The United Arab Emirates
School Links Programme
United Arab
Emirates - UAE
United Arab Emirates
• United Arab Emirates can
be abbreviated to the UAE
or shorted to ‘The
Emirates’
• Nationals of the UAE are
called ‘Emiraties’
• The population is
approximately 4 million
• The flag contains the PanArab colours red, green,
white and black, which
symbolize Arabian unity
• The colours also have the
following meanings:
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Green: fertility
White: neutrality
Black: Petroleum
Red: strength and bravery
UAE
• In 1971 the UAE was
established when the British
rulers withdrew
• Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al
Nahyan was the ruler
• The UAE is made up of 7
Emirates
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Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Sharjah
Um Al Quwain
Fujairah
Ajman
Ra’s Al Khaimah
• The capital is Abu Dhabi, which
is also the state's centre of
political, industrial, and cultural
activities
Building a nation
• Between his accession in 1971
and his death in 2004 Sheikh
Zayed transformed the UAE to
an oil-rich developed nation
• Abu Dhabi has 95% of the UAE
oil reserves
• It has 9% of the world oil
• The UAE has 5% of the world
natural gas reserves
Bedouin Culture
• Prior to 1960 the
majority of UAE
inhabitants were
Bedouin
• Bedu is the Arabic word
from which the name
Bedouin is derived
• It means "inhabitant of
the desert"
• The Bedouin are a
nomadic people who
move from oasis to oasis
raising camels, sheep or
goats
Bedouin Culture in UAE today
• In most present day Arabic
restaurants and hotels a
majlis (or meeting place) is
present
• This practice has been
handed down from the
Bedouin chieftain of olden
times
Pearl Industry
• Diving for pearls was an
occupation for many in the first
half of the 20th century
• It is estimated that 1,200
pearling boats were engaged in
the trade during the summer
months in search of pearl-bearing
oysters (lulu)
Religion
• Islam is the official
religion of the UAE
• Friday is the holy day,
most people will visit a
mosque to pray
• A Muslim can pray up to
5 times a day
• The UAE constitution
allows people to follow
any religion
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to the following artists, photographers, falconers and writers for images and text used
in this PowerPoint :
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Andrew Lopez Sanchez
Anna Zacharia
Rob Palmer
Andrew Lopez Peinado
The author has attempted to contact photographers of all images used in this PowerPoint. If any
image has copyright please contact nicola@falcons.co.uk
Funded by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi and supported by Mongolian Ministry of Nature Environment and
Tourism. Implemented by International Wildlife Consultants , UK and Wildlife and Conservation Center, Mongolia