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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2001) - United Arab Emirates (2003)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2001) z United Arab Emirates (2003)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2001)United Arab Emirates (2003)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryUnited Arab Emirates
Administrative divisions - 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Age structure - 0-14 years: 26.7% (male 338,245; female 324,866)


15-64 years: 70.4% (male 1,087,927; female 661,349)


65 years and over: 2.9% (male 52,059; female 20,372) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products - dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Airports 1 (2000 est.) 41 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
1

over 3,047 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 22


over 3,047 m: 8


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 19


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Area total:
60 sq km

land:
60 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
total: 82,880 sq km


land: 82,880 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Maine
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier resident in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order which had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is not far below those of leading West European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region.
Birth rate - 18.48 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget - revenues: $20 billion


expenditures: $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital - Abu Dhabi
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Coastline 698 km 1,318 km
Constitution - 2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)
Country name conventional long form:
British Indian Ocean Territory

conventional short form:
none

abbreviation:
BIOT
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates


conventional short form: none


local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah


local short form: none


former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States


abbreviation: UAE
Currency - Emirati dirham (AED)
Death rate - 4.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external - $18.5 billion (2002 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Marcelle M. WAHBA


embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi


mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi


telephone: [971] (2) 4436691


FAX: [971] (2) 4435441


consulate(s) general: Dubai
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Asri Said Ahmad al-DHAHIRI


chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20037


telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400


FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
Disputes - international the Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius and Seychelles because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is still unknown and labeled approximate; boundary agreement signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves; UAE engage direct talks and Arab League support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Lesser and Greater Tunb islands and Abu Musa island
Economic aid - donor - $NA
Economy - overview All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and 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 more than 100 years. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up its utilities to greater private sector involvement.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 35.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military 37.74 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m


highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Environment - current issues NA lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups - Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)


note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
Exchange rates - Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.67 (2002), 3.67 (2001), 3.67 (2000), 3.67 (1999), 3.67 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

head of government:
Commissioner John WHITE (since NA); Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UK

cabinet:
NA

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 6 August 1966) and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)


head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power


elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC (a group of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held 2 December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president


election results: ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan reelected president; percent of FSC vote - NA%, but believed to be unanimous; MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum elected vice president; percent of FSC vote - NA%, but believed to be unanimous
Exports - NA (2001)
Exports - commodities - crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports - partners - Japan 27.8%, South Korea 10.1%, Singapore 3.8% (2002)
Fiscal year - calendar year
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side
GDP - purchasing power parity - $53.97 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 3%


industry: 46%


services: 51% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $22,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 1.8% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E 24 00 N, 54 00 E
Geography - note archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Heliports - 2 (2002)
Highways total:
NA km

paved:
short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego Garcia

unpaved:
NA km
total: 1,088 km


paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways)


unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to southwest Asian drug producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering legislation was signed into law by the president on 25 January 2002
Imports - NA (2001)
Imports - commodities - machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners - US 8.1%, China 7.8%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 6.5%, India 5.7%, France 5.6%, UK 5.4%, South Korea 5.1%, Iran 4.2% (2002)
Independence - 2 December 1971 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate - 4% (2000)
Industries - petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Infant mortality rate - total: 15.58 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 18.32 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 12.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 2.8% (2002 est.)
International organization participation - ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1993) 720 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch - Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Labor force - 1.6 million (2000 est.)


note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 2002 est.) (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - services 78%, industry 15%, agriculture 7% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 867 km


border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Land use arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
NA%

other:
NA%
arable land: 0.48%


permanent crops: 0.49%


other: 99.03% (1998 est.)
Languages - Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah are not fully integrated into the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts
Legislative branch - unicameral Federal National Council or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states to serve two-year terms)


elections: none


note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 74.75 years


male: 72.28 years


female: 77.35 years (2003 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 77.9%


male: 76.1%


female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
Location Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Map references World Middle East
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
3 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 815,428 GRT/1,207,346 DWT


ships by type: cargo 12, chemical tanker 4, container 7, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 25, roll on/roll off 6, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 2, Italy 1, Kuwait 2 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 -
Military branches - Army, Navy (including Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force, Air Defense, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $1.6 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 3.1% (FY00)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 764,413


note: includes non-nationals (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 416,963 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 26,636 (2003 est.)
National holiday - Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
Nationality - noun: Emirati(s)


adjective: Emirati
Natural hazards NA frequent sand and dust storms
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane petroleum, natural gas
Net migration rate - 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - condensate 383 km; gas 1,765 km; liquid petroleum gas 186 km; oil 1,266 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders - none
Political pressure groups and leaders - NA
Population no indigenous inhabitants

note:
approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles around the time of the construction of UK-US military facilities; in 1995, there were approximately 1,700 UK and US military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia
2,484,818


note: includes an estimated 1,606,079 non-nationals; the 17 December 1995 census presents a total population figure of 2,377,453, and there are estimates of 3.44 million for 2002 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate - 1.57% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Diego Garcia 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 13, FM 7, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios NA -
Railways - 0 km
Religions - Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.65 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 2.56 male(s)/female


total population: 1.47 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage - none
Telephone system general assessment:
separate facilities for military and public needs are available

domestic:
all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet

international:
international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
general assessment: modern system of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai


domestic: microwave radio relay and coaxial cable


international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Telephones - main lines in use NA 915,223 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 1 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 15 (1997)
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation) flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
Total fertility rate - 3.09 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate - NA%
Waterways none none
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