| an independent federation in E Arabia, formed in 1971, now comprising seven emirates on the S coast (formerly, Pirate Coast or Trucial Coast) of the Persian Gulf, formerly under British protection: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah (joined 1972), and Fujairah. 2,262,309; ab. 32,300 sq. mi. (83,657 sq. km). Capital: Abu Dhabi. Abbreviation: U.A.E. |
| UAE abbr. United Arab Emirates |
U·nit·ed Arab Emirates  (yōō-nī'tĭd)   (click for larger image in new window) A country of eastern Arabia, a federation of seven sheikdoms on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Converted to Islam in the 7th century, the area later became a base for pirates and was known as the Pirate Coast into the 19th century. The British signed a series of truces with the ruling sheiks between 1820 and 1892, and the area became known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman. After World War II Britain granted internal autonomy to the sheikdoms or emirates, with the United Arab Emirates being formed in 1971 after Britain withdrew from the area completely. Abu Dhabi is the capital. Population: 4,440,000. |
A federation of seven kingdoms on the Persian Gulf coast of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered to the east by Oman, the south and west by Saudi Arabia, and the northwest by Qatar.
Note: Once the domain of pirates, the area was subdued by the British in 1820. It was a British protectorate from 1892 until the late 1960s.
Note: Oil reserves have been exploited since the early 1960s.
UAE
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