United Arab Emirates

American  

[yoo-na-tid ar-uhb uh-meer-its, em-er-its] / yuˈnæ tɪd ˈær əb əˈmɪər ɪts, ˈɛm ər ɪts /

noun

(usually used with a singular verb)

1. an independent federation in E Arabia, formed in 1971, now comprising seven emirates on the southern coast formerly, Pirate Coast, thenTrucial Coast of the Persian Gulf, formerly under British protection: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah (joined 1972), and Fujairah. About 32,300 sq. mi. (83,657 sq. km). Abu Dhabi. U.A.E., UAE

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United Arab Emirates British  

plural noun

1. Former name (until 1971): Trucial States.   UAE.  a group of seven emirates in SW Asia, on the Persian Gulf: consists of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Qaiwain, Ras el Khaimah, and Fujairah; a former British protectorate; became fully independent in 1971; consists mostly of flat desert, with mountains in the east; rich petroleum resources. Official language: Arabic. Official religion: Muslim. Currency: dirham. Capital: Abu Dhabi. Pop: 5 473 972 (2013 est). Area: 83 600 sq km (32 300 sq miles)

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United Arab Emirates Cultural  

1. A federation of seven kingdoms on the Persian Gulf coast of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered to the east by Oman, the south and west by Saudi Arabia, and the northwest by Qatar.

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Discover More

Oil reserves have been exploited since the early 1960s.

Once the domain of pirates, the area was subdued by the British in 1820. It was a British protectorate from 1892 until the late 1960s.

Example Sentences

A vessel was reported as taken by “unauthorized personnel” off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and subsequently headed toward Iranian territorial waters, according to U.K.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

Some settled centuries ago in Kuwait and Bahrain, while others emigrated more recently from Iran to the United Arab Emirates.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates and met its president during the war with Iran, his office has confirmed.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

Footage from Iraq, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, shows what the Pentagon's website calls "unresolved unidentified anomalous phenomenon".

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri