The Pentominium

Geography
The United Arab Emirates is a federation of the seven Persian Gulf States of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm-al-Qaiwain. The Emirates are located in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula and bordered by Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Arabian Gulf. The capital city is Abu Dhabi.

The country consists of deserts, oases, mountains and a long coastline including many islands.

The climate is very hot in the desert and generally subtropical and arid. Rainfall is infrequent, though there are thunderstorms in the winter. Humidity can be high in the coastal area.

Environment
Because of the low rainfall, very little flora grew naturally in the area. Revenues from oil have paid for the cost of irrigation and now Ras Al-Khaimah is one of the greenest of the States of the UAE.

Among the wildlife there are goats, gazelles, ibex, oryx and leopards. Birds include kingfishers, plovers, terns, owls, falcons and eagles. Over four hundred species have been recorded in the UAE, which lies on major migration routes.

Off the Emirates' coast there are coral reefs, many types of fish and the protected turtles and dugongs.

There is little fresh water and digging wells has decreased the water table resulting in more salinity in the soil. The government is concerned with the environment and has embarked on a captive breeding programme for endangered species. A satellite tracking system is used to monitor the migration patterns of various species, including falcons and dugongs.

Architecture
Traditional houses along the coastline were made from mud brick or coral. In the mountains homes were constructed from wood and stone: sometimes dwellings were hewn from the mountain rock.

Large houses were built in the Islamic style with inner courtyards and colonnades to provide ventilation and sunlight. Many houses had wind-towers designed to send cooling breeze into the home.

Since the country has benefited from oil revenues modern cities have been designed by international architects and the government has provided low-cost homes. There are many dramatic structures among the hotels, offices and public buildings constructed in recent years. For example, the Officers Club in Abu Dhabi was designed by French engineers with a roof that is shaped like the wings of a falcon.

An interesting development in Dubai is the construction of the Palm Islands, close to Jebel Ali port. Buildings on the man-made islands include hotels, a business district, residential accommodation, schools and hospitals. (2006)

Population
The population was estimated at 2,602,713 in 2006. A large percentage of the people living in the UAE are foreign workers including Indians, Iranians, Pakistanis and Westerners, all drawn by the oil industry, construction and commercial development.
Languages
The official language of the UAE is Arabic with English used as a second language in business. Farsi, Urdu and Hindi are also spoken.

Religion
The UAE is Islamic. There are some Christians and Hindus.

Food
Main meals usually start with houmous, tahini or stuffed vine leaves. Bread, including pitta bread, is served and rice often accompanies the main course which may consist of chicken, lamb or fish. Dried lime and spice mixtures are used in food preparation. Other foods eaten are goats' cheese, eggs, salad, olives, honey, fruit, almonds and dates. In the cities there are Indian and Pakistani restaurants, set up originally for the migrant workers.

Sweetened milk may be drunk and other drinks are tea and coffee which is often flavoured with cardamom.

History
Evidence of early settlements dating back to the Stone Age has been found in the area. The earliest substantial occupation took place in the Bronze Age. Greek ruins have also been found.

Islam arrived in the country in the seventh century. During the Middle Ages the area was part of the Kingdom of Hormuz.

The Portuguese were settlers in the early sixteenth century but left under pressure from the British and the Dutch .

In the early years of the nineteenth century the British fought to impose a treaty on the various sheikdoms and stop piracy. The Maritime Truce (1835) gave its name to the area which was called the Trucial Coast.

For many years the region remained undeveloped, although the establishment of a steamship stopping point at Dubai did bring in some outside influences.

When oil was discovered the boundaries of the respective sheikdoms were laid down by the British. Oil revenues made Abu Dhabi the most powerful.

In 1968 Britain decided to withdraw from the area. Six of the Gulf States: Abu Dhabi, Ajam, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah and Umm-al-Qaiwain joined together to form the UAE in 1971. A few months later Ras al-Khaimah joined the federation.

Economy
Oil and gas revenues remain the most important part of the economy, supplying a large percentage of the government's budget. Efforts have been made since the 1980s to reduce the dependence on oil by developing the manufacturing and service sectors. Finance and insurance have become significant earners, despite the setback of the 1991 collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, based in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE is one of the world's richest countries per head of population. This wealth shows in the construction industry which has benefited from the increased oil revenues and in the excellent network of roads, ports, airports and telecommunications.

Little of the land in the UAE could be used for cultivation. Research into new methods of agriculture and investment in irrigation has produced successful developments. Ras al-Khaimah, in particular, has an economy mainly based on agriculture (vegetables and citrus fruit). Dates and watermelons are also grown.

Livestock reared is poultry, sheep, goats and camels. There is also a fishing industry.

Traditional industries are weaving, pottery and perfume-making. Tourism is an increasingly significant earner of foreign currency.

Arts
The Sharjah Art Biennial is a major artistic event with contributors from all round the world.

Traditional music, folk songs and dancing accompanied by bells, drums, horns and bagpipes (made from goatskin) are still part of everyday life outside the modern cities.

Sport
Falconry and football are the most popular sports. The UAE became a member of FIFA in 1972.

Swimming, scuba diving, sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing and deep-sea fishing are all practised along the UAE coast.

Horse and camel racing festivals are major events. Members of the Makhtoum family are major figures in UK racing.

A number of international sporting competitions take place in the UAE: cricket, golf and powerboat racing.

Holidays
Celebrations include the End of Ramadan, the Feast of the Sacrifice, National Day, New Year's Day and Sheikh Zayed's Accession Day.