United Arab Emirates

The Emirates or the UAE, a country located at the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, shares borders with Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south. The country's population was 9.2 million in 2013, with 1.4 million being Emirati citizens and 7.8 million being expatriates. Established in December 1971, the UAE is a federation of seven emirates, namely Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain, each governed by an absolute monarch who jointly forms the Federal Supreme Council. The president of the United Arab Emirates is chosen from one of the monarchs. Although Islam is the official religion of the UAE, Arabic is the official language, and English is widely spoken, especially in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where it is the language of business and education.