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Arab Culture & Civilization
Explore this exemplary library of articles and resources on Arab societies and culture. This site was originally created by the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE).
The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf - Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, al-Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, and Umm al-Quwain - merged to form the United Arab Emirates in 1971. Ra's al-Khaimah joined in 1972. One of the richest Arab states, it has used its wealth to create a modernized state. Its moderate foreign policy has also given it an important diplomatic role in the region.
The country, which is slightly smaller than Maine, has a population of 4.6 million. It has fewer young people in its population (20 percent are 14 and under) than most of its neighbors. The wealth of the country is also reflected in the number of children born to each family - about 2.5. While the discovery of oil 30 years ago transformed the country, overdependence on oil revenues and a large expatriate workforce are significant challenges, which the UAE has answered by diversifying its economy into the financial sectors and undertaking significant investment abroad.
Education: In 1988-89 academic year, more than 283,000 students (almost one-half female) attended public primary and secondary schools. Education compulsory at primary level and free at all levels. Most of 17,000 teachers and administrators foreigners. In 1987-88 more than 7,000 students, almost one-half women, attended United Arab Emirates University.
Health: Comprehensive public health care system, free for citizens but charges for some services provided foreigners. Majority of medical personnel foreigners, primarily from Egypt, India, and Pakistan. In 1990 life expectancy at birth 68.6 years for males and 72.9 years for females.
Ethnic Groups: Almost all citizens indigenous Arabs. Foreign population included other Arabs (especially Egyptians, Omanis, Palestinians, and Yemenis), Indians, Pakistanis, and Iranians.
A harsh environment and marginal economic conditions kept the population of the region low and economically depressed until the exploitation of oil. According to estimates, between 1900 and 1960 there were 80,000 to 95,000 inhabitants in the amirates, mostly in small coastal settlements. Although the population of the amirates probably did not increase a great deal during this period, there were considerable shifts within the territories, caused by changes in economic and political conditions. Whereas Sharjah was dominant in the nineteenth century, by 1939 Dubayy was the most populous amirate, with an estimated population of 20,000, one-quarter of whom were foreigners. The largest minorities were Iranians and Indians in Dubayy and in other amirates. Abu Dhabi's onshore oil exports began in 1963, bringing wealth and a demand for foreign labor. The 1968 census, conducted under the British, was the area's first; it enumerated 180,226 inhabitants. Ever greater demands for labor and expertise fueled a population boom throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, but population growth has slowed since 1985.
The UAE had an officially estimated population of 1.9 million in mid-1991. Only about 12 percent of the total actually were UAE citizens. The number of foreign workers has increased dramatically since 1968, when they constituted 36 percent of the total population. By 1975 foreigners accounted for 70 percent of the population, increasing to 80 percent in 1980 and to 88 percent in 1985. Since 1985, the percentage of foreigners has leveled at 88 percent. About 87 percent of the total population consists of ethnic Arabs. The largest non-Arab group consists of Asians from India and Pakistan, about 9.5 percent of the population. Some 2 percent are Iranians. Other groups, including Africans and Europeans, make up less than 2 percent of the population.
Although the population density was about twenty-five persons per square kilometer in 1991, the population was unevenly distributed among the seven amirates. The three most populous amirates, Abu Dhabi, Dubayy, and Sharjah--together accounted for roughly 84 percent of the total population. The remaining 16 percent lived in Ras al Khaymah, Ajman, Al Fujayrah, and Umm al Qaywayn
The population of the UAE is overwhelmingly urban, with more than 90 percent of the people living in cities. The largest city, Abu Dhabi, the federal capital, had an estimated population of 475,000 in 1992. Dubayy, the second largest city and the UAE's main port and commercial center, had an estimated population of 395,000. The residential neighborhoods along the Persian Gulf coast north of the center of Dubayy were contiguous with those of the city of Sharjah (estimated population of 130,000). Sharjah in turn flowed into the city of Ajman (estimated population of 30,000). About fifty kilometers north of Ajman is the city of Ras al Khaymah (estimated population of 45,000). The largest inland population concentration is in the contiguous villages and residential developments at Al Ayn (estimated population of 105,000) in Abu Dhabi's Al Buraymi Oasis.
This website provides information on the Emirati culture. Topics include history, urbanism, food, economy, social structure, gender roles, government, marriage, arts, medicine, and religion.
Flip through the pages of the Emirati 2009 yearbook. This chapter looks at the media and culture of the United Arab Emirates and includes music, art, television, film, news agencies, and literature.
The UAE Department of Culture and Information website provides pages on the heritage, arts, cultural awards, regular programs, culture affairs, museums, studies, radio, and television.
This website from the UAE’s Interact website includes articles on archaeology, architecture, art, cultural tours, forts, mosques, museums, poetry, dance, music, and drama.
This virtual museum provided by the UAE interact website allows the exploration of artifacts from Emirati museums. Users can choose one of the types of artifacts: toys, tools, heritage, weapons, jewelry, stoneware/ceramics, fossils, or coins. Each link leads to a page with an introduction to the type (such as heritage) and also allows user to select a specific artifact to view an interactive picture and brief description.
This is the website for the Government of Dubai’s Children’s City. Children’s City is an educational city dedicated to children ages two to fifteen. Galleries include the Planetarium, Discovery Space, the Way We Live, Computer and Communication, and International Culture.
This is the website for the National Ras al-Khaimah Museum. Included is information for visitors on collections, the staff, archaeology, and structures.
This website from the Department of Antiquities and Tourism presents information on the Al Ain National Museum. Information provided includes visitors’ information, important discoveries, the history, and related sites.
The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization offers several exhibits and events. Their website provides further information on exhibits, visits, and also contains a photo gallery.
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is the leading film festival in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Since its inception in 2004, the festival has served as an influential platform for Arab filmmakers and talent at an international level, by spearheading the cinema movement in the region. This website provides more information about submissions, industry, participation, media, and past festivals.
This website provides information on the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival. There are several days and musicians at the Festival, which began in 2003. Check out the gallery of photos from previous years or learn more about the festival and its history.
This site discusses the types of music and dance that are native to the United Arab Emirates. Included is a brief history and information on popular singers and instruments.
