United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a sovereign country constituted as a federal monarchy in the Middle East, located on the Arabian Peninsula. It is made up of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sarjah and Umm al-Qaywayn. It borders Oman to the southeast, the Persian Gulf to the north, and Saudi Arabia to the west and south.
Oil is the main source of income and the essential component of its GDP. Ranked #42 out of 188 countries in 2016.
The first major settlements in the region date from the Bronze Age. In the VII century AD. saw the arrival of Islam and, during the 16th century, the territory fell under the influence of European colonial powers., finally establishing British rule. Following the end of the UK protectorate in December 1971, six sheikhs formed the union by signing the 1971 Constitution, which was joined by Ras al-Khaimah a few months later. Each emirate retains considerable political, judicial and economic autonomy..
History
In 1820 the United Kingdom signed the first peace treaty with the sheikhs of the country's tribes, to put an end to the acts of piracy that had been taking place. But the treaty that would mark the beginning of the British protectorate would be that of the perpetual maritime truce, in May 1853 (by which the United Kingdom was in charge of the military protection of the territory) and in March 1892 (exclusive agreement that guaranteed monopoly over trade and exploitation of resources for the British). The name that the Emirates received during this period was the States of Truce.
The former Truce States were a protectorate of the United Kingdom from 1853 until December 2, 1971, when six of them (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sarjah and Um al-Caiwain) became independent forming a new federation called the United Arab Emirates.
Oil reserves were discovered in Abu Dhabi in 1958 and in Dubai in 1966.
Politics
President since 2022
Prime Minister and Vice President since 2006
The United Arab Emirates forms a federation of seven states, each governed by its emir (sheikhs' title of nobility) with specific powers. The central government is formed by the Supreme Council, made up of the seven emirs. The president of the country is usually the emir of Abu Dhabi, and the prime minister, the emir of Dubai.
Federal Government
The federal system of government includes the Supreme Council, the Council of Ministers (Cabinet), a parliamentary body in the form of the Federal National Council (CFN), and the Federal Supreme Court, which is representative of an independent judiciary.
The Supreme Council comprises the rulers of the seven emirates and elects a president and vice-president from among them for a five-year renewable term. Although it is not official, the president of the country is by inheritance a sheikh of the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the prime minister, a sheikh of the emirate of Dubai. Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahayan, Sheikh of Abu Dhabi, is the current President and Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh of Dubai, is the current Prime Minister.
The Supreme Council, comprising the rulers of the seven emirates, has both legislative and executive powers. It ratifies federal laws and decrees, plans general policy, approves the appointment of the prime minister, and accepts his resignation. He also relieves him of his post on the president's recommendation.
Described in the Constitution as “the executive authority” for the Federation, the Council of Ministers is chaired by a Prime Minister, chosen by the President after consultation with the Supreme Council. The Prime Minister, currently also the Vice President, then proposes the Cabinet, which requires ratification by the President.
The Federal National Council (CFN) is the advisory council of the United Arab Emirates and is made up of 40 members consisting of a different number of representatives from each emirate. The CFN discusses constitutional amendments and draft laws that may be approved, modified or rejected and reviews the annual budget of the federation. Other functions of the CFN include debating international treaties and conventions but also influencing the work of the Government through discussion channels, question and answer sessions, recommendations and follow-up on complaints.
The Federal Supreme Court represents the federal judiciary, which the Constitution declares independent. The Federal Supreme Court consists of five judges appointed by the Supreme Council. Judges decide on the constitutionality of federal laws and arbitrate in inter-emirate disputes and disputes between the Federal Government and the emirates.
Local government
The local governments of the seven emirates function in correspondence with the federal institutions. With different size, they have evolved along with the growth of the respective emirates. However, its mechanisms differ from one emirate to another, depending on factors such as population, size, and degree of development.
The emirate is divided into two regions: Al Gharbia (formerly known as the Western Region) and the Eastern Region, headed by the Ruler's Representatives. The main cities, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, are administered by municipalities for each of which a Municipal Council is appointed. Abu Dhabi also has a National Advisory Council, chaired by a Speaker, with 60 members drawn from the major tribes and families of the emirate.
The Dubai Executive Council, founded in 2003, has similar functions for the second largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates and is chaired by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sarja and Ajman also have Executive Councils. In addition, Sarja, with three enclaves on the eastern coast of the country, has adopted the practice of delegating some authority to local powers, with branches of the Sharjah Emiri Diwan (Court). A similar model of autonomous municipalities, departments and agencies can be found in each of the other emirates.
In smaller or more remote towns, the Ruler of each emirate may choose a local representative, an emir or wali, to act as a conduit through which the concerns of the inhabitants can be directed to the government. In most cases, they are the leading local figures, whose authority emanates from the consensus of their community and the trust placed in them by the Ruler.
Federal-local interaction
Since the founding of the state, the power relationship between the various federal institutions and the independent local institutions has changed considerably and is still evolving. Under the terms of the Constitution, the Federal Government can receive certain areas of authority from the rulers: one such important measure was the decision to unify the armed forces in the mid-1970s. The 1971 Constitution also allowed each emirate to maintain, or assumed its membership status in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the Organization of the Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, although neither has done so (Abu Dhabi relinquished membership in favor of the Federation in 1971).
As follows, smaller emirates have benefited, for example, from education and have also been able to recruit staff for local government services previously run on their behalf by federal institutions. However, the traditional forms of government still coexist with these new systems. The main driver behind these changes continues to be performance and efficiency in the delivery of services to citizens and the migrant population residing in the United Arab Emirates.
Foreign Relations
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Development and humanitarian aid are seen as an important foreign policy instrument by the leadership of the United Arab Emirates. Two assumptions are considered reasons for acting: first, the Islamic religious duty to help those who need it; and second, to offer aid to less fortunate countries and individuals by returning some of the wealth from oil and gas.
The United Arab Emirates participated in the 2011 NATO-led war against Libya. UAE Special Forces supported some rebel militias and UAE F-16s bombed Libyan soldiers.
As of 2015, the Emirates are participating in the Yemen war under the Saudi-led coalition. The special forces of the Emirates, engaged on the ground, collaborate with the Salafi militias. Abu Dhabi has also ensured that one of them continues to receive military and financial support, despite being placed on a "blacklist" of terrorists wanted by the United States for their proximity to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
The UAE invests heavily in Chechnya and maintains close ties to the Ramzan Kadyrov regime.
In June 2017, the United Arab Emirates aligned itself with Saudi Arabia's foreign policy and broke off diplomatic relations with Qatar. Qatari citizens are also expelled from the UAE. Showing sympathy for Qatar on the Internet is considered a cybercrime and is punishable by three to fifteen years in prison.
Armed Forces
Compulsory military service was approved for a duration of nine months for men between the ages of 18 and 30 who are in college and 2 years for those without higher education. For women it is optional and subject to the agreement of their tutor.
While the United Arab Emirates is committed to ensuring that its foreign policy is based on conciliation and consensus, as well as cooperation with international institutions, it is at the same time open to military contribution with its allies.
Although not a NATO member, the United Arab Emirates has decided to join the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) coalition. In addition, they have diversified security relations with South Korea and France. They also provide weapons assistance in the war against the Islamic State. On the other hand, the United Arab Emirates was denounced for its recurring intervention in the Libyan civil war, and for supporting police repression in the protests in Bahrain in 2011.
Territorial organization
Each state has its own ruler, who in the case of Abu Dhabi, is currently also the president of the United Arab Emirates.
An interim constitution specifying the powers assigned to the new federal institutions was agreed to by the rulers in 1971. In May 1996, the constitution was permanently ratified.
According to the Constitution, the areas under the purview of federal authorities are foreign affairs, security and defense, immigration and nationality issues, education, public health, currency, post, telephone and other communication services, control of air traffic and aircraft licences, plus a number of additional specifically prescribed sectors, including labor relations, banking, delimitation of territorial waters and extradition of criminals. All other matters were left under the jurisdiction of the individual emirates and their local governments.
Geography
The Emirates are located on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and Oman. It is a flat, arid coastal plain that merges inland with the Arabian desert of the Rub al-Jali, with a predominantly flat relief, except at the eastern end, where Jebel Akhdar rises, at more than 1,000 meters above sea level. no. m.. Its strategic location, surrounding the Strait of Hormuz to the south, makes it a vital transit point for the global crude oil trade.
The climate of the United Arab Emirates is hot and dry. The hottest months are July and August, when the average maximum temperature exceeds 48 °C in the coastal plain. In the Al Hajar Mountains, the climate is considerably cooler, due to the altitude. The lowest average temperatures are recorded in January and February, between 10 and 14 °C. During the last months of summer, a humid wind coming from from the southeast, known as Sharqi (in Spanish: «oriental» [cf. Axarquía) mainly affects the coastal region.
Annual rainfall on the coast is less than 120 mm (l/m²), but in some mountainous areas it can reach 350 mm. The rains on the coasts fall during the summer in the form of intense but rapid storms, sometimes causing flooding in the previously dry wadis. The region is subject to occasional violent sandstorms that considerably reduce visibility. Mount Jebel Jais in Ras al-Khaimah has snowed only twice since records began.
Demographics
The demographics of the UAE are diverse. In 2010, the population of the UAE was estimated to be 8,264,070, of whom 32% were UAE citizens or Emirati, while that the majority of the population were expatriates. The country's net migration rate stands at 21.71, the highest in the world. Pursuant to Article 8 of the United Arab Emirates Federal Law, an expatriate may apply for United Arab Emirates citizenship after residing in the country for 20 years, provided that person has never been convicted of a crime and is able to speak fluent Arabic.
There are 1.4 million Emirati citizens. The population of the United Arab Emirates is ethnically diverse. According to the CIA, 19% of the residents were Emiratis; 23% were other Arabs (Egyptians, Jordanians) and Iranians; 50% were South Asian and 8% were other expatriates, including Westerners and East Asians (1982 est.).
In 2009, Emirati citizens represented 16.5% of the total population; South Asians (Bangladesis, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, and Indians) constituted the largest group, constituting 58.4% of the total; other Asians (Filipinos, Iranians) were 16.7%, while Western expatriates were 8.4% of the total population.
Indian and Pakistani expatriates form more than a third (37%) of the population of three emirates: Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman according to 2014 statistics. The five largest nationalities of the three emirates are: Indian (25%), Pakistani (12%), Emirati (9%), Bangladeshi (7%) and Filipino (5%).
There is a growing presence of Europeans, especially in multicultural cities like Dubai. Western expatriates, from Europe, Australia, North America and Latin America, make up 500,000< /span> of the population of the UAE. More than 100,000 British citizens live in the country. The rest of the population was from other Arab states.
About 88% of the population of the United Arab Emirates is urban. The average life expectancy was 76.7 years in 2012, higher than in any other Arab country. With a male sex ratio / female At 2.2 men for every woman in the total population and 2.75 to 1 for the 15-65 age group, the UAE's gender imbalance is the second highest in the world after Qatar. The United Arab Emirates is the country with the highest proportion of immigrants in its population with 79.89% of total immigration in the country compared to the local population.
Police security
The emirates guarantee police security to their citizens. Thus, security conditions in the United Arab Emirates have been, in general terms, good with a low crime rate and a reduced number of muggings or robberies, except for the entry of the black market and the establishment of terrorist troops. As part of a security megaproject, the construction of a series of intelligent robots capable of interacting with citizens that will patrol the streets of Dubai by 2020 and will become a more integrated unit in the city's police ranks was confirmed.
They also restricted free speech, imprisoning government critics in appalling conditions. These data are based on Amnesty International reports on human rights.
Education
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The education system, up to the secondary level, is supervised by the Ministry of Education. It is made up of elementary, middle, and high schools. Public schools are funded by the Government, and the curriculum was created to match the development of the goals and values of the United Arab Emirates. The language of instruction in the public school is Arabic, with an emphasis on English as a second language. There are many private schools that are internationally accredited. Public schools in the country are free for citizens, while the values of private schools vary.
The higher education system is supervised by the Ministry of Higher Education to serve and guarantee the education of children. The Ministry is also responsible for the admission of students to universities, including the largest centers of higher education: the United Arab Emirates University and Zayed University. There are also many other private universities in the country, including the American University of Sharjah, Dubai Institute of Technology Management, SP Jain Dubai Center for Management, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, the American University of Dubai, the University of Abu Dhabi, and the Ras Al Khaimah University for medicine and health sciences. Lastly, other universities based in foreign countries have established centers in the United Arab Emirates.
These emirates have shown strong interest in improving education and research in recent years. Some of the more recent are the CERT Research Centers, and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
Religion
In the UAE, approximately 76% of the population is Muslim. The rest of the population is divided into 12.6% Christians, 6.6% Hindus, and some Buddhist and Sikh minorities, reflecting also the strong ethnic diversity that coexists in the country. Dubai is the only emirate in the UAE with a Hindu temple and Sikj Gurdwara. There are also temples of the Catholic Church in the country.
There are usually no problems of coexistence between Muslims and other religious denominations. Although Christmas Day is a working day in the country, citizens who profess Christian denominations, if they wish, are exempt from going to work that day.
Islam is the largest and official state religion of the United Arab Emirates. The government follows a policy of tolerance towards other religions and rarely interferes in the activities of non-Muslims.[citation needed] For the same reason, non-Muslims are expected to Muslims should avoid interfering in Islamic religious affairs or the Islamic education of Muslims.
The government places restrictions on the spread of other religions through any form of media, as it is seen as a form of proselytizing. There are approximately 31 churches across the country, a Hindu temple in the Bur Dubai region,[citation needed] a Sikh Gurudwara in Jebel Ali and also a Buddhist temple in Al Garhoud.
Economy
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The United Arab Emirates is one of the richest countries in the world, supported by a liberal and open economy with high per capita income and a sizeable annual trade surplus. The country is among the first 5 countries in the world in terms of per capita income, in the GCC Gulf Region of Cooperating Countries for its acronym in English.
The wealth of the United Arab Emirates is largely based on the exploitation of oil and natural gas, which account for around 20% of its GDP. This Arab nation is the largest producer in the Persian Gulf, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Since 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation, from an impoverished region of small principalities, to a modern state with high standards of living. The investment of his oil profits and his foreign policy have allowed him to play an important role in the affairs of the region.
Successful economic diversification efforts have reduced the share of GDP coming from oil and gas production to 25%. This sector represented 74% of GDP in the eighties and 38% in 2006.
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The extraordinary growth of the country's GDP has been driven mainly by the increasing price of oil in the international market and the constant arrival of companies and investments that decide to develop their businesses within the different tax-free zones that the country offers; such growth continues increasing the development of more free zones to satisfy the demand of the different items.
Its main trading partner is Japan, where 30% of its exports go, with the rest of its sales being distributed among India, Singapore, and to a lesser extent, South Korea and Iran. For its part, the main countries of origin of the goods imported by the UAE are Japan, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and Italy. The percentage corresponding to each of these countries does not exceed 10% of the total and, the sum of products from these countries, is less than 38% of imports.
The government of the United Arab Emirates pursues its economic diversification through investment development in infrastructure, transportation, trade, and tourism. Abu Dhabi has made a decisive effort to increase its industrialization process through projects such as the Khalifa, Abu Dhabi Industrial Zone (KIZAD), which allows foreign companies 100% ownership. Dubai has a thriving tourism, real estate and financial services sector, but the economic crisis has required financial support from Abu Dhabi to bail out most of its most prominent state-owned companies. The United Arab Emirates continues to have a positive development, with its real GDP growth projected at 3.1 percent for 2011.
The UAE has an attractive tax regime for companies and wealthy individuals, making it a preferred destination for companies seeking tax avoidance. The NGO Tax Justice Network places them in 2021 in the group of the ten largest tax havens.
Oil
The United Arab Emirates is a major producer of natural gas and oil, ranking seventh worldwide in total proven reserves of both. Abu Dhabi has the most oil and natural gas reserves followed by Dubai, with small amounts in Sharjah and Ras Al-Khaimah. The country is also a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The hydrocarbons policy established by the Government will continue to focus on oil, although natural gas projects are gaining importance and investment. Growing domestic demand for subsidized energy and electricity has caused the United Arab Emirates to become a net importer of natural gas and has significantly affected the volumes of liquids available for export.
The United Arab Emirates has been able to maintain its proven reserves over the past decade thanks to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies, which have increased the rate of extraction from mature oil projects. These along with higher oil prices have expanded commercially viable reserves.
However, the increase in capacity has not affected production according to the limits imposed by OPEC, which limit the production of the United Arab Emirates in the entire quota of 2,223 million bbl / d.
The UAE government's oil policy is carried out primarily by the Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) through the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). This company operates with 14 participating subsidiaries at all levels of the oil and natural gas sectors.
The contract structure is based on long-term and production sharing with the state mandating a majority equity stake in each project, often through joint venture agreements. The most notable of the oil producing consortia include the Zakum Development Company (ZADCO) operated under one of the oil franchises of Luisao Souza who controls 35% of the shares of this consortium, the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Operations (ADCO) under the domain registered joint-stock company of unknown origins, and Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO). The main international oil companies operating in the United Arab Emirates are: BP, Shell, Total, ExxonMobil, Petrofac, Partex and Technip.
In 2009, the United Arab Emirates exported 2.32 million bbl/d, mainly to Asian markets. Japan is the main market for the UAE's oil exports, accounting for 40 percent of export volumes. South Korea and Thailand are the main destinations for crude from the Emirates.
Natural Gas
The United Arab Emirates has the seventh largest natural gas reserves in the world, after Russia, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Most of the electricity generated in the United Arab Emirates uses natural gas as a feedstock, forcing the government to seek ever higher volumes to offset rising demand followed by economic expansion and population growth.
The reliance on natural gas for injection into mature oil fields further exacerbates the shortage in natural gas supplies. Despite its large natural gas reserves, capital costs and a high sulfur content represent the main obstacles to development in this country. The sulfur content is at such high levels that the gas produced is highly toxic and corrosive, requiring sophisticated technology to sulfur strip the raw gas. Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Limited (GASCO), a consortium between ADNOC, Shell, Total and Partex, is responsible for processing associated and non-associated onshore natural gas production.
In 2009 the United Arab Emirates exported 7 million cubic meters of natural gas, while another 17.2 million cubic meters were imported. This net shortfall of 10.2 million cubic meters of natural gas will only continue to increase unless new supplies are tapped.
Despite the difficulties related to the high concentration of sulfur, the government is promoting the development of natural gas in order to mitigate the amount needed for imports and increase its export volumes. Exports are entirely in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and come from ADGAS (project in Das Island). Imports are carried through pipelines and LNG carriers, the two main ones being in Qatar.
Financial services
Financial corporations contributed approximately 5.8% of GDP in 2009, with considerable improvements in their sophistication. However, its lending capacity was severely constrained by the 2008 financial crisis and the consequent liquidity shortage. In particular, a contraction in their ability and willingness to lend to small and medium-sized enterprises has been a major contributing factor to the general slowdown in economic activity in 2009, compared to previous years.
The initial impact of the deterioration was felt in the United Arab Emirates when large private capital inflows, which had intensified on the expectation of a revaluation of the dirham against the US dollar, withdrew at the end of 2008. The risk was it spread when its stock market and corporate funding fell, slowing growth in the property and construction sectors. The fall in property values, especially in Dubai, also affected many banks that had extensive investments in the sector. As a consequence of these factors, there was a restriction in liquidity.
Global markets suffered from the statement by Dubai World, a conglomerate of companies controlled by the Government of Dubai, which at the end of November 2009, indicated that it was seeking moratorium agreements with its creditors on the debt of 26 trillion dollars. However, in a move to try to win back the trust of its creditors, on December 14, 2009, Dubai unveiled a $5 trillion (AED 18.35 trillion) bailout package from the Abu government. Dhabi, which was used in part to reduce Dubai World's debt owed to both overseas bondholders and domestic suppliers. The measure also served to reassure international investors.
Tourism
After oil and commerce, construction and real estate, tourism is considered the third most important sector in the economy of this country. The success of this industry, coupled with factors such as the relatively low price of raw materials, the warm climate that prevails for most of the year, artificial islands such as the Burj al-Arab and the Palm Islands, and the favorable attitude towards the West, has led to many to call the United Arab Emirates the Singapore or Hong Kong of the Middle East.
Dubai generates the most revenue for the tourism sector of the United Arab Emirates. According to the UAE government, the income earned from tourism is higher than what it generates from oil. Tourists are attracted by the nightlife, beaches, shopping and luxury stays available. In addition, Dubai hosts the Arabian Travel Market, the travel industry trade fair, recognized as the leading event in the travel industry every year. for the Middle East and the gateway to this region.
Infrastructure
Abu Dhabi is coordinating its efforts to invest its hydrocarbon profits in extracting more energy from its renewable sources. To this end, the Government has set itself the objective of meeting 7% of its energy needs with supplies from its renewable energy sources by 2020. Masdar, the government-owned energy company of the future, will contribute to that goal, both in terms of business investment and through its work in creating low-carbon energy supplies.
Masdar City, the zero-carbon city that was built by the emirate at a total cost of 55 billion dirhams, is planned to accommodate a total of 40,000 residents in addition to the 50,000 employees to work in their approximately 1,500 green businesses.
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Transportation
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The Palm Jumeirah Monorail is a 5.45 km line that connects the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah with the mainland, and there is a project for a new extension that connects it to the red line of the Dubai Metro. The line opened in April 2009. It is the first railway in eastern Arabia, and the first monorail in the Middle East.
Dubai Metro is a fully automated driverless metro network, a system that has already completed construction in Dubai. The network has two lines, which run underground in the center of the city, and also run over elevated viaducts elsewhere (and on double tracks).
Dubai International Airport is the third busiest for passengers and the sixth busiest for cargo in the world. Emirates airline has its operational base there. Meanwhile, at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways operates mainly.
The port of Jebel Ali is one of the ten busiest container ports in the world.
As a curious fact, on August 31, 2020, the first flight of a commercial airline to officially fly the route between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi took place.[3]
Space Race
The United Arab Emirates has already installed a number of artificial satellites in Earth orbit, although it only formally inaugurated its first space agency in 2015. The agency regulates and supports the aerospace sector in the United Arab Emirates to help integrate various divisions of the UAE. space industry. The Emirates Mars Mission probe, named "Hope", will create the first integrated model of the atmosphere of the planet Mars by the year 2020.
Media
Media is one of the first industries that the Emirate of Dubai has tried to develop through a series of micro-cities. Dubai Media City has contributed to the advancement of media in Dubai and the center of the region, encompassing both media creation, print and television broadcast, as well as new media and advertising.
A number of international news organizations, including Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France Presse, Bloomberg, Dow Jones Newswires, CNN and BBC, have a presence in Dubai Media City, and are free to report on local authorities and regional.
The leading English-language newspapers based in the United Arab Emirates are:
- Gulf Newsthe largest circulation of large-format newspapers (broadsheet).
- 7 days.
- Khaleej Times, the second most fucked-up newspaper.
- Emirates Business 24/7United Arab Emirates business paper.
Since late 2007, international editions of The Times of London and its sister paper The Sunday Times have been printed in Dubai for local distribution.
Telecommunications and Internet
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The telecommunications sector in the United Arab Emirates is currently served by two telecommunications operators, Etisalat and Du, both of which are majority-owned by the government. The country's Telecommunications Regulatory Office (TRA) sets the regulations for this sector.
Etisalat operated as a monopoly until Du introduced its mobile services in 2007. The Burj Khalifa was the first town in the United Arab Emirates where residents could choose their broadband provider. Etisalat has continued to invest in the areas it considered necessary, whether in services or infrastructure, such as the installation of a fiber optic network in Abu Dhabi, which was completed in 2011, making the capital the first city in the world completely connected by this technology.
The UAE's legislation on Internet use is some of the most coercive in the world. Some Internet telephony (VoIP) features of apps like Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Viber are inaccessible due to government blocking. The use of virtual private networks (VPN) is prohibited.
Post and stamp collecting
Up to 1950 British India stamps were used. After Indian independence, surcharged British stamps were used with the corresponding value, but no country indication. Until 1961, the only way to identify a stamp used in the United Arab Emirates was by reading the postmark. On this date, their own stamps began to circulate, with the name «Trucial States» (States of the Truce).
In 1963, Dubai and Sarja began issuing their own stamps, followed the following year by Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras el-Khaimah, and Um el-Caiwain. The emirates signed an agreement with the company Middle East Stamps, to whom they entrusted the commercialization in the country and abroad of their stamps. From that moment on, most of the issues were oriented towards the philatelic trade, and were sold to collectors without even having passed through the Emirates. As if this number of issues were not enough, the Khor Fakkan outbuildings were added in 1965, and Manama in 1966.
This speculative abuse caused the emirates stamps to have a negligible value and even international catalogs stopped showing them. Yvert Tellier does not include images or numbering of the stamps from this period, and Scott mentions them only at the end of the catalogue. In December 1971 the Emirates were unified, and from 1973 the stamps of the United Arab Emirates replaced those of each separate emirate.
Culture
Rooted in Islamic culture, the United Arab Emirates has strong ties to the rest of the Arab and Islamic world. The government is committed to preserving traditional forms of art and culture, primarily through the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. There is a great cultural variety with an Asian influence in schools, restaurants or cultural centers.
Sports
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Soccer is the most popular sport in the United Arab Emirates. The most popular local soccer clubs are Al-Ain, Al Wasl, Al-Shabbab, Al-Sharjah, and Al-Wahda, all of which enjoy a long-standing reputation as regional champions. They all play in the First Division.
The United Arab Emirates created the Football Association in 1971, and since then has devoted its time and effort to promoting the game of the sport, organizing programs for youth, and improving the capacity of not only its players, but of the officials and coaches who participate with their regional teams.
Their national soccer team qualified for the 1990 Soccer World Cup. Another notable international appearance came in 1996, when the country was runner-up in the Asian Cup. His team won the Gulf Nations Cup held in Abu Dhabi in January 2007.
Cricket is another of the most popular sports in the United Arab Emirates, mainly due to the large expatriate population from the Indian subcontinent. Dubai has two cricket grounds (Dubai Cricket Ground #1 and #2) with a third, 'S3', currently under construction as part of Dubai Sports City. Dubai is also the home of the International Cricket Council. The United Arab Emirates national cricket team qualified for the 1996 Cricket World Cup, and came close to qualifying for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
The team has also participated in several Olympic Games, achieving its best participation in Athens 2004 with a gold medal thanks to the performance of Ahmed Al Maktoum in shooting.
The country has two international racetracks: the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Autodrome. They have hosted the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix since 2009, the FIA GT Championship and the Dubai 24 Hours among other competitions. Three European Tour golf tournaments are held in the United Arab Emirates: the Dubai Desert Classic, the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Dubai World Championship, as well as an ATP Tour tennis tournament, which takes place in February.
Human Rights in the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is a country that has no democratically elected institutions or political parties, meaning citizens have no right to change their government. Free association is restricted and workers' rights are quite limited. Human trafficking and the use of foreign children as camel jockeys continues despite government promises to take action to end such practices.
Families of political prisoners are also subject to reprisals. In particular, they are subject to restrictions on employment and higher education and are not necessarily allowed to renew their identity documents. The US NGO HRW denounces that since 2011 the authorities have launched a "sustained campaign against freedom of expression and freedom of association". "The Emirati authorities, in their efforts to crush all opposition, have allowed their security apparatuses to use their power almost unchecked to punish the families of activists, whether detained or living abroad. The most scandalous abuses are arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances and torture."
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