|RNature and climate:|N A long coast along the Persian Golf and a short coast by the Pacific Ocean. Most of the land is a desert-like steppe and in the east are the Hajar Mountains.
Average temperature in January 18°C and in July 34°C.
Percipitation 100 mm.
|RPeople:|N In 1968 there were 180 000 inhabitants. In 1982 1.2 million and since then one million have moved in. Most of these are workers from Iran, India and Pakistan.
Sparsely 10% of the population is traditional Arabic nomadic.
|REconomy:|N Only 1% of the land is arable and agriculture occupies 5% of the labour force. Most important crops are vegetables and dates.
85% of the labour force is occupied in industry and trade, most of them in the oilindustry. Oil was discovered off shore in 1958 and has since then dominated the economy and given UAE one of the highest GDP per capita in the world.
Before oil was found most of the population were occupied with fishing, pearlfishing, trade, agriculture and pirating.With money from the oil an extensive manufacturing has been developed. Many international banks and finance companies have been established in recent years.
|RHistory:|N The seven sheikdoms were formerly called the Pirate Coast. In 1820 a protectorate-treaty was signed with Great Britain as an attempt to stop pirating. According to this treaty Great Britain took control of defence and foreign policy.
In December 1971 the United Arab Emirates became an independent country and the treaties with Great Britain expired.
