Area: 82,880 sq km

Population: 3.1 million (2000 est.)

Capital City: Abu Dhabi

People: Arab (61%), South Asian (22%), Iranian (8%), other expats (9%)

Languages: Arabic

Currency: 1 UAE Dirham = 100 fils

Independent federation : of 7 emirates (imara(t).

The UAE is a federation of seven autonomous Shaikhdoms with a total land area of 83,600 square kilometres. The seven emirates are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm al Qaiwan and Ajman. The total population is 2.6 million (85% of which is expatriate). The climate is dry sub tropical with hot summers (May to October) and high humidity near the coast. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a union of seven sovereign sheikhdoms, formed when the British withdrew from the Gulf in 1971. It boasts mountains, beaches, deserts, oases, camel racing, Bedouin markets and the legendary duty-free shopping of Dubai, all packed into a relatively small area.

From May to September daytime temperatures commonly hover just below 40°C (104°F) in the eastern coastal cities. While the humidity can be a bit squirmish at times, the climate is slightly less hostile than the interior thanks to occasional sea breezes; the mountains above Ras al-Khaimah also provide some relief. Average daily high temperatures drop to the more comfortable 22-30°C (70-85°F) range for the rest of the year. Rainfall is non-existent between May and October, and negligible for much of the rest of the year.

Capital City - Abu Dhabi (pop 500,000 est.)

Area - 83,600 sq km/32,278 sq miles

Population - 2,400,000

Time Zone - GMT/UTC +4 ()

Languages - Arabic (official)/Persian/English/Hindi/Urdu

Religion - Muslim (96%) Hindu, Christian and other (4%)

Currency - UAE Dirham (Dh)

Electricity - 220V 50HzHz

Country Dialling Code - (+) 971

British citizens and nationals of most Gulf countries do not require visas; Gulf citizens can stay as long as they want, Britons for up to three months. All other visitors are required to have visas. Your hotel can sponsor you for a 15-day, non-renewable transit visa or a one-month renewable visit visa. Note that if your passport shows evidence of travel to Israel you will be denied entry to the UAE.

United Arab Emirates is not a country, but a federation made out of 7 countries. I addition, areas of the desert inland from the emirates are a part of the federation, but ruled by the central government. United Arab Emirates is in the northeastern corner of the Arabian peninsula, where most of the settlements are along the Persian Gulf, while some settlements are found on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. The northern tip of the peninsula belongs to Oman, and there is even an Omani enclave inside UAE. The landscape of the Emirates is very dry, with little rain, vegetation and animal life. Mountains only take up some few percent of the total territory. Connected to the federation are several islands outside the coast along the Persian Gulf.

Shaykh Zayed bin Sultan an-Nahyan has been the ruler of Abu Dhabi since 1966, and the ruler of the UAE since 1971. Everything in Abu Dhabi is modern, sleek and shiny. The United Arab Emirate's capital is often accused of being a rather soulless place, but that's going a bit too far: it's not exactly buzzing, and it may have more sheen than atmosphere, but it does have its attractions. Abu Dhabi has a population of about 1.85 million inhabitants (2005 estimate), and the emirate covers 67,350 kmē, which is 87% of all of the UAE. Abu Dhabi is therefore the largest and most populated emirate among the seven.

The best time of the year to visit Dubai is between November and April, when the weather is coolest. The rest of the year you're more likely to be running from one air-conditioned environment to the next instead of getting out and exploring. Ramadan, which takes place at a different time each year on the Western calendar, is the Muslim month of fasting and is strictly adhered to throughout the UAE. That means that it's illegal, not to mention rude, to eat, drink or smoke in public from sunrise to sunset at this time. On the 'up' side, hotel rates drop to 50% of their usual cost.

The rich cultural mix of Dubai's population is echoed in the myriad choices of restaurants and coffee shops across the city. From the simplest Indo-Pakistani workers cafe in Karama to the gastronomic delights and decor of eateries at the swanky five-star hotels, Dubai offers a huge range of dining experiences.

Abundant entertainment options mean you can keep exploring Dubai into the wee hours. See live music, see live DJs play music, see beautiful people dancing to the music, see people on a dance break partaking in a bit of traditional sheesha (water pipe) in a cafe.

Dubai's shopping muscle draws lifeblood from the thriving contrast of traditional souqs, towering super malls and boutique stores; each overflowing with fresh produce, old-world exotica, designer collections and new-wave gadgetry. The visiting shopper does not know where to begin.

Religious holidays are tied to the lunar Islamic Hejira calendar, so dates vary from year to year on the Western Gregorian version, which runs on solar time. Eid al-Fitr (the end of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (a celebration that follows Pilgrimage), Lailat al-Mi'raj (the Ascension of the Prophet), the Prophet's Birthday and the Islamic New Year are the main celebrations. Secular holidays include New Year's Day (1 January) and National Day (2 December). Keep in mind that Thursday and Friday make up the Dubai weekend. Ramadan is the month during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, and it is in poor form to eat, drink or smoke in public. If a Muslim friend offers you tea or coffee during the daytime in Ramadan, Ms Manners would suggest that you politely refuse. Bars and pubs are closed until 19:00 each night, and some restaurants do not serve alcohol. At sundown, the feast begins. Dubai hosts two major tourist-oriented events during the year. The fiercely promoted Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is held from mid-January to mid-February. Shopping centres bust themselves to bring in the spenders. Entertainment for the kids, fireworks and free raffle tickets with every purchase are just part of the fun. The lower-key Dubai Summer Surprises (held in June) is designed, along with cheap hotel rates, to attract tourists during the summer slump. Surprises include displays of traditional culture, cooking demonstrations, art shows and more raffle tickets.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the busiest airport in the Middle East. The national carrier is Emirates, which flies to some 45 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Australia, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. For all the talk of free markets, air fares out of the UAE are just as strictly regulated as anywhere else; there are no bucket shops. Dubai International Airport has no separate airport departure tax; it's included in the price of your ticket. Buses run from Dubai to other parts of the UAE and surrounding countries. One useful bus route runs to Hatta from the Deira bus station. To get to most other cities in the Emirates, take a Dubai Transport minibus. There are two buses a day to Muscat, Oman. Balawi Bus Service runs to Jordan twice weekly and to Egypt on Wednesdays. Long-distance taxis can take you to any other emirate on a shared or 'engaged' basis (which means you'll either have to wait until all five seats are filled or pay for them yourself). Settle the price before you leave.Passenger ferries make the 12-hour trip between Sharjah (a 20-minute drive from Dubai) and the port of Bandar-e Abbas in Iran daily. There's also a fortnightly passenger service between Dubai and Bushehr in Iran. It leaves the passenger terminal at Port Rashid every second Sunday.

You can fly to almost anywhere from Dubai International Airport (tel: 224 5555, flight inquiries 206 6666). Dubai is the base for Emirates Airlines (tel: 214 4444, fax 204 4040; DNATA Airline Centre, Al-Maktoum Rd, Deira).

Intercity buses operate within the Dubai emirate only. To go to another emirate, you have to take a Dubai Transport minibus. Dubai Transport's minibuses carry 14 passengers and run every 15 or 20 minutes depending on when they fill up. They are clean and efficient, and have fixed prices.# Minibuses leave Deira from the bus and taxi station near the intersection of Omar ibn al-Khattab and Al-Rigga Rds. Minibuses for Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain leave from the Bur Dubai bus station on Al-Ghubaiba Rd. There are two buses a day to Muscat, departing from the parking lot of the DNATA Airline Centre on Al-Maktoum Rd. Tickets are available at the Oman Transport office at the DNATA Airline Centre or from the bus driver.

Rates for car hire drop away the longer you are willing to rent the vehicle. You'll need a credit card and drivers licence. There are dozens of agencies listed in the phone book; the smaller ones may offer s slightly better rates.

In Dubai most hotel and restaurant bills will have 10% tacked on for a service charge and another 10% for a municipality tax. If a price is quoted 'net', this means that it includes all taxes and service charges. As a rule of thumb, in taxis, round the fare up to the nearest dirham

Airport Rd Al Garhoud Tel: 04 224 5555 Tel: 04 216 6666 The busiest air hub in the Middle East, with a famed duty-free selection.

Airport Rd Al Garhoud Tel: 04 224 5555 Tel: 04 216 6666 The busiest air hub in the Middle East, with a famed duty-free selection.

Ajman has a population of about 275,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate), and the emirate covers 250 kmē, which is 0,3% of all of the UAE. It is hence the smallest of all the emirates. Shaykh Humaid bin Rashid an-Nuaimi has been the ruler of Ajman since 1981.

The population of Rasu l-Khaima is 230,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate), and the emirate covers 1,700 kmē, which is 2,2% of all of the UAE. Shaykh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi is the longest ruling head of state in the Middle East, and has been in office since 1948.s

Fujairah has a population of about 130,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate), and the emirate covers 1,150 kmē, which is 1,5% of all of the UAE. Shaykh Hamad bin Muhammad ash-Sharqi has been the ruler of Fujairah since 1974.

Umm al-Qaywan has a population of about 75,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate), and the emirate covers 750 kmē, which is 1% of all of the UAE. It is hence the least populated of all the emirates. Shaykh Rashid bin Ahmad al-Mu'alla has been the ruler of Ummu l-Qaywan since 1981.