The number of emirates in the UAE and their names. Population of the United Arab Emirates. What peoples inhabit the Emirates. Fujairah is the most picturesque emirate

The United Arab Emirates is a relatively young federal state. The Federation was established on December 2, 1971. The structure included 6 emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Fujairah. The emirate of Ras al Khaimah became part of the structure a year later, in 1972. Thus, the history of the United Arab Emirates spans the last 50 years. This story is fast and impetuous, unparalleled in terms of speed and pace of development. In a very short period of time, the country has turned from a desert into a developed state, where the wildest dreams and ideas come true. But more on that later.

Historical finds

Now I would like to travel back many centuries and see what the territory of the modern United Arab Emirates was like in the past, who inhabited these lands, and what interesting history can give us.

Let me start with an amazing find made by a group of German scientists from the University of Tübingen in the northeastern United Arab Emirates. This find expanded our understanding of the prehistoric period in the UAE. In the hilly ridge of Jebel Faya, an hour's drive from the Emirate of Sharjah, stone tools have been found. The age of these tools is estimated at 120-130 thousand years. The owners of the found tools are people modern type- Homo Sapiens who entered the Arabian Peninsula through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Scientists attributed these findings to the prehistoric period "Homo sapiens of the Middle Paleolithic". Also near the Emirate of Sharjah, archaeologists have found artifacts dating back to the Neolithic, Iron and Bronze Ages.

The discoveries made on the territory of the United Arab Emirates have turned the ideas of modern scientists about the way of human migration from the African continent. Previously, most scientists believed that the first migration to Asia occurred 40-60 thousand years ago. Now this time period has doubled, reaching the figure of 120 thousand years ago.

From time immemorial

Now fast forward to ancient times. The United Arab Emirates is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf, the coast of which was inhabited as early as the 5th millennium BC. NS. Presumably, these were tribes of pastoralists from North Arabia and the Syrian desert.

In the third millennium BC. The United Arab Emirates became part of the Magan civilization, which at the moment has practically not been studied by modern historians. Presumably, this civilization was originally from Iran or Pakistan. The state of Magan actively traded copper with Mesopotamia.

Later, in the 1st-2nd centuries BC. on the territory of the modern United Arab Emirates lived ancient Semitic tribes, from which the ancient Arab people later formed.

The territory of the United Arab Emirates is a sandy desert, where it is difficult to find water, where there is practically no vegetation. Only in rare green oases can you find water and grow date palms , where of the animals there are only camels. It was the camels that became the basis for the survival of the inhabitants of these lands. Camels enabled the Bedouins to lead a nomadic lifestyle, helping to overcome long distances in search of water and food. Clothes were made from camel wool. Camel meat and milk were the main food of the Arabs.

The ancient history of the United Arab Emirates before the adoption of Islam is called by the locals “the time of Jahiliyyah”, which in Arabic means “the time of ignorance”. Islam came to these lands in the Middle Ages. In the 7th century A.D. small sheikhs located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman became part of the Arab Caliphate, which spread Islam among the local residents. During this period, the cities of Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah emerged.

As the Caliphate weakened, the sheikhs received more and more autonomy. In the 8th century, many territories left the Arab Caliphate, becoming at different times either completely independent or partially dependent states. It was at this moment that the emirates, small states, were formed.

This is how the local sheikhs (emirates) lived until the 16th century, when they began to come under the control of European powers. First, the territory of the UAE was captured by the Portuguese, and then by the British. European powers controlled maritime trade and port cities.

Bedouins, caravans, desert

While the world was developing, the locals mostly lived in the desert and traded with camel caravans. Bedouins survived as best they could and no one in a rapidly developing world, they did not care. They suffered from a very high temperature, they were tormented by thirst, they ate very simple, meager, monotonous food. The Bedouins had little or no educational institutions, there was no health care system, life expectancy was very short. During these times, Dubai was a small village where the height of houses did not exceed two stories.

The pearl trade helped the Arabs survive. It was the pearl trade that occupied the lion's share in the economy of the emirates, accounting for approximately 95% of all receipts to the treasury. Dubai was called the "pearl coast". But only pearl divers know how much effort it took to get it. Danger of being eaten by predatory fish in the Persian Gulf, sea ​​salt, corroding the eyes, pressure drops, all this reflected on the health of the diver, led to deafness and blindness. The life of a pearl diver was short-lived, and the profession passed from generation to generation.

Two world wars, the 1929 crisis and the emergence of synthetic Japanese pearls have severely damaged the pearl industry in the United Arab Emirates.

Oil changed everything

In the 50s of the twentieth century, oil was found in the United Arab Emirates. This was the second key moment in the country's history. Nobody even imagined that there was even a drop of oil on the territory of the United Arab Emirates. But there was oil. And she was enough to exist comfortably.

By this time, the League of Arab States was actively fighting for the right of all Arab peoples for independence. International pressure forced the British to retreat. But the British left these territories only by 1971. It was at this moment that the history of the UAE began as an independent state. In 1971, 6 emirates announced the creation of an independent state - the United Arab Emirates.

The rapid growth of the UAE economy, a sharp rise in prices for "black gold" in 1973 gave impetus to the unprecedented rapid development of the country. The UAE has become one of the countries with the highest living standards.

At a barrel price of $ 75, oil revenues were about $ 150 million a day. The government of the United Arab Emirates, led by Sheikh Zayed, handled this money very wisely. First of all, a course was taken to improve the lives of local residents. In the Emirates, they began to build houses, hospitals, schools, and began to import food. Huge funds were spent on the construction of desalination plants. Now the United Arab Emirates ranks second after Saudi Arabia in terms of the volume of desalinated water produced.

Harmonious oasis of the future

The United Arab Emirates can be safely called a country of millionaires. It is simply impossible for a local resident to become poor, only in the case of a conscious rejection of all the benefits that the state provides to him. Free water and electricity in homes, $ 100,000 wedding gifts to the newlyweds, a plot of land and a $ 20,000 per child birth subsidy are just a few examples of how the government of the United Arab Emirates cares for its citizens.

The country has shown itself financially and militarily on the world stage. The latter made it possible to prevent military encroachments from neighboring countries. Iran once took advantage of the formation of a single UAE state and took three islands rich in oil for itself and never returned them to the Emirates.

To avoid dependence on the "oil needle", the government of the United Arab Emirates made a wise decision to differentiate the economy and invest Money in various projects around the world.

Huge investments are channeled into construction and tourism, agriculture and trade. Many international companies have opened in the United Arab Emirates subsidiaries and representation.

At the moment, oil revenues account for 18% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates, about the same amount is brought by tourism to the country. The main source of income for the UAE is trade and financial transactions.

Differentiating the country's economy, the United Arab Emirates wanted to create something durable and stable and, it must be admitted, they succeeded in doing this.

High revenues from oil exports and forward-looking money management have ensured the prosperity and development of all spheres of the economy for the UAE. Now the United Arab Emirates is one of the richest countries in the world. And although the majority of the population of the United Arab Emirates at the moment are immigrants, the locals control all sources of income in the country.

Now it is difficult for all of us to imagine that just recently, instead of highways with multi-level interchanges, luxury hotels, beautiful parks and unique attractions, there was an endless desert and lonely Bedouin villages.

Federal Supreme Court - This supreme body the judiciary. As in any modern civilized state, in the UAE, the judiciary is separated from the executive.

The Federal Supreme Court is composed of five justices appointed by the Supreme Council. Judges determine constitutionality federal laws and arbitrate disputes between the emirates and disputes between the federal government and the emirates.

Such a system of government may seem authoritarian, but it is natural for the Emiratis and has developed as a result of the country's history.

History

As early as 8000 years ago, an ancient civilization arose on the territory of the modern UAE - the culture of Umm an-Nar. The climate was then much milder, which made it possible to fully develop agriculture. Over time, desertification occurred, and ancient culture faded away.

Until the 12th century, there were no large settlements, the area was inhabited by nomads, fishermen from the coast and a few inhabitants of the oases. In 632, on the territory of the modern emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, one of the most important battles of the “War with the Apostates” took place - the Battle of Daba.

Since the 12th century, port cities flourish, the emirates participate in a developed trading network The Indian Ocean is a thriving cultural and commodity exchange. In the 16th century, the Portuguese came to the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, capturing part of the ports.

In the 17th century, Portugal loses its power, the Dutch gain control over the Persian Gulf. In the 18th century, they were replaced by the British. For a long time, the emirates fell under British influence and partial control.

Read the detailed history in our large and interesting article “ ”.

Who lives in the UAE

Now (note: the article was written in 2017), only 10% of the population are indigenous Arabs (citizens). The rest are temporary workers from India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran, Egypt and other countries.

Their relationship is complex, as we wrote about in detail in the article "".

The laws

The UAE has a very complex legal system, but also very interesting, it is a unique fusion of Islamic and Anglo-Saxon legal traditions.

Each emirate chooses for itself - to have its own judicial system or to join the federal one. At the moment (note: the article was written in 2017), only Dubai and Ras al-Khaimah have their own judicial systems.

Sharia does not have the status of a law in the UAE, but the country's legislation is largely based on Sharia law. There are Sharia courts in the country that deal with cases of divorce, guardianship, and family disputes. Secular courts deal with criminal and administrative matters.

The UAE uses Islamic forms of punishment. For example, flogging is used; several dozen people receive such sentences a year. Throwing stones as a form of the death penalty is legalized, although now it is almost never used.

Much that we are already accustomed to is prohibited and punishable in the UAE:

Sexually suggestive verbal abuse can be punishable by imprisonment or 80 lashes;

Abortion is punishable, up to 1 year in prison and up to 10,000 dirhams in fines;

Apostasy from Islam is punishable by death;

Homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment - up to 12 years in prison;

You can go to jail for drunk driving or even for drinking in a public place, as we talked about in the article "".

Interesting fact that crime in the UAE is very “young”. According to statistics in 2015, about 40% of all offenses were committed by minors (persons under 18).

The United Arab Emirates, or the UAE for short, is a state consisting of seven micro-states, emirates, in each of which there is an absolute monarchy. These emirates are: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Ras al-Khaimah, Dubai, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah and Sharjah. The state is headed by the president, who is the emir of the largest emirate - Abu Dhabi. The capital of this emirate is also the capital of the UAE.

The UAE is located on the Arabian Peninsula, in its eastern part. The state borders on Oman and Saudi Arabia, washed by the waters of the Persian and Oman Gulfs. Most of the population of the Emirates is wage laborers from South Asia. The indigenous population is represented by Sunni Muslims. The UAE is known for its large reserves of oil, the export of which used to be a significant part of the country's GDP.

The administrative structure of the UAE implies the ability of each emirate to dispose of hydrocarbon reserves. Because of this feature, the influence of each emirate on the general policy of the country is determined by the oil reserves in its territory. In accordance with this principle, the Emir of Abu Dhabi, as the largest and richest emirate, is simultaneously the president of the country, and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the emirate, is also the capital of the UAE. The head of government is the Emir of Dubai.

Abu Dhabi, as mentioned above, is the largest of the emirates. It shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia, as well as two emirates, Dubai and Sharjah. Abu Dhabi provides more than two-thirds of the country's GDP.

The smallest emirate in the UAE is Ajaman. Its area is only 0.3% of the total territory of the country. The emirate's industry is represented by shipbuilding, pearl mining and date cultivation.

The first place in terms of population and the second in terms of area is occupied by Dubai, located on the Arabian Peninsula in the south of the Persian Gulf. The emirate is divided into two parts by the Creek, which are connected by two bridges and the famous Shindoga tunnel, an analogue of the tunnel under the English Channel.

Dubai is known as a major trading city in the ancient scriptures of the Arab world. It is still large today shopping center... Registered in the emirate large companies such as state investment company UAE "Dubai World", holding company Borse Dubai, which owns two exchanges: Dubai financial market and the Dubai International Financial Exchange. There are also three major seaports in Dubai. The most important of these is Jebel Ali, considered the best and largest in the Persian Gulf. Today Jebel Ali is a free economic zone that allows for duty-free imports. Among other things, Dubai is a famous tourist resort.

Another tourist center of the country is the emirate of Fujairah. A significant part of the emirate is mountains, and a special pride is sandy beaches, mountainous headlands, many mineral springs and vegetation. In addition, tourists are attracted by many attractions located in the emirate. Fujairah is the youngest emirate. Until 1953, it was part of the Emirate of Sharjah. There is no oil at all in the emirate, the main activities are fishing and agriculture, there is a young and dynamically developing seaport.

Ras al-Khaimah is an emirate located in the north of the UAE. The population of the emirate is engaged in fishing and agriculture, although oil production, as well as throughout the country, forms the basis of the economy. In this emirate, the share of UAE citizens is about half of the total population, which is quite a lot of the country, in which the average share of citizens is about 20-25%.

The United Arab Emirates is a true business paradise and one of the most attractive tourist destinations. Washed by the waters of the Oman and Persian Gulfs, the Arab state is a federation of seven Emirates: Dubai, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Kheima, Sharjah, Ajaman, Umm al-Quwain. Each of them is unique and attractive in its own way, has its own characteristics and local laws.

Abu Dhabi

The largest Emirate in terms of area, which is part of the UAE - 67.3 sq. km. The population of Abu Dhabi is about 2 million people (just over 8 million people live in the Emirates). The largest oil fields in the United Arab Emirates are located here. Every day, Abu Dhabi produces 2 million barrels of "black gold" (with a real potential 1.5 times higher than the level of existing production). The Emirate also produces natural gas, the reserves of which Abu Dhabi ranks fourth in the world ranking.

Dubai

The second largest Emirate, which today is a major center commercial activities UAE, as well as the heart of tourism and international trade on the coast of the Persian Gulf. There are two international ports in Dubai: Jebel Ali and Port Rashid. It is the most cosmopolitan and liberal Emirate of the UAE, which owes much of its development to the presence of oil deposits, as well as the active development of tourism, the real estate market, and, of course, various businesses.

Sharjah

Sharjah is the third largest among the other Emirates and is the center of international trade in the UAE. Here is the port of Khalid with a constantly increasing cargo turnover, equipped with last word technology airport, as well as the Expocentre, which regularly organizes various exhibitions and fairs.

Fujairah

The only Emirate washed by the waters of the Gulf of Oman. Fujairah's special geographical location provides a number of strategically important advantages. In the territory of the Emirate there are large commercial companies, government and government agencies as well as the office of the Ruler of the Emirate. In addition, Fujairah has an international airport and seaport.

Ras Al Kheima

In Ras Al Khaimah, the port of Saqr is located, through which large volumes of raw materials are exported. There are also several cement factories operating here. Also in this Emirate is one of the world's largest producers of ceramics. Along with this, the Emirate offers favorable conditions for business in the two available free economic zones.

Umm al-Quwain

A tiny Emirate living a measured, slightly provincial life. Here, the lifestyle and traditions of the indigenous population of the UAE have been preserved almost unchanged. The peace and quiet of Umm al-Quwain attracts tourists who want to enjoy the serenity of Arab evenings and the measured sound of the waves.