| Area Total | 83,600 sq km |
| Climate | desert; cooler in eastern mountains |
| Natural Resources | petroleum, natural gas |
| Imports | China 8.5%, US 6.8%, India 6.6% (2017) – machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food |
| Exports | India 10.1%, Iran 9.9%, Japan 9.3%, China 5.4%, Oman 5%, Switzerland 4.4%, South Korea 4.1% (2017) – crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates (2012 est.) |
| Government | federation of monarchies |
| Capital | Abu Dhabi |
| Population | Population field listing 9,701,315 (July 2018 est.) |
| Ethnicity | 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.) |
| Language | Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian |
News about United Arab Emirates
- Why the UK is accused of allowing the UAE to fuel war in Sudan – video explainerby Mark Townsend, Elena Morresi, Laure Boulinier and Sarah Bertram on July 1, 2026
In Sudan, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, 13 million have been displaced and 19 million are facing acute starvation.Using satellite imagery, leaked documents and reports and on-the-ground footage, we trace how weapons are moving into Sudan through a covert supply chain linked to the UAE and how the UK is accused of being complicit in the […]
- Rubio insists strait of Hormuz will be toll-free as he arrives for Gulf meetingby Patrick Wintour in London and Andrew Roth in Washington on June 23, 2026
US secretary of state seeks to reassure UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain over security and US-Iran ceasefire dealThe US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has said no country, including Iran, would be allowed to charge tolls for shipping in the strait of Hormuz as he sought to reassure US allies in the Gulf that Washington would take a firm line in peace negotiations […]
- UK prioritised ties with UAE over averting mass atrocities in Sudan, MPs to be toldby Mark Townsend on June 23, 2026
Foreign Office failed to act on warnings of genocide due to ‘pressure’ from emirates, Yale human rights investigator will tell a parliamentary select committeeThe British government had received intelligence that Ethiopia appeared to be supporting a genocidal militia in Sudan’s civil war as far back as 2024 but did not go public with the news for fear […]
- Iran announces plans to bring in maritime fees for strait of Hormuzby Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor on June 18, 2026
As US lifts its blockade, Tehran says fees to cover cost of managing waterway will come into effect at end of 60-day negotiation periodIran has announced plans to introduce a system of maritime fees in the strait of Hormuz in two months, after the 60-day period of negotiation that has been triggered by the signing of the memorandum of understanding.Tehran, […]
- Dubai property sales have fallen ‘off a cliff’ since start of Middle East warby Lauren Almeida on June 18, 2026
Sellers of luxury villas have wiped tens of millions of pounds off asking prices, with sales down 19% in May from the previous monthProperty sales in Dubai have fallen “off a cliff”, a leading market watcher has said, after war in the Middle East forced a dramatic slowdown in one of the world’s most expensive real estate markets.Sales in the city […]
- Sky ends controversial news joint venture in United Arab Emiratesby Mark Sweney Media business correspondent on May 31, 2026
Sky News Arabia to retain name in brand licensing deal after criticism of its coverage of atrocities in SudanSky is exiting its TV news joint venture with the United Arab Emirates, Sky News Arabia, which has been criticised for its coverage of the war in Sudan, with accusations of genocide denial.Sky and its partner IMI – the investment vehicle controlled […]
- Shock of Iran war unites Middle East rivals in pushing Trump towards peaceby Saeed Shah in Islamabad on May 25, 2026
Region adapting to diminished US power after Washington fails to land knockout blow on Tehran or safeguard alliesThe shock of the Iran war and its fallout has driven rivals in the Middle East to get behind a peace deal, pushing the Trump administration to accept a tentative agreement in the face of furious opposition from Israel and its supporters in […]
- Strike near UAE reactor revives concerns over nuclear plant safety in wartimeby Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor on May 19, 2026
Attack marks first time military action has forced a fully operating nuclear power plant to rely on backup generatorsA drone strike that cut off external power to a nuclear reactor in the United Arab Emirates this week has revived concerns over the safety of nuclear plants during wartime.Reactor no 3 at the Barakah nuclear plant lost vital off-site power […]
- UAE blames Iran or proxies for strike near nuclear plant, as Trump tells Tehran ‘clock is ticking’by Julian Borger in Jerusalem on May 18, 2026
Abu Dhabi denounces ‘dangerous escalation’ as Iran war ceasefire grows more precarious, and US president voices impatience at stalemateThe United Arab Emirates has blamed a fire near its nuclear power plant on a drone launched by Iran or one of its proxies in what the UAE called a “dangerous escalation”.The fire was just outside the Barakah nuclear […]
- The UAE must be held responsible for its part in Sudan’s crisis | Lettersby Guardian Staff on May 17, 2026
Dr Lutz Oette and Anna Snowdon respond to an article by Nesrine Malik in which she calls out the primary sponsors of the calamityNesrine Malik’s article is timely, highlighting how evidence of the United Arab Emirates’ complicity in Sudan’s war has begun to prompt calls for action to be taken (The UAE tries hard to keep its reputation spotless. But […]
- UAE to complete second oil pipeline bypassing strait of Hormuz by 2027by Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on May 15, 2026
State oil company fast-tracks previously undisclosed project, which is expected to double export capacityBusiness live – latest updatesThe United Arab Emirates has announced it will complete a new oil pipeline bypassing the strait of Hormuz by next year to secure its future crude exports against the threat of disruption.The current blockade of the vital […]
- Benjamin Netanyahu says he made secret trip to UAE at height of Iran warby Julian Borger in Jerusalem on May 14, 2026
Emirates’ foreign ministry rejects claims that Netanyahu visited country, describing them as ‘baseless’Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed he made a secret trip to the United Arab Emirates at the height of the Iran war to meet the president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.“This visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and […]
- The UAE tries hard to keep its reputation spotless. But with the war in Sudan, how can it? | Nesrine Malikby Nesrine Malik on May 13, 2026
Outrage is mounting about the Gulf country’s complicity in Sudan’s catastrophic civil war – and it might be starting to hit them where it hurtsThere are certain states whose reputations in the global community are tainted. For habitual violations of international law, they are shunned, boycotted or slammed with economic sanctions. Reading these words, […]
- UAE’s secret attack on Iran risks drawing Gulf states into the warby Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor on May 12, 2026
If current precarious ceasefire between US and Iran ends, Emirates are more likely to be targeted by TehranThe risk of some Gulf states becoming embroiled in a direct war with Iran has risen after it was reported the United Arab Emirates had secretly launched a major attack on Iran during the conflict.In addition, Kuwait has said that at least four members […]
- UAE’s ruling royal family benefits from more than €71m in EU farming subsidiesby Clare Carlile on May 7, 2026
Al Nahyans’ control over farmland in Europe has meant they receive proportion of payments to farmsThe United Arab Emirates’ ruling royal family is benefiting from tens of millions in EU subsidies to grow crops destined for the Gulf, it can be revealed.A cross-border investigation by DeSmog and shared with the Guardian found subsidiaries controlled by […]
- US-Iran truce teeters on meltdown as stalemate takes toll on each sideby Jason Burke International security correspondent on May 5, 2026
Conflict appears to have reached impasse, but leaders in Tehran and Washington seem to think victory is nearThe month-old ceasefire between Iran and the US appeared to be in new peril on Tuesday with a fresh barrage of Iranian missiles reported to have targeted the United Arab Emirates as US naval forces pressed ahead with efforts to reopen the strait of […]
- Concierge firm co-founded by queen’s nephew went on ‘ill-timed’ hiring spree before Iran warby Simon Goodley on May 5, 2026
Quintessentially almost quadrupled staff in Middle East and Asia less than year before wealthy began to flee GulfThe embattled luxury concierge service co-founded by Queen Camilla’s nephew Ben Elliot embarked on what appeared to be an inopportune hiring spree in the Middle East and Asia before wealthy individuals began fleeing the region because of the […]
- Could the UAE’s shock exit from Opec cause an oil price war?by Jillian Ambrose on April 30, 2026
A standoff between Gulf oil giants Saudi Arabia and the UAE could cause greater market volatility for years to comeThe conflict in the Middle East has claimed Opec as the latest casualty of war. The United Arab Emirates’ shock exit from the oil cartel on Tuesday after 60 years is expected to weaken the alliance, which under the leadership of Saudi Arabia […]
- The Guardian view on the UAE quitting Opec: whatever importers pay, the price of fossil fuels is too high | Editorialby Editorial on April 29, 2026
The world must accelerate the shift to renewables, regardless of the economic effects of Abu Dhabi’s decisionOpec appears to be the latest casualty of the Iran war. On Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates announced that it was leaving the oil cartel after 60 years. The loss of a critical member is a blow to the group and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, […]
- Trump news at a glance: president’s justice department sets sights on James Comey (again)by Guardian staff on April 29, 2026
New indictment marks latest instance in which Trump’s justice department has used its power to target president’s political enemies – key US politics stories from 28 April 2026 at a glanceThe justice department filed new criminal charges against James Comey, the former FBI director, on Tuesday.Comey was charged in federal court in the eastern […]






















