Facts

Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Area (only Total) total: 83,600 sq km

Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Population: 4,621,399

Main Language (only first): Arabic

Government type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Capital (Name): Abu Dhabi

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+4

Independence: 2 December 1971 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 2 December (1971)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

January 10 Islamic New Year

March 20 Prophet's Birthday

vJuly 30 Ascension of the Prophet

August 6 H.H. Sheikh Zayed's Accession Day

October 2 Eid Al Fitrv

December 2 National Day

December 8 Eid Al Adha

December 29 Islamic New Year

You Should know:

The Dubai Shopping Festival takes place each year between Jan 15 - Feb 15.

Weekend - Friday