UAE - United Arab Emirates

10 interesting things about UAE

1. Located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf with a population of 2,327,000 residents (at the end of 2014), Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

2. Dubai is approximately 52 feet above sea level and covers an area of 1,588 sq. miles. About 88 sq. miles of Dubai are the result of land reclaimed from the sea.

3. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two of the seven emirates to have veto power over critical matters of national importance in the United Arab Emirates legislature.

4. Although English is widely used, Arabic is the official language of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.

5. Islam is the official religion of Dubai and the UAE.

6. UAE nationals, called Emiratis, make up only 10-15 percent of the Dubai population. The other 85 percent of residents are expatriates, many of whom either have been in the country for generations or were born in the UAE. Approximately 85 percent of the expatriate population is Asian, chiefly Indian (51%), Pakistani (16%), Bangladeshis (9%) and Filipinos (3%.)

7. 18. China is Dubai’s largest international trading partner, followed by India, followed by the United States at $22.62 billion in 201

8. 21. Kissing in public in Dubai is strictly illegal and can result in deportation.

9. Football (soccer to Americans) and cricket are the most popular sports in Dubai. 

10. The Dubai police fleet includes a Lamborghini, a Ferrari and a Bentley, to allow the police force to catch speeders who can outrun other cars.