Dubai , with an area of 3,885 sq km, is the second largest Emirate in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has 700 km of coastline, of which 100 km are on the Gulf of Oman. Along the Gulf coast there are offshore islands, coral reefs and sabhka, or salt marshes. Stretches of gravel plain and sandy desert characterise the inland region. To the east a range of mountains lies close to the Gulf of Oman and forms the backbone through the Mussandam Peninsula. The western interior of the United Arab Emirates, most of it in Abu Dhabi, consists mainly of desert interspersed with oases.

Population

2002 population estimates

Abu Dhabi : 1,300,000
Ajman : 200,000
Dubai : 1,100,000
Fujairah : 110,000
Ras Al Khaimah : 200,000
Sharjah : 560,000
Umm Al Quwain : 60,000
Total UAE population: 3,530,000

Around 80% of the UAE population are expatriates with approximately 30,000 from the UK. The majority are from the Indian sub-continent, but there is also a large Iranian population in Dubai. The population density is 24 inhabitants per sq km. The estimated population growth rate is 3.5% per year.

Further statistical information about the population of the UAE is available from the website of the UAE's Ministry of Planning.

Climate

Dubai has a dry, sub-tropical climate with exceptionally hot summers (May-October) and high humidity near the coast, when temperatures can reach 45C, and mild winters (November to April) where the temperature is very pleasant, around 10C-30C. The annual average rainfall is approximately 13 cm. Humidity is high, particularly in Dubai and Sharjah, averaging over 78% year round at 0700 hours, 60% at 1600 hours.