什麼是阿拉伯聯合大公國

舊稱停戰諸國（Trucial States）

阿拉伯半島東部七個酋長國組成的聯邦，它們分別是阿布達比、杜拜、阿治曼（Ajaman）、沙迦（Ash-Shariqah）、烏姆蓋萬（Umm al-Qaywayn）、哈伊馬角（Ra's al-Khaymah），以及富查伊拉。面積約77,700平方公里。人口約3,108,000（2001）。首都︰阿布達比。當地居民為阿拉伯人，但印度人、巴基斯坦人、孟加拉人和伊朗人等移民勞工也佔有相當大的比例。語言︰阿拉伯語（官方語）、英語、波斯語、烏爾都語和印地語。宗教：伊斯蘭教（國教）、基督教和印度教。貨幣︰迪拉姆（DH）。土地主要為低平的沙漠平原，哈傑爾山餘脈沿着東部的穆桑代姆半島伸入境內。三個天然深水港位於阿曼灣東部海岸。石油藴藏量佔世界總量的10%。天然氣儲藏量佔世界總量的5%，石油和天然氣生產是該國的主要工業。其他主要經濟活動為漁業、放養家畜和生產海棗。聯盟政府有一任命的諮詢機構，國家元首是總統，政府首腦為總理。

1820年英國與沿海統治者訂立和約。該地區舊稱「海盜海岸」，後被稱為「停戰海岸」。1892年諸國統治者同意只限與英國有外交關係。雖然自1843年由英國管理該區，但從未獲得主權，各個國家都保持着完整的內部控制權。各國於1960年成立了停戰諸國委員會。1971年舍赫（sheik）們結束與英國的防禦條約，組成六個成員的聯盟。1972年哈伊馬角加入。在波斯灣戰爭（1991）中曾協助聯軍攻打伊拉克。

United Arab Emirates

Federation of seven states, eastern Arabian Peninsula. They are the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubayy, Ajman, Al-Shariqah, Umm al-Qaywayn, Ras al-Khaymah, and Al-Fujayrah. Area: 32,280 sq mi (83,600 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 2,580,000. Capital: Abu Dhabi. Indigenous inhabitants are Arabs, but a large part of the population is made up of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Iranian immigrant workers. Languages: Arabic (official), English, Persian, Urdu, Hindi. Religions: Islam (official), Christianity, Hinduism. Currency: U.A.E. dirham. The United Arab Emirates' low-lying desert plain is broken by the Al-Hajar Mountains along the Musandam Peninsula. Three natural deepwater harbors are located along the Gulf of Oman. It has 10% of the world's petroleum reserves and 5% of its natural-gas reserves; their production makes up the principal industries. Other important economic activities include fishing, herding, and growing of dates. The federation has one appointive advisory board; its chief of state is the president and the head of government is the prime minister. In 1820 the British exacted a peace treaty with local rulers along the coast. The area formerly called the Pirate Coast became known as the Trucial Coast. In 1892 the rulers agreed to restrict foreign relations to Britain. Though the British administered the region from 1843, they never assumed sovereignty; each state maintained full internal control. The states formed the Trucial States Council in 1960. In 1971 the sheiks terminated defense treaties with Britain and established the six-member federation. Ras al-Khaymah joined it in 1972. The U.A.E. aided coalition forces against Iraq in the Persian Gulf War (1991).