The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2000 to 2025 Middle East

Background United Arab Emirates, in 26 editions.

The entry for United Arab Emirates published Background in 26 editions of 36, from 2000 to 2025. The text changed in 13 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
13
the first edition with it
2000
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (2000 to 2025).

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2025 edition

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The same text in 2024 and 2025.

The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th-century treaties. In 1971, six of these states -- Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn -- merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ra's al Khaymah joined in 1972.

The UAE's per-capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates for political reform.

The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel -- brokered by the US -- in Washington, D.C. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.

The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century 19th-century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - -- Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - -- merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. Khaymah joined in 1972.
The UAE's per capita per-capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates of for political reform.
The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat-ISIS Defeat ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. On 15 September In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel – -- brokered by the US – -- in Washington DC. Washington, D.C. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “United Arab Emirates: Background.” The World Factbook, 2000–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/united-arab-emirates/background.

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