Economy
The wealth of the country is based on oil and gas
output which is about 30% of GDP. Oil was discovered here in the 1950s.
It has generated about 9% of the world's total wealth from oil reserves.
In last 20 years, the government has increased spending on job creation
and infrastructure expansion. It is developing as a centre for tourism,
trade and commerce. In 2004, the country signed a Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement (TIFA) with Washington and later in the same year it
agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
with the US. UAE is the 3rd most important re-export centre after Hong
kong and Singapore.
Major Exports
* Crude Oil * Petroleum products * Natural Gas * Dried Fish
Major Imports
* Machinery and electrical equipment * Chemicals and related materials * Food * Pearls, precious stones and precious metals * Vehicles and other transport equipment * Textiles and textile articles
Tourism
In
the list of 11 countries in the Middle East UAE topped in terms of the
travel and tourism sector's contribution to the gross domestic product,
followed by Jordan and Lebanon, according to a latest World Travel and
Tourism Council (WTTC) report.The UAE remains in pole position with a
GDP contribution of 22.6 per cent and growth rate of 13.5 per cent in
2008.
The Middle East travel and tourism sector is expected to
generate revenue of $456 billion over the next 10 years, according to
the report.
GDP (2007): $198.7 billion.
Annual growth rate (2007) 6.3%.
Per capita GDP (2007) $45,531
Natural resources Oil and natural gas.
Petroleum (2008 est.) 36.8%.
Manufacturing (2008 est.) 12.2%.
Services (44% of 2003 GDP) Trade, government, real estate.
Trade (2006 est.) Exports--$157 billion: petroleum, gas, and petroleum products.
Major markets: Japan, South Korea, Thailand, India.
Imports: $126.6 billion: machinery, chemicals, food etc.
Major suppliers Western Europe, Japan, U.S., China, India.
Foreign economic aid (2008): In excess of $8.7 billion.
Advertisement Abu Dhabi Air Ticket Cheap Cheap Travel Insurance Kailash Mansarovar India Tourism Travel Guide |