The United Arab Emirates, often abbreviated as UAE or shortened to The Emirates, is a country situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Iran. Termed emirates because they are ruled by emirs, they are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. The capital is Abu Dhabi, which is also the country's center of political, industrial and cultural activities. Before 1971, the UAE was known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman, in reference to a 19th-century truce between the United Kingdom and several Arab Sheikhs. The name Pirate Coast was also used in reference to the area's emirates from the 18th to the early 20th century. The UAE's political system, based on its 1971 Constitution, is composed of several intricately connected governing bodies. Islam is the official religion, and Arabic is the official language. Its oil reserves are ranked as the world's sixth-largest and the UAE possesses one of the most-developed economies in West Asia. It is the thirty-fifth-largest economy at market exchange rates, and has a high per capita gross domestic product (GDP), with a nominal per capita GDP of US$47,407 as per the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It is 15th in purchasing power per capita and has a relatively high Human Development Index for the Asian continent, ranking thirty-second globally. The UAE is classified as a high-income developing economy by the IMF. Although the UAE has a constitution and a president, it is neither a constitutional monarchy nor a republic. It is a federation of seven monarchies, whose rulers retain absolute power within their emirates. The emirs chose one of their number to be the president of the federation, but this does not alter the monarchical character of the government of the emirates. The constitution is concerned solely with the relations between the emirates as members of the federation, and does not prescribe a constitutional system of government. The UAE is a founding member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and a member state of the Arab League. It is also a member of the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OPEC, and the World Trade Organization.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven Emirates and the Federal capital of the UAE. It occupies an area of 26,000 square miles. Its long coastline – the shallow waters of the Southern Gulf, extending from the base of the Qatar Peninsula in the west to the border of the emirate of Dubai on the north east, was once the world’s best waters for pearling.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Prime Minister and Vice President of UAE
Dubai is a city of contrasts, where the old and new makes it a mysterious exciting place to it’s visitors. It is a very welcoming city and increasingly becoming very well known worldwide. Some people believe “Dubai’ is a shorter form of the word “Daba” meaning a prospering or raveling market. It has several names such as the City of Gold because of its famed Gold Market, and The City that Cares since the merchants set aside money from its promotions for charities.

Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi
Ruler of Sharjah           
Sharjah: This city is also known as The City of Knowledge. It is known for it beautiful and impressive achitectual buildings, mosques, museums and distinctive Islamic designed souqs. It is a great place to visit and see the Al Buheirah Corniche and its local raveling such as The Al Sha-abiah Resturant on the Corniche and the Fisherman’s Wharf overlooking the poolside and Khalid’s Lagoon. Sharjah has many beautiful gardens and a nice atmosphere. Being in Sharjah gives you easy access to Dubai and Ajman. Sharjah also encompasses some beautiful oasis areas such as Al Dhaid where you can see many vegetables and fruit such as strawberries being grown.

Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid al-Nuaimi
Ruler of Ajman
Ajman: This is the smallest Emirate of the United Arab Emirates and lies between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. The central area of Ajman is developed, while the rural area has many farms. It has a few good fast food raveling, a City Centre (shopping mall) and cinema, and a traditional Islamic designed souq.

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi
Ruler of Fujairah
Fujairah: This Emirate has a beautiful and very scenic mountain scenery and the winding roads are part of its beauty as you always wonder what scene is at the next turn. It has waterfalls and beautiful untouched beaches which are a major attraction to tourists and visitors from abroad and within the UAE. The beaches are a great attraction to divers who enjoy discovering the amazing marine paradise of the UAE coasts . It is I a major resort area.

Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla
Ruler of Umm Al Quwain
Umm Al Quwain:This is an Emirate where people like to go sailing and bird watching. It is famous for its Multi-million dirham “Dreamland” Aqua park which attracts thousands of visitors. Umm Al Qaiwain’s popular archaelogical sites are Ad Door, a raveling port town and nearby Tell Abraq a fortified settlement from around 2,500 BC. It is also famous for Falaj Al Mu’ala a natural oasis and an important agricultural area.

Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr al Qasimi
Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah: It’s name means ‘head of the tent’. I did a little research and found out that ‘Al Khaimah’ (the tent) also means a raveli shelter symbolizing the traditional arab friendship and hospitality. This Emirate is one of the most natural beautiful spots in the country. It is surrounded by sea, desert and mountains. It is known for its camping grounds when the weather is pleasant, natural water springs where there are separate facilities for men and women to bathe in its natural warm waters. The springs are located next to the mountains In Sh’am. There are several very interesting archaeological sites such as The Queen of Sheba’s Palace in the Shimal to the north.