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| The United Arab Emirates is comprised of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, by far the largest emirate, is ruled by the Al Nahyan family. It occupies 67.340 square kilometres or 86.7% of the total area. Dubai, the second largest of the seven emirates, is ruled by the Al Maktoum family. Abu Dhabi is the official capital of the UAE. The Arabian Gulf, or al-Khaleej al-Arabi in Arabic, lies between the Arabian Peninsula and Southwest Asia. It is connected by the Straits of Hormuz to the Arabian Sea. Oil was the catalyst, trade triggered Dubai's explosion into the Gulf's leading port. Mesopotamia is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers at the northwest end of the Arabian Gulf. |
