PROFILE OF UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
GEOGRAPHY
Area 77,700 sq. km. of desert and mountains on the Arabian Gulf and the gulf of
Oman. Seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al
Qaiwain and Fujairah.
|
Year |
Population |
Ann.Gr. |
Density |
|
2000 |
2,441,436 |
+ 2.01% |
31 per sq. km |
|
2010 |
2,851,247 |
+ 1.46% |
37 ,, ,, ,, |
|
2025 |
3,283,949 |
+ 0.71% |
42 ,, ,, ,, |
Capital Abu Dhabi 398,695. Other major city: Dubai 669,181. Urbanites 84%.
People
All figures are estimates.
The massive presence of expatriate workers – often illegal - makes accurate
figures difficult to obtain. Arab 32%. Emirati 18% Other Arab 14%. Egyptians,
Jordanians, Palestinians, Yemenis.
South Asian 59%. Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, SriLankan. Other 9%.filippino,
Iranian, European, East Asian Literacy 79.2%. Official language Arabic. All
indigenous languages 8. Languages with scripture 4 full Bible 1 portion 1 work
in progress.
Economy
Breathtaking advance from poverty to fabulous wealth in generation. Massive
development and diversification schemes funded by oil wealth have boosted
tourism, trade and finance. Abu Dhabi has enormous oil reserves. Dubai’s are
much smaller. The other 5 emirates have little or no oil. Dubai is an important
commercial, information technology and industrial center. The U.A.E’s great
economic dilemma. Is its complete dependence on cheap foreign labor. Human
Development Index 0.812; 43rd/174. Income/person $18,290 (61 % of USA).
Politics
The British protected Trucial states became an independent confederation of
monarchies in 1971. No political parties or elections are permitted. The Emir
of Abu Dhabi is president of the supreme council which rules the country.
Religion
Islam is the religion of state, with a Sunni majority and a small shi’a
minority. There is freedom to worship and witness with in the expatriate
communities, but no out reach to the indigenous population is 0fficially
permitted. Limited non-Muslim religious expression is permitted. Religious figures
are estimates. Persecution index 36th in world.
|
Religions |
population % |
Adherents |
Ann.Gr |
|
Muslim |
65. 45 |
1,597,920 |
+1.5 % |
|
Hindu |
17. 00 |
415,044 |
+3.3 % |
|
Christian |
9.25 |
225,833 |
+2.5 % |
|
Buddhist |
4.00 |
97,657 |
+2.5 % |
|
Other |
2. 50 |
61,036 |
+3.7 % |
|
Non-religious |
1. 30 |
31,739 |
+4.5 % |
|
Baha’I |
0. 50 |
12,207 |
+6.7 % |
|
Christians |
Denom. |
Affil. % |
‘000 |
Ann.Gr. |
|
Protestant |
28 |
0.50 |
12 |
+ 3. 4 % |
|
Independent |
6 |
0.08 |
2 |
+ 3. 7 % |
|
Anglican |
1 |
0.36 |
9 |
+7.7 % |
|
Catholic |
1 |
5.32 |
130 |
+2.5 % |
|
Orthodox |
7 |
2.99 |
73 |
+1.9% |
|
Churches |
Mega Bloc |
Cong |
Members |
Affiliates |
|
Catholic |
C |
7 |
90,909 |
130,000 |
|
Orthodox groups (6) |
O |
7 |
13,400 |
67,000 |
|
Protestant groups (28) |
P |
47 |
5,111 |
12,200 |
|
Anglican |
A |
9 |
2,613 |
8,700 |
|
Armenian Apostolic |
O |
2 |
3,593 |
6,000 |
|
Independent groups (6) |
I |
6 |
945 |
1,890 |
|
Total Christian 43 |
|
78 |
116,600 |
225,800 |
|
Trans-bloc Groupings |
pop. % |
‘000 |
Ann.Gr. |
|
Evangelical |
0.8 |
19 |
+3.8% |
|
Charismatic |
0.3 |
8 |
+3.9% |
Pentecostals are defined by denominational type and are exclusively with in the
protestant and independent mega blocs. All Pentecostals are, by definition both
charismatic and evangelical, and there fore a sub – set of both.
Taken from
Operation World
BY Patrick Johnstone & Jaison Man Dryk(Print 2001)