر), also known as Jabal Mebrah or Jabal Al-Mebrah (Arabic: جَبَل ٱلْمبْرَح, romanized: Jabal Mibraḥ), is a mountain located in the western part of the Hajar Mountains, northeast of the United Arab Emirates, between the emirates of Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Its summit is located in the Emirate of Fujairah, and has an elevation of 1,527 m (5,010 ft), a prominence of 216 m (709 ft), and a topographic isolation of 4.93 km (3.06 mi).
It is the highest mountain in the Emirate of Fujairah and is part of a larger elevated massif, surrounded by steep slopes and other smaller peaks that exceed 1,400 m (4,600 ft) in altitude, delimiting the Water Divide Line between the drainage basin of Wadi Tawiyean and Wadi Naqab.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Jebel Al Mebrah (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 1,527 m (5,010 ft)
- Global rank
- #494 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Asia (#177)
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Coordinates
- 25.6600°, 56.1300°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Jabal Yibir ranks #494 by elevation, below Black Mt (1,530 m) and above Buku Sulat (1,508 m).
- Ranges:
- Al Hajar Mountains (Asia), Central Makran (Asia)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Jabal Shams (3,035 m), Jabal ad Dukhan (134 m), Kuh-e Taftan (3,941 m)
- Settlements below:
- Ras al Khaymah (24 km), Umm al Qaywayn (59 km), Al Fujayrah (63 km)
More about Jabal Yibir
Jabal Yibir: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 216 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Al Hajar Mountains |
Facts from Wikidata Q1261909 (CC0).
Ports in United Arab Emirates
15 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umm al Qaywayn | 38.4 m | Small | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | medium vessels |
| 2 | Mina Saqr | 34.7 m | Very Small | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | medium vessels |
| 3 | Umm An Nar | 34.7 m | Very Small | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | medium vessels |
| 4 | Khawr Fakkan | 31.1 m | Minor | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | large vessels |
| 5 | Mubarraz Oil Terminal | 27.4 m | Small | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | large vessels |
| 6 | al Hamriyah Lpg Terminal | 27.4 m | Small | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | large vessels |
| 7 | Jabal Az Zannah/Ruways | 27.4 m | Minor | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | large vessels |
| 8 | Abu Zaby | 27.4 m | Minor | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | large vessels |
| 9 | Fujayrah Harbor | 27.4 m | Small | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | large vessels |
| 10 | Hulaylah Oil Terminal | 12.8 m | Very Small | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | medium vessels |
The other 5 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
- Zirkuh Petroleum Port · 12.8 m · Minor · Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman · point_of_interest
- Zirkuh Oil Field · 12.8 m · Small · Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman · point_of_interest
- Jazirat Das · 9.1 m · Very Small · Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman · medium vessels
- Fateh Oil Terminal · 5.5 m · Very Small · Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman · large vessels
- al Jazeera Port · Small · Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman · point_of_interest
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in United Arab Emirates
3 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas) | 2011 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) (v) |
| 2 | Jabal Al Fayah | 2025 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) |
| 3 | Wadi Wurayah | 2026 | Natural | (ix) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of United Arab Emirates
5 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asia | 46.28M km² | Continent | Asia |
| 2 | Rub’ al Khali | 596,502 km² | Desert | Asia |
| 3 | Arabian Peninsula | 297,867 km² | Pen/cape | Asia |
| 4 | Al Hajar Mountains | 943 km² | Range/mtn | Asia |
| 5 | Musandam Peninsula | 247 km² | Pen/cape | Asia |
Countries Bordering United Arab Emirates
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Asia
United Arab Emirates: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of United Arab Emirates?
- The capital of United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi.
- What is the population of United Arab Emirates?
- United Arab Emirates has a population of about 11.51 million, the #86 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is United Arab Emirates?
- United Arab Emirates covers 83,600 km², ranking #117 by area, with about 138 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is United Arab Emirates in?
- United Arab Emirates is in Asia.
- Which countries border United Arab Emirates?
- United Arab Emirates shares a land or maritime border with Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia.
- What is the largest city in United Arab Emirates?
- Dubai is the largest city in United Arab Emirates, with a metropolitan population of about 1.38 million.
- What is the highest mountain in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest summit recorded for United Arab Emirates in YearMaps is Jabal Yibir at 1,527 m (5,010 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.