CNY to AED Live Rate

Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

35 00 N, 105 00 E

24 00 N, 54 00 E

Asia

Middle East

total: 9,596,960 sq km

land: 9,326,410 sq km

water: 270,550 sq km

country comparison to the world: 5

total: 83,600 sq km

land: 83,600 sq km

water: 0 sq km

country comparison to the world: 116

total: 22,457 km

border countries (14): Afghanistan 91 km, Bhutan 477 km, Burma 2,129 km, India 2,659 km, Kazakhstan 1,765 km, North Korea 1,352 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,063 km, Laos 475 km, Mongolia 4,630 km, Nepal 1,389 km, Pakistan 438 km, Russia (northeast) 4,133 km, Russia (northwest) 46 km, Tajikistan 477 km, Vietnam 1,297 km

regional border(s) (2): Hong Kong 33 km, Macau 3 km

total: 1,066 km

border countries (2): Oman 609 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

14,500 km

1,318 km

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east

flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east

mean elevation: 1,840 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m

highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level)

mean elevation: 149 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m

coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest), arable land

petroleum, natural gas

agricultural land: 54.7%

arable land 11.3%; permanent crops 1.6%; permanent pasture 41.8%

forest: 22.3%

other: 23% (2011 est.)

agricultural land: 4.6%

arable land 0.5%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 3.6%

forest: 3.8%

other: 91.6% (2011 est.)

690,070 sq km (2012)

923 sq km (2012)

overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many other countries in Asia and Europe; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang

population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population

frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidence

volcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been relatively inactive in recent centuries

frequent sand and dust storms

air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; China is the world's largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; coastal destruction due to land reclamation, industrial development, and aquaculture; deforestation and habitat destruction; poor land management leads to soil erosion, landslides, floods, droughts, dust storms and desertification; trade in endangered species

lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US) and largest country situated entirely in Asia; Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak above sea level

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

1,379,302,771 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

6,072,475 (July 2017 est.)

note: the UN estimated the country's total population was 9,400,145 as of mid-year 2017; immigrants make up more than 88% of the total population, according to UN data (2017)

country comparison to the world: 110

noun: Chinese (singular and plural)

adjective: Chinese

noun: Emirati(s)

adjective: Emirati

Han Chinese 91.6%, Zhuang 1.3%, other (includes Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) 7.1%

note: the Chinese Government officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups (2010 est.)

Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Philippine 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.)

Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry)

note: Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uighur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uygur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)

Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, folk religion 21.9%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.2%

note: officially atheist (2010 est.)

total dependency ratio: 37.7

youth dependency ratio: 24.3

elderly dependency ratio: 13.3

potential support ratio: 7.5

data do not include Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 17.4

youth dependency ratio: 16.2

elderly dependency ratio: 1.2

potential support ratio: 83.4 (2015 est.)

total: 37.4 years

male: 36.5 years

female: 38.4 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

total: 30.3 years

male: 32.1 years

female: 25 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 115

0.41% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 160

2.37% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

12.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 161

15.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 128

7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 101

1.9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 225

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 121

10.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many other countries in Asia and Europe; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang

population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population

urban population: 57.9% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

note: data do not include Hong Kong and Macau

urban population: 86.1% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Shanghai 23.741 million; BEIJING (capital) 20.384 million; Chongqing 13.332 million; Guangdong 12.458 million; Tianjin 11.21 million; Shenzhen 10.749 million (2015)

Dubai 2.415 million; Sharjah 1.279 million; ABU DHABI (capital) 1.145 million (2015)

at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.17 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.14 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female

total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.47 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 3.2 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 2.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.69 male(s)/female

total population: 2.18 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 119

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 165

total: 12 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 122

total: 10 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 137

total population: 75.7 years

male: 73.6 years

female: 78 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 102

total population: 77.7 years

male: 75 years

female: 80.4 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

1.6 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 182

2.32 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 87

5.5% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 125

3.6% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 171

3.63 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

1.56 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

4.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2013)

improved:

urban: 97.5% of population

rural: 93% of population

total: 95.5% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.5% of population

rural: 7% of population

total: 4.5% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 99.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 86.6% of population

rural: 63.7% of population

total: 76.5% of population

unimproved:

urban: 13.4% of population

rural: 36.3% of population

total: 23.5% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 98% of population

rural: 95.2% of population

total: 97.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2% of population

rural: 4.8% of population

total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

degree of risk: intermediate

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: Japanese encephalitis

soil contact disease: hantaviral hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) (2016)

6.2% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 169

31.7% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 20

3.4% (2010)

country comparison to the world: 109

NA

NA

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.4%

male: 98.2%

female: 94.5% (2015 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.8%

male: 93.1%

female: 95.8% (2015 est.)

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 14 years (2015)

in October 2015, the Chinese Government announced that it would change its rules to allow all couples to have two children, loosening a 1979 mandate that restricted many couples to one child; the new policy was implemented on 1 January 2016 to address China’s rapidly aging population and economic needs

total: 12.1%

male: 7.9%

female: 21.8% (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 108

conventional long form: People's Republic of China

conventional short form: China

local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo

local short form: Zhongguo

abbreviation: PRC

etymology: English name derives from the Qin (Chin) rulers of the 3rd century B.C., who comprised the first imperial dynasty of ancient China; the Chinese name Zhongguo translates as "Central Nation"

conventional long form: United Arab Emirates

conventional short form: none

local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah

local short form: none

former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States

abbreviation: UAE

etymology: self-descriptive country name; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"; "emirates" derives from "amir" the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince"

communist party-led state

federation of monarchies

capital: Beijing

geographic coordinates: 39 55 N, 116 23 E

time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) note; despite its size, all of China falls within one time zone

name: Abu Dhabi

geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E

time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities (shi, singular and plural)

provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan)

autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), Ningxia, Xinjiang Uygur, Xizang (Tibet)

municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin

note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau

7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable earlier dates: 221 B.C. (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China)

2 December 1971 (from the UK)

National Day (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)

Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)

history: several previous; latest promulgated 4 December 1982

amendments: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress or supported by more than one-fifth of the National People’s Congress membership; passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the Congress membership; amended several times, last in 2018 (2018)

history: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996

amendments: proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present, and approval by the Supreme Council president; amended 2009 (2016)

civil law influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems; legislature retains power to interpret statutes; note - in early 2017, the National People's Congress took the first step in adopting a new civil code by passing the General Provisions of the Civil Law

mixed legal system of Islamic law and civil law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of China

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: while naturalization is theoretically possible, in practical terms it is extremely difficult; residency is required but not specified

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years

18 years of age; universal

limited; note - rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens

chief of state: President XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013); Vice President WANG Quishan (since 17 March 2018)

head of government: Premier LI Keqiang (since 16 March 2013); Executive Vice Premiers HAN Zheng (since 19 March 2018), SUN Chunlan (since 19 March 2018), LIU He (since 19 March 2018), HU Chunhua (since 19 March 2018)

cabinet: State Council appointed by National People's Congress

elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (unlimited terms); election last held on 17 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023); premier nominated by president, confirmed by National People's Congress

election results: XI Jinping reelected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,970 (unanimously); WANG Quishan elected vice president with 2,969 votes

chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)

head of government: Prime Minister Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan, MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (both since 11 May 2009)

cabinet: Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president

elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council - composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates - for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held 3 November 2009 (next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president

election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan reelected president; FSC vote NA

note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the 7 emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power

description: unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (maximum of 3,000 seats; members indirectly elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses, and the People's Liberation Army; members serve 5-year terms); note - in practice, only members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), its 8 allied parties, and CCP-approved independent candidates are elected

elections: last held in December 2012-February 2013 (next to be held in late 2017 to early 2018)

election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - NA

description: unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members indirectly elected by an electoral college whose members are selected by each emirate ruler proportional to its FNC membership, and 20 members appointed by the rulers of the 7 constituent states; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 3 October 2015 (next to be held in 2019); note - the electoral college was expanded from 129,274 electors in the December 2011 election to 224,279 in the October 2015 election; 347 candidates including 78 women ran for 20 contested seats in the 40-member FNC

election results: 19 men and 1 woman were elected; seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; note - only 1 woman (from Ras Al Khaimah) won an FNC seat

highest court(s): Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases); note - in late December 2016, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth circuit courts of the Supreme People's Court began operation

judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC

subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues

note: in late 2014, China unveiled planned judicial reforms

highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases)

judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiry of their appointment terms

subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and emirate level; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts; the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system; note - the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts both adjudicate civil and commercial disputes.

Chinese Communist Party or CCP [XI Jinping]

note: China has 8 nominally independent small parties controlled by the CCP

none; political parties are banned

no substantial political opposition groups exist

NA

ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BRICS, CDB, CICA, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24 (observer), G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SCO, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSC (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador CUI Tiankai (since 3 April 2013)

chancery: 3505 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 495-2266

FAX: [1] (202) 495-2138

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

chief of mission: Ambassador Yusif bin Mana bin Said al-UTAYBA (since 28 July 2008)

chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400

FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432

consulate(s) general: Boston, Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission: Ambassador Terry BRANSTAD (since 12 July 2017)

embassy: 55 An Jia Lou Lu, 100600 Beijing

mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002

telephone: [86] (10) 8531-3000

FAX: [86] (10) 8531-3300

consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Steven C. BONDY (since 22 March 2018)

embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi

mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi

telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200

FAX: [971] (2) 414-2603

consulate(s) general: Dubai

red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner; the color red represents revolution, while the stars symbolize the four social classes - the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - united under the Communist Party of China

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification

dragon, giant panda; national colors: red, yellow

golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red

name: "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)

lyrics/music: TIAN Han/NIE Er

note: adopted 1949; the anthem, though banned during the Cultural Revolution, is more commonly known as "Zhongguo Guoge" (Chinese National Song); it was originally the theme song to the 1935 Chinese movie, "Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm"

name: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)

lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia

Since the late 1970s, China has moved from a closed, centrally planned system to a more market-oriented one that plays a major global role. China has implemented reforms in a gradualist fashion, resulting in efficiency gains that have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Reforms began with the phaseout of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, growth of the private sector, development of stock markets and a modern banking system, and opening to foreign trade and investment. China continues to pursue an industrial policy, state support of key sectors, and a restrictive investment regime. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, China in 2016 stood as the largest economy in the world, surpassing the US in 2014 for the first time in modern history. China became the world's largest exporter in 2010, and the largest trading nation in 2013. Still, China's per capita income is below the world average.

After keeping its currency tightly linked to the US dollar for years, China in July 2005 moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. From mid-2005 to late 2008, the renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the US dollar, but the exchange rate remained virtually pegged to the dollar from the onset of the global financial crisis until June 2010, when Beijing announced it would allow a resumption of gradual liberalization. From 2013 until early 2015, the renminbi (RMB) appreciated roughly 2% against the dollar, but the exchange rate fell 13% from mid-2015 until end-2016 amid strong capital outflows in part stemming from the August 2015 official devaluation; in 2017 the RMB resumed appreciating against the dollar – roughly 7% from end-of-2016 to end-of-2017. From 2013 to 2017, China had one of the fastest growing economies in the world, averaging slightly more than 7% real growth per year. In 2015, the People’s Bank of China announced it would continue to carefully push for full convertibility of the renminbi, after the currency was accepted as part of the IMF’s special drawing rights basket. However, since late 2015 the Chinese Government has strengthened capital controls and oversight of overseas investments to better manage the exchange rate and maintain financial stability.

The Chinese Government faces numerous economic challenges including: (a) reducing its high domestic savings rate and correspondingly low domestic household consumption; (b) managing its high corporate debt burden to maintain financial stability; (c) controlling off-balance sheet local government debt used to finance infrastructure stimulus; (d) facilitating higher-wage job opportunities for the aspiring middle class, including rural migrants and college graduates, while maintaining competitiveness; (e) dampening speculative investment in the real estate sector without sharply slowing the economy; (f) reducing industrial overcapacity; and (g) raising productivity growth rates through the more efficient allocation of capital and state-support for innovation. Economic development has progressed further in coastal provinces than in the interior, and by 2016 more than 169.3 million migrant workers and their dependents had relocated to urban areas to find work. One consequence of China’s population control policy known as the “one-child policy” - which was relaxed in 2016 to permit all families to have two children - is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the North - is another long-term problem. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and urbanization. The Chinese Government is seeking to add energy production capacity from sources other than coal and oil, focusing on natural gas, nuclear, and clean energy development. In 2016, China ratified the Paris Agreement, a multilateral agreement to combat climate change, and committed to peak its carbon dioxide emissions between 2025 and 2030.

The government's 13th Five-Year Plan, unveiled in March 2016, emphasizes the need to increase innovation and boost domestic consumption to make the economy less dependent on government investment, exports, and heavy industry. However, China has made more progress on subsidizing innovation than rebalancing the economy. Beijing has committed to giving the market a more decisive role in allocating resources, but the Chinese Government’s policies continue to favor state-owned enterprises and emphasize stability. Chinese leaders in 2010 pledged to double China’s GDP by 2020, and the 13th Five Year Plan includes annual economic growth targets of at least 6.5% through 2020 to achieve that goal. In recent years, China has renewed its support for state-owned enterprises in sectors considered important to "economic security," explicitly looking to foster globally competitive industries. Chinese leaders also have undermined some market-oriented reforms by reaffirming the “dominant” role of the state in the economy, a stance that threatens to discourage private initiative and make the economy less efficient over time. The slight acceleration in economic growth in 2017—the first such uptick since 2010—gives Beijing more latitude to pursue its economic reforms, focusing on financial sector deleveraging and its Supply-Side Structural Reform agenda, first announced in late 2015.

The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP from the oil and gas sector to 30%.

Since the discovery of oil in the UAE nearly 60 years ago, the country has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. The country's free trade zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors.

The global financial crisis of 2008-09, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency and ultimately a $20 billion bailout from the UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi Government that was refinanced in March 2014.

The UAE’s dependence on oil is a significant long-term challenge, although the UAE is one of the most diversified countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Low oil prices have prompted the UAE to cut expenditures, including on some social programs, but the UAE has sufficient assets in its sovereign investment funds to cover its deficits. The government reduced fuel subsidies in August 2015, and has announced plans to introduce excise and value-added taxes by January 1, 2018. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on economic diversification, promoting the UAE as a global trade and tourism hub, developing industry, and creating more job opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.

$23.12 trillion (2017 est.)

$21.66 trillion (2016 est.)

$20.3 trillion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 1

$691.9 billion (2017 est.)

$682.8 billion (2016 est.)

$662.7 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 33

$11.94 trillion (2017 est.)

note: because China's exchange rate is determined by fiat rather than by market forces, the official exchange rate measure of GDP is not an accurate measure of China's output; GDP at the official exchange rate substantially understates the actual level of China's output vis-a-vis the rest of the world; in China's situation, GDP at purchasing power parity provides the best measure for comparing output across countries

$378.7 billion (2017 est.)

6.8% (2017 est.)

6.7% (2016 est.)

6.9% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 13

1.3% (2017 est.)

3% (2016 est.)

3.8% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 181

$16,600 (2017 est.)

$15,700 (2016 est.)

$14,800 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 106

$68,200 (2017 est.)

$69,300 (2016 est.)

$69,200 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 14

45.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

45.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

47.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

24.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

27.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

29.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

household consumption: 39.1%

government consumption: 14.6%

investment in fixed capital: 43.3%

investment in inventories: 1.1%

exports of goods and services: 19.6%

imports of goods and services: -17.7% (2017 est.)

household consumption: 50.5%

government consumption: 12.1%

investment in fixed capital: 20.4%

investment in inventories: 1.3%

exports of goods and services: 94.9%

imports of goods and services: -79.2% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 8.2%

industry: 39.5%

services: 52.2%

(2017 est.)

agriculture: 0.9%

industry: 49.8%

services: 49.2% (2017 est.)

world leader in gross value of agricultural output; rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, apples, cotton, pork, mutton, eggs; fish, shrimp

dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish

world leader in gross value of industrial output; mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals, coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizer; consumer products (including footwear, toys, and electronics); food processing; transportation equipment, including automobiles, railcars and locomotives, ships, aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles, satellites

petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles

6.2% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

-0.1% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

806.7 million

note: by the end of 2012, China's population at working age (15-64 years) was 1.004 billion (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

5.344 million

note: expatriates account for about 85% of the workforce (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

agriculture: 28.3%

industry: 29.3%

services: 42.4%

(2016 est.)

agriculture: 7%

industry: 15%

services: 78% (2000 est.)

4% (2017 est.)

4% (2016 est.)

note: data are for registered urban unemployment, which excludes private enterprises and migrants

country comparison to the world: 48

3.6% (2014 est.)

2.4% (2001 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

3.3%

note: in 2011, China set a new poverty line at RMB 2300 (approximately US $400)

(2016 est.)

19.5% (2003 est.)

lowest 10%: 2.1%

highest 10%: 31.4%

note: data are for urban households only (2012 est.)

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

46.5 (2016 est.)

46.2 (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 31

revenues: $2.672 trillion

expenditures: $3.146 trillion (2017 est.)

revenues: $83.44 billion

expenditures: $112.4 billion

note: the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (2017 est.)

22.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 134

22% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 136

-4% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 143

-7.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 195

18.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

16.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: official data; data cover both central government debt and local government debt, including debt officially recognized by China's National Audit Office report in 2011; data exclude policy bank bonds, Ministry of Railway debt, and China Asset Management Company debt

country comparison to the world: 190

60.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

62.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 73

calendar year

calendar year

1.8% (2017 est.)

2% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

2.1% (2017 est.)

1.8% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 100

2.25% (5 December 2017 est.)

2.25% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 115

NA%

4.4% (5 December 2017 est.)

4.35% (30 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 154

$8.16 trillion (31 October 2017 est.)

$7.001 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

$134.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$129 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 31

$25.24 trillion (October 2017 est.)

$22.3 trillion (December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

$355.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$333.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

$26.87 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$23.02 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

$412.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$389.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

$7.321 trillion (31 November 2017 est.)

$8.188 trillion (December 2016 est.)

$6.005 trillion (December 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

$195.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$201.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$180.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

$162.5 billion (2017 est.)

$196.4 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

$7.878 billion (2017 est.)

$8.412 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

$2.157 trillion (2017 est.)

$1.99 trillion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

$314.7 billion (2017 est.)

$298.6 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 18

electrical and other machinery, including computers and telecommunications equipment, apparel, furniture, textiles

crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates (2012 est.)

US 18.2%, Hong Kong 13.8%, Japan 6.1%, South Korea 4.5% (2016)

India 9.9%, Iran 8.9%, Japan 8.8%, Switzerland 8.5%, Oman 5.4%, China 5.1% (2016)

$1.731 trillion (2017 est.)

$1.495 trillion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

$241.3 billion (2017 est.)

$230.3 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 20

electrical and other machinery, including integrated circuits and other computer components, oil and mineral fuels; optical and medical equipment, metal ores, motor vehicles; soybeans

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

South Korea 10%, Japan 9.2%, US 8.5%, Germany 5.4%, Australia 4.4% (2016)

China 7.4%, US 6.9%, India 6.8%, Germany 4.4% (2016)

$3.194 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.098 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

$89.79 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$85.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

$1.649 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.467 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 14

$239.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$218.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 34

$1.514 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.391 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

$144.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$134.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 38

$1.342 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.227 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 12

$124.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$114.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar -

7.76 (2017 est.)

6.64 (2016 est.)

6.23 (2015 est.)

6.14 (2014 est.)

6.2 (2013 est.)

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -

3.67 (2017 est.)

3.67 (2016 est.)

3.67 (2015 est.)

3.67 (2014 est.)

3.67 (2013 est.)

population without electricity: 1,200,000

electrification - total population: 99.9%

electrification - urban areas: 100%

electrification - rural areas: 99.8% (2016)

population without electricity: 177,824

electrification - total population: 98%

electrification - urban areas: 99%

electrification - rural areas: 93% (2012)

6.142 trillion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

119.7 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

5.92 trillion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

110.6 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

18.91 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 11

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 98

6.185 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 34

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

1.646 billion kW (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

28.9 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 34

64% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 117

99.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

2% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 35

20.2% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 88

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

13.7% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

0.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 151

3.981 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

3.106 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

32,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 47

2.684 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

6.167 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 88

25.62 billion bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 13

97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

10.85 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

479,400 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

11.75 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

901,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

709,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

334,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

971,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

413,700 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

138.4 billion cu m (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

60.18 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 15

210.3 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

186 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

3.243 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 35

11.08 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

75.1 billion cu m (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

20.53 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 14

5.194 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

6.091 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

9.135 billion Mt (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

245 million Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

total subscriptions: 206.624 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

total subscriptions: 2,285,809

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 56

total: 1,364.934 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

total: 19,905,093

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 328 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

general assessment: domestic and international services are available for private use; unevenly distributed domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and many towns; China continues to develop its telecommunications infrastructure; China in the summer of 2008 began a major restructuring of its telecommunications industry, resulting in the consolidation of its six telecom service operators to three, China Telecom, China Mobile, and China Unicom, each providing both fixed-line and mobile services (2016)

domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have been installed; mobile-cellular subscribership is increasing rapidly; the number of Internet users now over 55% of the population; a domestic satellite system with several earth stations is in place (2018)

international: country code - 86; a number of submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat - Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2012)

general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai

domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic and coaxial cable

international: country code - 971; linked to the international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2016)

all broadcast media are owned by, or affiliated with, the Communist Party of China or a government agency; no privately owned TV or radio stations; state-run Chinese Central TV, provincial, and municipal stations offer more than 2,000 channels; the Central Propaganda Department sends directives to all domestic media outlets to guide

except for the many organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts; restrictions since June 2017 on some satellite channels and websites originating from or otherwise linked to Qatar (2018)

.cn

.ae

total: 730,723,960

percent of population: 53.2% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

total: 5,370,299

percent of population: 90.6% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 74

number of registered air carriers: 56

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2,890

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 436,183,969

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 19.806 billion mt-km (2015)

number of registered air carriers: 12

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 498

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 84,738,479

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 16.647 billion mt-km (2015)

B (2016)

A6 (2016)

507 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 14

43 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 100

total: 463

over 3,047 m: 71

2,438 to 3,047 m: 158

1,524 to 2,437 m: 123

914 to 1,523 m: 25

under 914 m: 86 (2017)

total: 25

over 3,047 m: 12

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 2 (2013)

total: 44

over 3,047 m: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 18 (2013)

total: 18

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 6 (2013)

47 (2013)

5 (2013)

gas 70,000 km; crude oil 22,900 km; refined petroleum products 25,500 km; water 710,206 km (2015)

condensate 533 km; gas 3,277 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 3,287 km; oil/gas/water 24 km; refined products 218 km; water 99 km (2013)

total: 124,000 km

standard gauge: 124,000 km 1.435-m gauge (80,000 km electrified); 102,000 traditional, 22,000 high-speed (2017)

country comparison to the world: 2

total: 4,577,300 km

paved: 4,046,300 km (includes 123,500 km of expressways)

unpaved: 531,000 km (2015)

country comparison to the world: 3

total: 4,080 km

paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)

country comparison to the world: 157

110,000 km (navigable waterways) (2011)

country comparison to the world: 1

total: 4,287

by type: bulk carrier 1,069, container ship 198, general cargo 697, oil tanker 480, other 1,843 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 4

total: 618

by type: general cargo 97, oil tanker 26, other 495 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 34

major seaport(s): Dalian, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin

river port(s): Guangzhou (Pearl)

container port(s) (TEUs): Dalian (9,591,000), Guangzhou (17,097,000), Ningbo (20,636,000), Qingdao (17,323,000), Shanghai (36,516,000), Shenzhen (24,142,000), Tianjin (13,881,000)(2015)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanghai, Tangshan, Zhejiang

major seaport(s): Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah), Mubarraz Island (Abu Dhabi), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah)

container port(s) (TEUs): Dubai Port (15,585,000), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah) (4,414,000) (2015)

LNG terminal(s) (export): Das Island

seven of the world’s ten largest container ports are in China

1.9% of GDP (2016)

1.95% of GDP (2015)

1.9% of GDP (2014)

1.85% of GDP (2013)

1.84% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 50

4.86% of GDP (2017)

4.99% of GDP (2016)

5.66% of GDP (2014)

6.06% of GDP (2013)

country comparison to the world: 6

People's Liberation Army (PLA): Army, Navy (PLAN, includes marines and naval aviation), Air Force (Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun Kongjun, PLAAF, includes airborne forces), Rocket Force (strategic missile force), and Strategic Support Force (space and cyber forces); People's Armed Police (Renmin Wuzhuang Jingcha Budui, PAP); PLA Reserve Force (2016)

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Critical Infrastructure Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA), Land Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense, Presidential Guard, Joint Aviation Command (2018)

18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service, with a 2-year service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military jobs; a recent military decision allows women in combat roles; the first class of women warship commanders was in 2011 (2012)

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men, optional service for women; 17 years of age for male volunteers with parental approval; 2-year general obligation, 12 months for secondary school graduates; women may train for 9 months regardless of education (2016)

continuing talks and confidence-building measures work toward reducing tensions over Kashmir that nonetheless remains militarized with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; China and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, and other matters; China claims most of India's Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas; lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China's Chumbi salient; Burmese forces attempting to dig in to the largely autonomous Shan State to rout local militias tied to the drug trade, prompts local residents to periodically flee into neighboring Yunnan Province in China; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Seas, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over Scarborough Reef along with the Philippines and Taiwan, and over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei; the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea eased tensions in the Spratlys but is not the legally binding code of conduct sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratlys and in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord on marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands;

boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies

refugees (country of origin): 317,098 (Vietnam); undetermined (North Korea) (2016)

IDPs: undetermined (2014)

current situation: China is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Chinese adults and children are forced into prostitution and various forms of forced labor, including begging and working in brick kilns, coal mines, and factories; women and children are recruited from rural areas and taken to urban centers for sexual exploitation, often lured by criminal syndicates or gangs with fraudulent job offers; state-sponsored forced labor, where detainees work for up to four years often with no remuneration, continues to be a serious concern; Chinese men, women, and children also may be subjected to conditions of sex trafficking and forced labor worldwide, particularly in overseas Chinese communities; women and children are trafficked to China from neighboring countries, as well as Africa and the Americas, for forced labor and prostitution

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - China does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; official data for 2014 states that 194 alleged traffickers were arrested and at least 35 were convicted, but the government’s conflation of human trafficking with other crimes makes it difficult to assess law enforcement efforts to investigate and to prosecute trafficking offenses according to international law; despite reports of complicity, no government officials were investigated, prosecuted, or convicted for their roles in trafficking offenses; authorities did not adequately protect victims and did not provide the data needed to ascertain the number of victims identified or assisted or the services provided; the National People’s Congress ratified a decision to abolish “reform through labor” in 2013, but some continued to operate as state-sponsored drug detention or “custody and education” centers that force inmates to perform manual labor; some North Korean refugees continued to be forcibly repatriated as illegal economic migrants, despite reports that some were trafficking victims (2015)

major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle region of Southeast Asia; growing domestic consumption of synthetic drugs, and heroin from Southeast and Southwest Asia; source country for methamphetamine and heroin chemical precursors, despite new regulations on its large chemical industry; more people believed to be convicted and executed for drug offences than anywhere else in the world, according to NGOs

the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated