The United Arab Emirates, or UAE, covers seven thriving territories that are well-known for their exceptional living standards, incredible biodiversity, and booming business opportunities. Chances are you might have heard of Dubai or Abu Dhabi already – they are two of the emirates, and in this fact file, I’ll be taking you through the other five alongside!
There’s all kinds of reasons why the UAE is so popular – for example, the Burj Khalifa, which is at the time of writing the tallest building in the world, is the crowning glory of the UAE.
Apart from this massive tower, however, the UAE is known for its flavourful dishes, decadent deserts, intricate mosques, and luxurious opportunities – all of which continue to bring in tourists from all over the world (even though longer stays here can get pretty pricey!).
If you’re planning to visit the emirates in the near future, here’s a stack of facts about the UAE that might just surprise you.
1. The climate and landscape here is hot and sandy.
The UAE is a swelteringly hot and superbly sandy region in the Middle East. As a desert region, the emirates experience very little rainfall all year round, with the average typically falling below four inches or 100 mm every year!
There are even areas of the UAE that are uninhabited – simply because of the vast desert plains. However, some of these areas still prove highly useful – such as towards the south around Abu Dhabi, where there are oil and fuel reserves.
At its hottest, the UAE is likely to reach more than 50°C – in fact, the hottest temperature recorded here, in 2002, was 52.1°C! Compare that to the hottest temperatures ever in the UK – 40.3°C in the same summer of 2002 – it’s 20% colder here even at our warmest!
2. There are seven emirates that make up the UAE.
The UAE is actually a territory made up of seven different emirates, much like how the UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The emirates include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Umm Al-Quwain, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Ajman.
Of the emirates, the last to join the region was Ras Al Khaimah, which was admitted in 1972. So, now when someone asks if Dubai is a country or a city – you’ll know it’s a bit of both, but it’s actually an emirate, making UAE the technical territory!
3. The UAE shares borders with other countries and a broad coastline.
The UAE, as a whole, is bordered by Oman towards the northeast and east and also Saudi Arabia, which you’ll find in the south and west. It also has a long coastline along the Persian Gulf (or Arabian Gulf) towards the north and then the Gulf of Oman towards the east.
Overall, it’s about 32,300 square miles (or 83,600 square km) in size, which makes it the 114th largest country recorded in the world. That puts it around mid-table, just larger than the Czech republic and just smaller than Austria and Azerbaijan.
In fact, the UK is much larger in terms of total land area, at 244,376 square km (94,354 square miles), ranked 78th in size. That means the UAE is roughly a third of its size.
4. It’s worth noting where to find your local British embassy in the UAE.
There are two main British embassies in the UAE, both of which support British visitors and long-term stay holders. One is in Dubai, specifically at Dubai Creek, while the other is in Abu Dhabi, based at Al Badie Tower on Khalid bin Al Waleed Street.
Take a look at official UK government pages on the Dubai and Abu Dhabi embassies if you need help.
5. It’s never too difficult to find the UAE on the map, or with a compass.
If you’d like to find the UAE on a map, via Google Earth, or to simply trek around the region to spot some of the most vibrant city experiences in the Middle East, you’ll need to take down the co-ordinates of 24.4667° N, 54.3667° E.
6. The exchange rate with the British Pound is relatively stable, but has seen some volatility.
At the time of writing, exchanging £1 in GBP will get you 4.76 UAE Dirham. However, the rate has been volatile over the past few years, particularly in 2022 and in early 2025, with £1 gaining almost as little as 4 Dirham.
As always, you must make sure you check the exchange rates on any money you wish to use in UAE before you travel. As time goes on, the rates I mention here will change for various reasons – so, check with your bank for up-to-date information so you know what you’re getting for your money.
You can use GBP in some places around the UAE, however, it’s usually recommended to exchange before you travel.
7. The UAE has a mostly flat terrain.
The Emirates are largely flat and barren in terms of its wider terrain, with the lowest point in the region being the Persian Gulf. However, there are also sand dunes and even mountains across the area, meaning there are some hilly treks.
For example, there’s the Western Hajar Mountains, which rise to as tall as 8,200 feet, or 2,500 m. One of the highest points, in the north-west of the range, is the stunning Jebel Jais, which is around 6,345 feet or 1,935 m tall!
That even puts Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest mountain, in the shade. It stands at around 4,413 feet, or 1,345 m tall!
8. The population in the UAE is sparse.
Not only is the UAE smaller than the UK, its population is also much less dense. That’s largely thanks to the immense heat and aridity of the wide open desert land, with most people who live here choosing to occupy the cities and metropolises. Can you blame them?
At the last count, the population of the UAE is around 10.5 million. Compare that to data from the last UK census – we have a population of around 68.4 million!
And, compare Dubai’s population of close to four million people with London – which is teetering on a population of nine million people! It’s safe to say there’s more space to breathe in the UAE!
9. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE.
While you might assume that Dubai is the UAE’s capital, this honour actually belongs to Abu Dhabi. Becoming independent from the UK in 1971, Abu Dhabi has a total land area of around 67,340 square km, or 26,000 square miles.
Its population is growing, too. There are more than 3.7 million people living in Abu Dhabi at the time of writing, making it the second-most populated region of the emirates. Dubai is thought to have more people (though figures are similar), but it’s much smaller than Abu Dhabi, making it more densely populated.
10. Dubai is on the map for its extensive driverless metro system.
Guinness World Records fans rejoice – Dubai has held the record for the longest driverless metro network in the world. Extending to an impressive 47 miles or 75 km, the Dubai Metro currently operates Red and Green Lines, with a third – the Blue Line – set to open by the end of the decade.
The line covers 55 different stations and sees more than 275.4 million people riding every year. In 2016, its length record was sadly beaten out by the SkyTrain in Vancouver, Canada, though only briefly – because its unveiling of the popular Route 2020 regained the title!
And yet – again – the record was beaten, this time in 2024, thanks to the launch of the Riyadh Metro in Saudi Arabia!
11. Millions of British people visit the UAE every year.
The United Arab Emirates just so happens to be something of a hotspot for British holidaymakers – and businesspeople! In fact, data suggests that more than 1.4 million people visit the UAE purely for tourism.
There are around 130,000 UK-born people who live in the emirates, and at present, the UAE is still the UK’s biggest trading partner in the wider region. It’s also estimated that there are more than 5,000 British businesses that operate out of the UAE! Only China and the USA are, at present, bigger trading partners for the UK.
12. Dubai’s main shopping mall is the biggest in the world.
The Dubai Mall happens to be particularly massive – holding more than 1,200 different stores, and even saving some space for an ice rink! It’s estimated to be around 12.1 million square feet, or 1.1 million square metres, in size.
The Mall of the Emirates, meanwhile, is another huge shopping metropolis found in the heart of Dubai. This mall boasts more than 400 unique stores, occupying a space of around 223,000 square meters, or 2.4 million square feet! There’s no shortage of parking space here, either – with room for around 7,900 vehicles at the last count.
13. The official language spoken here is Arabic.
Arabic is the overall official language of the Emirates, however, English is widely spoken – mainly because it’s seen as a universal language of business, and of tourism.
Therefore, if you travel to UAE from an English speaking country, you likely won’t have any difficulties finding your way around. However, the best course of action – as with travelling abroad anywhere – is to try and brush up on the local lingo as best you can!
14. The UAE is famous for its lavish police vehicles.
While in the UK you’re probably used to seeing the occasional police Ford Focus driving by every so often, the cars used to propel law enforcement around in the UAE is considerably fancier.
Take Dubai’s impressive fleet of police vehicles – it’s not unheard of for law enforcers to travel around in Bentley Continental GTs, Audi R8s, Bugatti Veyrons, and Ferrari FF 2s! That’s one way to get hot on the tail of some criminals!
15. There’s a cash machine that pays out in gold.
No, really! If you’re lucky enough to spend a night at the Emirates Palace Hotel, based in Abu Dhabi, be prepared for a dazzling experience if you need to take any money out!
The hotel is home to a cash machine that, bizarrely, pays out in gold products, such as bars and coins! How’s that for an opulent trip to the hole in the wall?
16. Life expectancy in the UAE is fairly high.
On average, you’ll likely expect to live to be just over 79 years old if you live in the UAE. That’s one of the highest life expectancy rates in the Middle East, with people in Saudi Arabia likely to live to be around 78.
However, life expectancy in the UK is even higher! Despite a slight dip at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, most people will expect to live to be around 82 years old. That’s nothing compared to Monaco, however, where people can expect to live up to 89 years old!
17. The UAE trades in a variety of sectors.
Some of the most important trade in the UAE revolves around oil and natural gas. It’s one of the reasons why the emirates are particularly lavish and luxurious – this is an extremely rich corner of the world!
However, people across the emirates also grow an array of fruit and vegetables for export, with the area’s watermelon and date exports being particularly popular overseas. You’re also likely to enjoy beef and chicken raised and prepared in the UAE, as well as a variety of dairy products.
In terms of industry, the UAE has a burgeoning petroleum trade, alongside strong fishing, textiles, construction, and fertiliser exports. The region even runs a strong trade in commercial ship repair!
18. The UAE has one of the world’s biggest oil reserves.
I wasn’t kidding when I said that the emirates are oil rich! Current statistics estimate that the region is home to more than 97.8 billion barrels of oil, with 3.7 million produced every day. The region only consumes 896,000 of these each day, meaning it has a huge surplus to export.
On a global scale, the UAE is ranked seventh in terms of the size of its oil reserves. Its share is roughly 5.9% of the globe’s production, though in terms of the Middle East, Saudi Arabia far outweighs the emirates with reserves topping 266 billion at last count.
That said, for the record number of oil barrels, you’ll need to look over at South America – where Venezuela has more than 18% of the world’s oil reserves, almost tipping 300 billion barrels at last count – three times as many as the UAE!
The UK is much further down the ranking, with around 2.7 billion barrels, and a share of 0.17% – putting it on par with Yemen, Syria, Uganda, and Argentina.
19. There are plenty of routes to the UAE from the UK.
If you’d like to visit the UAE from the UK, you’ll usually do best by getting a flight. There are direct flights out of the UK towards Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Al-Fujairah. However, you’ll expect to pay at least £200 for the privilege, with some stops on route, so be prepared to save some money (and to get ready for a long trip)!
Cities with airports that connect the UK to the UAE (specifically Dubai) include those based in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, and Newcastle. However, you’re likely to find the most frequent air connections through London’s Stansted, Heathrow, and Gatwick airports.
It’s always a good idea to check travel costs and routes before you go ahead and book outright! Be sure to compare deals through sites such as SkyScanner, for example, which can help you find the cheapest and fastest flights to the UAE and back.
FAQs About The UAE
Is the UAE rich or poor?
Thanks in part to its incredible oil reserves, the UAE is a rich country regarded as a ‘developing economy’. It has one of the largest economies in the Middle East, typically only outranked by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel.
Is it expensive to visit the UAE?
That all depends on what you do here! Surprisingly, the cost of living in the UAE is comparably affordable compared to some western countries, with some visitors from the US claiming that living in Dubai works out cheaper. That said, there are some incredible luxury experiences here that will demand a seven-figure salary or more!
Is it safe to visit the United Arab Emirates?
At the time of writing, the UK government doesn’t advise against travelling to the UAE. However, it does suggest that travelling anywhere has its risks, and for certain travellers, such as solo visitors and people who are LGBT+, there may be heightened safety concerns. It’s wise to check official government advice on travelling to the UAE before you book flights.
Do you know any fun facts about the UAE? Share them in the comments below!
