1. Dubai United Arab Emirates 2004

3. IslamIslam is the official religion of all of the emirates. A vast majority of the locals are Sunnis. There are foreign minority Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians as well. Dubai is the only emirate that has Hindu temples and a Sikh gurdwara. religionSunnis HindusSikhs Christians

4. The official language is Arabic, but English and Urdu are also widely spoken, along with Hindi, Persian, Punjabi, Malayalam, and Tagalog.Arabic EnglishUrduHindiPersianPunjabi MalayalamTagalog

5. Emirate designates a political territory that is ruled by a dynastic Islamic Monarch styled emir emir The United Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al- Khaimah and Fujairah. The federation was formally established on 2 December 1971. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) occupies an area of 83,000 sq km along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Four-fifths of the UAE is desert.

8. Prime Minister: Sheikh Muhammad ibn Rashid al- Maktoum (2006) Literacy rate: 78% (2003 est.) Suffrage:none Exports - crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates Exports - Japan 24.8%, South Korea 9.9%, India 5.4%, Thailand 5.2% (2004)

10. Henna, otherwise known as mendhi, is a tall, shrub-like plant that grows in hot, dry climates. It is grown mostly in Sudan, Egypt, India, most North African countries and Middle Eastern countries. In Middle Eastern cultures, henna tattooing is still a whole day affair during which the new bride gets to know the groom’s mother and sisters. It is a celebratory, rather than a spiritual, ritual, equivalent to the pre- wedding makeover and manicure of Western brides.

11. Dubai, United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates ClassificationEmirateEmirate, CityCity EmirateDubai SheikhMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Area4,114 km² [1]km²[1] Population Population — Density — UAE rankDensityUAE 1,070,779 (2004) [2] 293.94/km² 2nd (Emirate), 1st (City)[2]km² ReligionIslam Timezone(UTC) +4UTC LatitudeLatitude / LongitudeLongitude25°16′N 55°20′E

12. The UAE sent forces to assist Kuwait during the 1990-1991 Gulf War. It dispatched an Infantry Battalion to the UN force in Somalia in 1993, It sent the 35th Mechanized Infantry Battalion to Kosovo, and sent a regiment to Kuwait during the 2003 US Invasion of Iraq. In addition, it continues to contribute to the continued security and stability of the Gulf and the Straits of Hormuz. It is a leading partner in the campaign against terrorism, providing assistance in the military, diplomatic, and financial arenas. The UAE military provides humanitarian assistance to Iraq.Kuwait19901991 Gulf War2003 US Invasion of IraqIraq Dubai's links to suspected terrorist financing and money laundering have long been a point of contention between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. "There is no question the UAE was used by terrorists, the question is why," a U.S. official said. "It is no more lax and unregulated than many places. The answer is, Dubai is so damn convenient." Washington Post