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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is socially one of the most liberal countries in the Persion Gulf region, but of course the Gulf is a very conservative regions. There is considerable tolerance for different cultures and religious beliefs. Politically the country was an absolute monarchy, however, with no representative legislative body. The UAE held its first national elections for an advisory body (December 2006).
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates located along the Arabian coast of the central Gulf. The UAE was formed by the then Trucial States after independence from Britain (1971).
Sheikh Zayed of Abu Dhabi was elected the first president of the UAE. He was a strong prmoter of the oil industry. He oversaw the development of the UAE industry and used the earmings for massive investments into social welfare (healthcare and education) and the national infrastructure.
Each of the Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain) are to a substantial degree autonomus. The central governmental body is the Supreme Council of Rulers composed of the seven ruling emirs. The Emirs through the Council appoint the prime minister and the cabinet. Politically the country was thus an absolute, albeit collective monarchy, however, with no representative legislative body. The UAE held its first national elections for an advisory body (December 2006)
The Emirates were until after World War II a global back water with Britain guaranteeing security, but not interering greatly in the local society. The Emirates were poor with economies based on fishing and a declining pearl fishery. Oil was discovered in the 1950s. Abu Dhabi was the first of the Emirates to begin exporting oil (1962). The huge earnings of the oil industry has transformed the econmies. This hs brought a high standard of living. The UAE has become a regional trading and tourism center. The expnding oil industry financing a building boom has attracted large numbers of foreign workers. The foreign work force makes up about three quarters of the population. The UAE is one of the few countries in the world with apopulation made up primsarily of foreigners.
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