tic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF
embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi
mailing 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
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

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. Industrial development has picked
up in 1997-98, but lower world oil prices caused GDP to drop 5% in
1998.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$40 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,400 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 52%
services: 45% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 1.3 million (1997 est.)
note: 75% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: services 60%, industry 32%,
agriculture 8% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $5.4 billion
expenditures: $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $350
million (1998 budget est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate: 0% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 18 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 18 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

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