The United Arab Emirates is a country at the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf.
The economy is the second largest in the Arab world (after Saudi Arabia), with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $570 billion (AED2.1 trillion) in 2014.Though, United Arab Emirates has been successfully diversifying its economy, [1] the country remains extremely reliant on oil. With the exception of Dubai, most of the UAE is dependent on oil revenues. Petroleum and natural gas continue to play a central role in the economy, especially in Abu Dhabi. More than 85% of the UAE's economy was based on the oil exports in 2009. [2] [3] While Abu Dhabi and other UAE emirates have remained relatively conservative in their approach to diversification, Dubai, which has far smaller oil reserves, was bolder in its diversification policy. [4] In 2011, oil exports accounted for 77% of the UAE's state budget. [5]
This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations that have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
Name | Industry | Sector | Headquarters | Founded | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aabar Investments | Financials | Real estate holding & development | Abu Dhabi | 2005 | Real estate and project investments, ADX: AABAR |
Abu Dhabi Aviation | Consumer services | Airlines | Abu Dhabi | 1975 | Airline, ADX: ADAVIATION |
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank | Financials | Banks | Abu Dhabi | 1985 | ADX: ADCB |
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank | Financials | Banks | Abu Dhabi | 1997 | ADX: ADIB |
Abu Dhabi Media | Consumer services | Publishing | Abu Dhabi | 2007 | Publishing and broadcasting |
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) | Oil & gas | Exploration & production | Abu Dhabi | 2005 | State-owned, ADX: TAQA |
Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company | Financials | Full line insurance | Abu Dhabi | 1972 | Insurance |
Abu Dhabi National Hotels | Consumer services | Hotels | Abu Dhabi | 2000[ citation needed ] | ADX: ADNH |
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) | Oil & Gas | Exploration & production | Abu Dhabi | 1971 | State-owned |
Abu Dhabi Ports | Industrials | Transportation services | Abu Dhabi | 2006 | Ports |
Air Arabia | Consumer services | Airlines | Sharjah | 2003 | Airline, DFM: AIRARABIA |
Al Dahra Agricultural Company | Consumer goods | Farming & fishing | Abu Dhabi | 1995 | Animal feed, farming, food products |
Al Ghurair Group | Conglomerates | - | Dubai | 1960 | Industrials, real estate, investments |
Al Tayer Group | Conglomerates | - | Dubai | 1979 | Automotive, retail, industrials |
Aldar Properties | Financials | Real estate holding & development | Abu Dhabi | 2001 | ADX: ALDAR |
Arab Center for Consultancy & Economic Studies | Financials | Consultancy and feasibility studies | Abu Dhabi | 2006 | Economic feasibility studies |
Aramex | Industrials | Delivery services | Dubai | 1982 | DFM: ARMX |
Armada Group | Conglomerates | - | Dubai | 1974 | Investment, engineering, construction, real estate |
Dana Gas | Oil & Gas | Exploration & production | Sharjah | 2005 | ADX: DANA |
Dar Al Khaleej Printing and Publishing | Consumer services | Publishing | Sharjah | 1970 | Newspaper, magazines |
du | Telecommunications | Mobile Telecommunications | Dubai | 2005 | Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, DFM: DU |
Dubai Bank | Financials | Banks | Dubai | 2002 | Islamic bank, merged into Emirates NBD |
Dubai Financial Market | Financials | Investment services | Dubai | 2000 | Stock exchange, DFM: DFM |
Dubai Holding | Conglomerates | - | Dubai | 2004 | Hospitality, financial services, real estate, healthcare, media |
Dubai Investment Fund | Financials | Investment services | Dubai | 2001 | Institutional Investor, Investment & Asset Management, Diversified Investments, Private Equity |
Dubai Islamic Bank | Financials | Banks | Dubai | 1975 | Islamic bank, DFM: DIB |
Dubai Media Incorporated | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Dubai | 2003 | State-owned |
DP World | Industrials | Transportation services | Dubai | 2005 | Maritime, ports |
Edutech | Industrials | Support services | Dubai | 1991 | Education and technology |
Emaar Properties | Financials | Real estate holding & development | Dubai | 1997 | DFM: EMAAR |
Emirates | Consumer services | Airlines | Dubai | 1985 | Airline, part of The Emirates Group |
Emirates Global Aluminium | Industrials | Aluminium | Abu Dhabi | 1979 | Aluminium conglomerate |
Emirates Trading Agency | Financials | Real estate holding & development | Dubai | 1973 | Holding and investments |
Etihad Airways | Consumer services | Airlines | Abu Dhabi | 2003 | Airline |
Etihad Rail | Railroad | Abu Dhabi | 2009 | ||
Etisalat | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Abu Dhabi | 1976 | Telecom, ISP |
First Gulf Bank | Financials | Banks | Abu Dhabi | 1979 | ADX: FGB |
Information Systems Associates FZE | Technology | Software | Sharjah | 2005 | Aviation software |
Julphar | Health care | Pharmaceuticals | Ras Al Khaimah | 1980 | ADX: JULPHAR |
Jumeirah Group | Consumer services | Hotels | Dubai | 1997 [6] | Hotels |
LuLu Group International | Conglomerates | - | Abu Dhabi | 2000 | Retail |
Mara Group | Conglomerates | - | Dubai | 1996 | Financial services, real estate, infrastructure, technology |
Mashreqbank | Financials | Banks | Dubai | 1967 | Private bank, DFM: MASQ |
Musafir (company) | Travel | Travelling | Sharjah | 2007 | Travel Agency |
National Bank of Abu Dhabi | Financials | Banks | Abu Dhabi | 1968 | ADX: NBAD |
National Bank of Dubai | Financials | Banks | Dubai | 2007 | DFM: ENDB |
NewBoy | Consumer goods | Toys | Dubai | 1999 | Dolls |
Noor Islamic Bank | Financials | Banks | Dubai | 2008 | Islamic bank |
Opontia | Consumer goods | E-commerce | Dubai | 2021 | E-commerce |
RAKBANK | Financials | Banks | Ras Al Khaimah | 1970 | ADX: RAKBANK |
Sharjah Islamic Bank | Financials | Banks | Sharjah | 1976 | Islamic bank, ADX: SIB |
SHUAA Capital | Financials | Asset managers | Dubai | 1979 | DFM: SHUAA |
Shipa Delivery | Logistics | Last-mile delivery service | Dubai | 2016 | |
Souq.com | Consumer services | Broadline retailers | Dubai | 2005 | |
Sorouh Real Estate | Financials | Real estate holding & development | Abu Dhabi | 2003 | ADX: SOROUH |
Spacetoon | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Dubai | 2000 | Animation and children's television |
Spinneys | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Dubai | 1924 | Grocery |
Tamweel | Financials | Real estate holding & development | Abu Dhabi | 2000 | DFM: TAMWEEL |
The Emirates Group | Consumer services | Airlines | Dubai | 1985 | Airline holding |
Thuraya | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Abu Dhabi | 1997 | Satellite communications |
Unibeton Ready Mix | Industrials | Building materials & fixtures | Abu Dhabi | 1980 | Concrete |
Union National Bank | Financials | Banks | Abu Dhabi | 1982 | ADX: UNB |
Ureed | Service Marketplace | Freelance | Dubai | 2017 | Privately held |
Land Sterling LLC | Consultants | Real Estate | Dubai | 2009 [7] | Real Estate Consultancy |
The United Arab Emirates is a country in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula located on the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman. The UAE consists of seven emirates and was founded on 2 December 1971 as a federation, after UK armed forces left the region. Six of the seven emirates declared their union on 2 December 1971. The seventh, Ras al Khaimah, joined the federation on 10 February 1972. The seven sheikdoms were formerly known as the Trucial States, in reference to the truce treaties established with the British in the 19th century.
The United Arab Emirates is situated in the Middle East and West Asia, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia; it is at a strategic location along the northern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil. The UAE lies between 22°50′ and 26° north latitude and between 51° and 56°25′ east longitude. It shares a 19 km (12 mi) border with Qatar on the northwest, a 530 km (330 mi) border with Saudi Arabia on the west, south, and southeast, and a 450 km (280 mi) border with Oman on the southeast and northeast.
The United Arab Emirates is a high-income developing market economy. The UAE's economy is the 4th largest in the Middle East, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$415 billion in 2021-2023.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East. Located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, it shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia; as well as maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran. The United Arab Emirates is an elective monarchy formed from a federation of seven emirates. As of 2023, the UAE has an estimated population of 9.97 million. Emirati citizens are estimated to form 11.6% of the population; the remaining residents are expatriates, the majority of whom are South Asian. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language. Abu Dhabi is the country's capital, while Dubai, the most populous city, is an international hub.
The Arab states of the Persian Gulf or the Arab Gulf states refers to a group of Arab states bordering the Persian Gulf. There are seven member states of the Arab League in the region: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Yemen is bound to the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, based on history and culture.
The economy of the Middle East is very diverse, with national economies ranging from hydrocarbon-exporting rentiers to centralized socialist economies and free-market economies. The region is best known for oil production and export, which significantly impacts the entire region through the wealth it generates and through labor utilization. In recent years, many of the countries in the region have undertaken efforts to diversify their economies.
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates. It is the largest emirate, accounting for 87% of the nation's total land area or 67,340 km2 (26,000 sq mi).
The earliest written record of Dubai (Dibei) is accredited to Muhammad al-Idrisi, who mapped the coast of the UAE in the tenth century AD. Circa 1580, the state jeweler of Venice, Gasparo Balbi, documented the pearling industry of Dubai and other cities currently presiding in UAE territory. Though traditionally conservative, the UAE is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf, with other cultures and beliefs generally tolerated. Politically it remains authoritarian, however, relations with neighbouring Iran have been tense because of an ongoing territorial dispute over Gulf islands. The UAE was one of only three countries to recognise Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
The economy of Dubai represents a per capita gross domestic product as of 2022 of US$46,665. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, announced that the UAE's non-oil trade over 10 years totalled Dhs16.14 trillion. The UAE GDP jumping from $407 billion in 2021 to $440 billion in 2022 and $467 billion in 2023. Similarly, per capita GDP will also expand from $43,868 in 2021 to $46,665 in 2022 and $48,822 in 2023.
ENOC is a global diversified state-owned energy group that operates in the oil, gas, and coal industry.
Indians in the United Arab Emirates constitute the largest part of the population of the country. Over 3,860,000 Indian expats are estimated to be living in the UAE, which is over 38 percent of the total population of the UAE and the fourth highest number of overseas Indian people in the world, after the United States, Saudi Arabia and Nepal. Indian contact with the emirates that now constitute the UAE dates back several centuries, as a result of trade and commerce between the emirates and India. The UAE has experienced a tremendous increase in the population of resident Indians who initially migrated to the country as a result of opportunities in petroleum. Now, Indians are key to the UAE's construction, retail, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and transport sectors. A sizeable minority of Indian migrants are involved in professional services and entrepreneurship. Relations between India and the UAE have traditionally been very friendly.
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The city of Abu Dhabi is the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE's second-most populous city after Dubai.
The United Arab Emirates and Germany established relations in May 1972. The U.A.E. has an embassy in Berlin and consulate-general in Munich while Germany maintains an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate-general in Dubai. German exports amount to 5.84 billion Euros. German companies significantly contribute to the UAE's ongoing infrastructure projects and play a leading role in the country's alternative energy developments. Consequently, German Business Park, an area designed to house several of the already seven hundred present companies and their logistical needs, is in the midst of construction. There are thousands of expatriate Germans in the United Arab Emirates who have helped maintain connections between the two countries.
Expatriates in the United Arab Emirates represent about 88% of the population, while Emiratis constitute roughly 12% of the total population, making the UAE home to one of the world's highest percentage of expatriates.
Bilfinger Deutsche Babcock Middle East (FZE) is an internationally active construction and engineering services company located in the United Arab Emirates; it is part of Division Piping Systems and part of the framework Bilfinger SE.
KEZAD or Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi - KEZAD Group was launched by AD Ports Group on September 19, 2022, as part of the plan to consolidate and grow its Economic Cities and Free Zones offering.
Cultural policy in Abu Dhabi, a city within the United Arab Emirates, refers to any initiative undertaken by the Emirate government aimed at achieving goals to contribute to or shape culture. Abu Dhabi's government aims to develop a cultural infrastructure that will allow it to establish itself as a reference point for culture on three levels:
Environmental issues in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are caused by the exploitation of natural resources, rapid population growth, and high energy demand. The continuing temperature rise caused by global warming contributes to UAE's water scarcity, drought, rising sea level, and aridity. The UAE has a hot desert climate, which is very vulnerable to the effects of climate change and contributes to worsening water scarcity, quality, and water contamination.
Tourism in the United Arab Emirates is an important part of the Emirati economy, and consists of domestic and international components. In 2018, tourist industry composed over 2 dirham to country's GDP.
Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) is the official export credit agency of the United Arab Emirates. The agency "aims to support the economic diversification by guaranteeing commercial and non-commercial risks associated with export and re-export of goods and services".