address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu
Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch);
note-work week is Saturday through Wednesday
telephone: [971] (2) 436691, 436692
FAX: [971] (2) 434771
consulate(s) general: Dubai

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white,
and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side

@United Arab Emirates:Economy

Economy-overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's
highest per capita incomes and with a sizable annual trade surplus.
Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 33% of GDP), and the
fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those
commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound
transformation from an impoverished region of small desert
principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At
present levels of production, oil and gas reserves should last for
over 100 years. The UAE Government is encouraging increased
privatization within the economy, and industrial development is
expected to pick up in 1997-98.

GDP: purchasing power parity-$54.2 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate: 5% (1997 est.)

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$24,000 (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 55%
services: 42% (1996 est.)

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.6% (1997 est.)

Labor force:
total: 1.05 million (1996 est.)
by occupation: services 65%, industry and commerce 30%, agriculture 5%
(1996 est.)
note: 75% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $5.1 billion
expenditures: $5.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $294
million (1997 est.)

Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction
materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling

Industrial production growth rate: 6.1% (1995 est.)

Electricity-capacity: 5.29 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production: 18 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita: 6,155 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products: dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs,
dairy products; fish

Exports:
total value: $33.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: crude oil 66%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
partners: Japan 38%, South Korea 7%, Singapore 7%, India 6%, Oman 4%,
Iran 3% (1996)

Imports:
total value: $23.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities