International Relations of United Arab Emirates

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 58 relations tracked

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates located in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia, on the eastern coast of the Arabian Gulf. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the west and south, and Oman to the east and north. The UAE has a diverse economy that is heavily reliant on oil exports, but it has also diversified into other sectors such as tourism, finance, and construction.

Population

11.5M#86 of 205

Land area

83.6K km²#114 of 205

GDP

$552.3B#30 of 199

Military expenditure

$22.8B#20 of 167

Global influence

#63Low

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Closest relations Strained relations United Arab Emirates No data

The UAE is a major player in the Middle East and has strong ties with the United States and other Western countries. It is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a regional organization that promotes economic, cultural, and political cooperation among its member states. The UAE is also a member of the United Nations and has a seat on the Security Council.

The UAE has a population of about 9.9 million people, the majority of whom are expatriates. The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken and used in business. The country is known for its modern infrastructure and high standard of living, and it is a popular tourist destination, with attractions such as the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island shaped like a palm tree.

Geography & terrain

Almost entirely flat desert and arid plains, with the Hajar Mountains rising along the eastern border toward Oman. Hot, arid climate with very low rainfall. Coastline on the Persian Gulf to the west and a short stretch of the Gulf of Oman to the east. The open desert offers little natural defense, though the harsh climate and scarcity of fresh water have historically discouraged sustained overland invasion.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, United Arab Emirates Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Abu Dhabi (1.0M people, 8.8% of total population)
Population	11.5M (2025) (#86 of 205 countries)
Land area	83.6K km² (#114 of 205 countries)
Main religion	Islam
Life expectancy	77 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data (2024)
Currency	UAE Dirham
Main language(s)	Arabic
Government type	Federal absolute monarchy
Time zone	UTC+4.0
GDP	$552.3B (#30 of 199 countries)
GDP per capita	$50.3K (#29 of 199 countries)
International calling code	+971
Driving side	Right
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	2
Military expenditure	$22.8B (2014)
Land military expenditure (estimation)	$8.0B
Air military expenditure (estimation)	$9.1B
Naval military expenditure (estimation)	$5.7B
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	5.6%
Military expenditure per capita	$2.0K
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	Not a member
Other groups	BRICS Arab League

Shares a land border with 2 countries — here is how those relations stand

United Arab Emirates's relations with its neighbors

Most similar countries, by language, currency, GDP per capita, borders & international groups

Rank #63 Low International Influence

United Arab Emirates's actions have a very limited effect on the world or on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of United Arab Emirates by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.