The United Arab Emirates, also known as the UAE, is a constitutional federation made up of seven separate emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah, and Fujairah. Formally established in 1971, the UAE covers a little over 32,000 square miles of land located on the south eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. The city of Abu Dhabi (located in the emirate of the same name) is the capital of the UAE as well as its largest city overall.
As you might expect, oil and gas production are major industries in the UAE, along with various petrochemicals, fertilizers, construction materials, aluminum, cement, pharmaceuticals, and commercial ship repair. Additionally, tourism and hospitality are also large and prosperous portions of the UAE economy.
The population of the UAE is about 8.17 million people, with about 85% of them living in cities along the coastal areas. It possesses large reserves of both oil and natural gas, with some estimates saying the gas reserves alone are large enough to last for 150 years or more. Efforts to diversify and expand the economy beyond oil and natural gas have been quite successful, with retail, tourism, construction, and real estate being among the biggest contributors.
Although about 80% of the UAE lands are arid desert, its lovely coastline features numerous offshore islands, salt marshes, and coral reefs, while the interior is home to many interspersed oases as well as the scenic yet rugged Hajar Mountains. The climate is classified as arid tropical, with the coastal areas being quite humid and the interior areas being quite hot in the summer months.
As with most other member states of the GCC, the UAE focuses on maximizing its natural resources (such as oil and natural gas) while promoting the expansion and diversification of its economy to other areas as well.
Top industries and employers in the UAE
The top industries in the UAE include the following:
- Oil and Natural Gas
- Construction
- IT/Telecoms
- Banking and Finance
- Tourism and Hospitality
Within these various other industries and areas there are a number of top employers, such as:
- Oil and Natural Gas – Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Emarat, Al Thawiya Technical Services, Pan Emirates Engineering, Takreer, Prumatech Services
- Banking and Finance – Dubai Bank, ABN Amro Bank – UAE, Emirates Bank Group, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Mashreq Bank, Arab Bank UAE, National Bank of Dubai
- IT/Telecoms –Etisalat, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, Dubai Telecom Company, Key Information Technology LLC (KIT), Mobile Telecom Group (MTG), Eastern Link IT Company LLC, National Mobile Telecommunications Company (NMTC), Al-Faris Information Technologies
UAE is a very popular choice for job seekers looking to work in the Middle East. In fact, in Dubai 90% of the population are foreigners who find the UAE an attractive place to secure a job because of its tax-free salaries and beautiful weather.