Basics About United Arab Emirates

South of the Persian Gulf in the Middle East, the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Most of the wealth is thanks to its oil industry, and the United Arab Emirates is a member of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). The capital, Abu Dhabi, is not the city with the highest population. Dubai, home of modern buildings and a rapidly growing population, has that distinction. The World archipelago and the Palm Islands are artificial islands off the coast of Dubai. Most inhabitants in the U.A.E. were not born there, but are foreigners who came for employment and other reasons. Areas along and near the Persian Gulf coastline are populated with cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, while the arid southern part of the country is sparsely populated.