Country Profile: UAE

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Introduction

UAE is located in the Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf,

between Oman and Saudi Arabia. The United Arab Emirates is an Arabian Peninsula nation

settled mainly along the Persian (Arabian) Gulf that was formed from 7 sheikhdoms. Dubai

is the site of ultramodern Burj Khalifa tower, enormous shopping centres and extravagant

attractions, such as the indoor Ski Dubai. Abu Dhabi, the island capital, is home to Sheikh

Zayed Grand Mosque, with crystal chandeliers and room for 41,000 worshipers.

Established in December 1971, the country is a federation of seven emirates. The constituent

emirates are Abu Dhabi (which serves as the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-

Khaimah, Sharjah , and Umm al-Quwain. Each emirate is governed by an absolute monarch;

together, they jointly form the Federal Supreme Council. One of the monarchs is selected as

the President of the United Arab Emirates. Islam is the official religion of the UAE,

and Arabic is the official language, although English is widely spoken and is the language of

business and education, especially in Dubai.

Note: Representative map

Country Profile: UAE

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Population

The total population in the United Arab Emirates was estimated at 5,779,760 people in 2015,

according to the latest census figures. It is important to mention here that the UN estimates

the country's total population to be 9,157,000 as of mid-year 2015; immigrants make up

almost 90% of the total population, according to 2015 UN data. The population of the United

Arab Emirates represents 0.07 percent of the world´s total population which arguably means

that one person in every 1526 people on the planet is a resident of United Arab Emirates.

Economy

UAE has the second largest economy in the GCC (after Saudi Arabia) with a gross domestic

product (GDP) of $377 billion (1.38 trillion AED) in 2012. Since independence in 1971, UAE's

economy has grown by nearly 231 times to 1.45 trillion AED in 2013. The non-oil trade has

grown to 1.2 trillion AED, a growth by around 28 times from 1981 to 2012. UAE is ranked as

the 31st best nation in the world for doing business based on its economy and regulatory

environment, ranked by the Doing Business 2016 Report published by the World Bank

Group.

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

based on oil and gas output to 25%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30

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.

Key Economic Indicators of UAE during 2015

GDP

PPP $641.9 billion

Real growth rate

3%

Per capita $67,000

Composition agriculture: 0.7% industry: 49.4% services: 49.8%

International Trade

Export $323.8 billion

Major Export Item

crude oil , natural gas, re-exports, dried fish, dates

Country Profile: UAE

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Major Export partner

Japan ,Iran, India,, South Korea, China, Singapore Thailand

Import $248.2 billion

Major Import Items

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Major Import partner

China, India, US, Germany

Source: CIA Fact book

UAE law does not allow trade unions to exist. The right to collective bargaining and

the right to strike are not recognised, and the Ministry of Labour has the power to force

workers to go back to work. Migrant workers who participate in a strike can have their work

permits cancelled and be deported. Consequently, there are very few anti-discrimination

laws in relation to labour issues, with Emiratis – other GCC Arabs – getting preference in

public sector jobs despite lesser credentials than competitors and lower motivation. In fact,

just over eighty percent of Emirati workers hold government posts, with many of the rest

taking part in state-owned enterprises such as Emirates airlines and Dubai Properties.

It is evident from the available data that the UAE has a very strong domestic as well as

external sector. Even though the agricultural sector has very negligible share in the total

GDP of the country it produces some agricultural products. These are dates, vegetables,

watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish. The major industrial produce of this

country are petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers,

commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles.

India is also a big trading partner of UAE. India exported US$ 330.28 billion of goods and

services to UAE during 2014-15 while imported US$ 26139.91 million during the same time

period. The value of Indian handicrafts export to UAE was US$ 49.15 million in 2014-2015

which was 0.08 percent share of the export to UAE.

INDIA’S EXPORTS OF HANDICRAFTS TO UAE (2013-2015)

US$ Million

Sl. no Items 2013-2014 2014-15 Growth rate

1. Wood wares 78.59 106.12 25.9

2. Imitation jewellery 139.50 201.32 30.7

3. Artmetal ware 1711.76 1765.82 3.1

Shawls as art ware 0.36 0.48 25.0

Zari and Zari goods 0.41 0.50 18.0

4. Hand knitted and crocheted goods/ Embroiders

131.57 145.34 9.5

8. Hand printed textiles and scarves 155.19 261.37 40.6

Country Profile: UAE

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9. Miscellaneous items 156.03 197.32 20.9

Total 2373.41 2678.27 11.4

Source- DGCI&S Kolkata

Trade Policy1 :

The UAE's trade regime is open, with low tariffs and few non-tariff barriers to trade. The

UAE's openness was instrumental to achieving the solid growth registered prior to the

global crisis and has facilitated the diversification of economic activity. Improved market

access for its products through multilateral trade liberalization and bilateral and regional

trade agreements is a main trade policy objective. Policy formulation and implementation in

the UAE takes place both at the federal and the emirate level; the emirates have a relatively

high degree of independence. The UAE has been an active player in the Doha Development

Agenda, presenting proposals to eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) on raw

materials and submitting an initial offer in trade in services. The UAE has not been involved

in any dispute settlement case as of now.

The UAE has applied the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Common External Tariff since

2003. The tariff structure comprises four ad valorem tariff rates: zero, 5%, which is the

general tariff rate, and 50% and 100%, applied on alcohol and tobacco, respectively. Some

97% of all tariff lines are ad valorem; duties are levied on the c.i.f. value of imports.

Alternate or specific duties apply to 0.3% of all tariff lines. Since the last Review of the UAE,

the average tariff rate has fallen slightly, from 5.1%, to 4.9%. The UAE has bound all tariff

lines. Bound rates are in general considerably higher than applied rates, ranging from zero

to 200%, giving scope for reduction. The UAE does not apply other duties and charges on

imports.

FACT SHEET: COUNTRY INFORMATION AT-A-GLANCE

UAE

S.No. ITEMS DETAILS

1 LOCATION OF COUNTRY

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman

and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and

Saudi Arabia

2 GOVERNMENT & ADMINISTRATION

federation with specified powers

delegated to the UAE federal government

and other powers reserved to member

1 Available at https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/s262_sum_e.pdf

Country Profile: UAE

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emirates

3 CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY Abu Dhabi

4 HEAD OF THE GOVERNMRNT

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al

Nahyan, President

5 CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE desert; cooler in eastern mountains

6 TIME AND TIME DIFFERENCE FROM INDIA UTC+4

7 ECONOMIC REGION/ZONE GULF

8 NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

The UAE is bordering Oman andSaudi

Arabia, and has maritime borders

withIran.

9 AREA COVERED 83,600 sq km

10 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE Arabic

11 LANGUAGE SPOKEN Arabic , Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

12 POPULATION 5,779,760

13 RELIGION

Muslim (Islam; official) 76%, Christian 9%,

other (primarily Hindu and Buddhist, less

than 5% of the population consists of Parsi,

Baha'i, Druze, Sikh, Ahmadi, Ismaili,

Dawoodi Bohra Muslim, and Jewish) 15%

14 ELECTRICITY SUPPLY SYSTEM-VOLTAGE 230 v 50 Hz

15

TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Private vehicles are commonly used in the

country. Driving licenses are available to

those who are 18 years of age and above.

Unlike neighboring Saudi Arabia, women

with valid driving licences are allowed to

drive.[1] An extensive and modern road

network connects the main coastal cities;

the desert roads are less developed

The only commercially operational railway

network in the UAE is the Dubai

Metro. Etihad Rail was set up in 2009 to

manage a national level freight and

passenger rail network within the country

and later to other nations of Gulf

Country Profile: UAE

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Cooperation Council.

The largest airports in the country

are Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The General

Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) started

applying an advanced program in 2010

that allows the assessment of aircraft

registered in foreign countries in order to

ensure their safety and airworthiness. In

2011 it banned all aircraft registered in

countries like Congo DR,

Swaziland, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra

Leone and São Tomé and Príncipe due to

their poor safety standards

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AIRPORTS AND PORTS

Airports: Abu Dhabi International

Airport (AUH/OMAA)Al Ain International

Airport (AAN/OMAL) Dubai International

Airport (DXB/OMDB)Dubai World Central

International Airport (DWC/OMDW)Sharjah

International Airport (SHJ/OMSJ)

major seaport(s): Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan), Mubarraz Island, Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah) container port(s) (TEUs): Dubai Port

(12,617,595), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan)

(3,234,101)

17 MAJOR STATES Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah

18 BUSINESS CITIES Dubai, Sharjah

19 GDP PER CAPITA $67,000

20 CURRENCY Emirati dirhams (AED)

21 EXCHANGE RATE (USD/ARP) 3.673 per US $(As on March 2016)

22 ECONOMY - GENERAL

UAE has the second largest economy in

the GCC (after Saudi Arabia) with a gross

domestic product (GDP) of $377 billion

(1.38 trillion AED) in 2012. UAE is ranked

as the 31st best nation in the world for

doing business based on its economy and

regulatory environment, ranked by

the Doing Business 2016 Report published

by the World Bank Group.

23 LABOUR FORCE 5.136 million

Country Profile: UAE

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24

MEDIA - PRESS, TV AND OTHER SYSTEM

Newspaper: 7days , The Arabian Post, Dubai Standard, Emirates Business 24/7, Emirates Today,

TV:Abu Dhabi TV, Dubai TV, Dubai One, Physique TV, City 7 TV,

Radio: Abu Dhabi Radio, Al Emarat, Al Rabia 1078

FM, Quran Kareem,

25 INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Main Building of Abu Dhabi Chamber, Corniche Road Phone: +971 2 621 4000 Email: contact.us@adcci.gov.ae www.abudhabichamber.ae

Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Telephone: 600 595959 Fax: +9716 7471222 Email: info@ajmanchamber.ae P.O. Box 662, Ajman, U.A.E. Website: www. ajmanchamber.ae Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Tel: 0097165302222 Fax: 0097165302226 Email: scci@sharjah.gov.ae www.sharjah.gov.ae Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Baniyas Road, Deira P.O. Box 1457 – Dubai Tel: 800 CHAMBER (800 242 6237 Fax: (+971) 4 202 8888 www.dubaichamber.com/en/

26 BANKS National Commercial Bank, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Emirates NBD,

27 BANNED ITEMS

pornographic material, non- Islamic religious pamphlets for missionary activities, fireworks, ivory, weapons & ammunition, chemical and organic fertilizers, laser pens, radar jammers/other unauthorized communication devices, endangered animal species, and any objects, sculptures, paintings, books or magazines which do not adhere to the religious and moral values of the UAE.

28

HOLIDAYS - NATIONAL/PUBLIC

January 1 New Year Day

Mat 5* Al Isra’s Wal Mi’raj- Ascension day

June 6*, Beginning of Ramadan

June 7* Eid Al Fitr

September 10* Arafat (Haj) Day

September 11* Eid Al Adha

October 2* Al Hijri- Islamic New Year

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November 30 Commemoration Day

December 2 UAE national day

December 12* Milad Un Navi- Birthday of Prophet Mohammad

29 Embassy of India to UAE

Mr. T.P. Seetharam Ambassador Plot No. 10, Sector W-59/02, Diplomatic Area, Off the Airport Road, P. O. Box 4090, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E help@indembassyuae.org ca@indembassyuae.org

30 Embassy of UAE to India

DR. AHMED ALBANNA

Ambassador 12, Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110 021 (INDIA) Telephone: +91-11-26111111 Fax: +91-11-26873272

31 TRAVEL INFORMATION

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority tcaabudhabi.ae Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing www.visitdubai.com Abu Dhabi Eco Tourism

32 PLACES OF TOUISTS INTEREST

Burj Khalifa Dubai Museum Bastakia Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum Dubai Creek House Jumeirah Mosque Deira Souks, Dubai Aquarium

33 TRADE FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS HELD RELATED TO HANDICRAFTS

WOODSHOW Dubai International Wood and Wood Machinery Show. The Dubai Wood Show is the event for timber & woodworking machinery traders, architects, contractors, interior designers, builders & developers of properties & facilities

MIDEAST WATCH & JEWELLERY SHOW Middle East’s premier biannual exhibition showcasing the latest designs and trends in watches, Jewellery, gold, precious stones and diamonds INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE FAIR UAE Textile Trade Show in Dubai. International Textile Fair Dubai for the fashion, home & industrial textile and fabrics, is an opportunity to venture into a potential merchandise, to cater the local market & reach out to the emergent gulf textile industry INDEX 2016 - INTERNATIONAL DESIGN EXHIBITION, DUBAI (UAE)

Country Profile: UAE

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Country Profile: UAE

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Tariff applicable in United Arab Emirates in 2015

United Arab Emirates

ITC HS Code

Description MFN rate

Preferential rate

330190 ATTARS OF ALL KINDS IN FIXED OIL BASE 5

330741 AGARBATTI" & OTHR ODORIFEROUS PRPNS WHICHOPERATE BY BURNING 5

330749

OTHER ODORIFEROUS PRPNS USD FOR DEODORIZING ROOM (EXCL AGARBATTI) 5

340600 CANDLES 5

392310 WATCHBOX JEWELLERY BOX AND SIMILAR CONTAINER OF PLASTICS 5

441400

WOODEN FRAMES FOR PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHS, MIRRORS OR SIMILAR OBJECTS 5

441900 TABLEWARE 5 442010 STATUTTES & OTHER ORNAMENTS OF WOOD 5 442090 WOOD MARQUETRY & INLAID WOOD 5

442190 PARTS OF DOMESTIC DECORATIVE ARTICLES USED AS TABLEWARE & KITCHENWARE 5

460120

COIR MATS & MATTING BOUND IN PARALLEL STAND

460199

PLNTS & SMLR PRDCTS OF PLATNG MATRLS PLATS& SMLR PRODCTS PLACD SIDE BY SIDE & BOUND TOGETHER IN FORM OF SHEETS (E.G.MATS ETC) 5

460219 PALM LEAF BASKET ETC 5

460211 BASKETWORK, WICKERWORK AND OTHER ARTICLES, OF BAMBOO. 5

460212

BASKETWORK, WICKERWORK AND OTHER ARTICLES, OF RATTAN. 5

630491

OTHER - FURNISHING ARTICLS,KNTD/CROCHETED 5

630790 DRESS MATERIAL HANDPRINTED OF SILK 5

650400 HATS & OTHR HEADGEAR PLTD/MADE BY ASSMBLNGSTRIPS OF ANY MATRLS W/N LIND/TRMMD 5

650590 OTHER HEADGEAR, HATS, KNITTED / CROCHETTED MADE UP FROM LACES ETC W/N LIND/TRMMD

660200

WALKING STICKS, SEAT STICKS, WHIPS, RIDING CROPS, AND THE LIKE 5

670100 FEATHERS DUSTERS

670290 ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS ETC OF OTHER MATERIALS 5

681599 OTHERS-OTHER ARTCLS OF STONES/OTHR MINRLS 5

691190

OTHERS -WATER FILTERS OF A CAPACITY NOT EXCEEDING 40 LTRS. OF PORCELAIN 5

701328

OTHER - GLSSWR FR TBL KTCHN,TOLT,OFFC INDOR DCORTION (EXCL GOODS OF HDG NO 5

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7010/7018)

701333 OF LEAD CRYSTAL 5

701337 OTHERS -GLSSWR FR TBL KTCHN,TOLT,OFFC INDOR DCORTION (EXCL GOODS OF HDG NO 7010/7018) 5

701341

GLSSWR FR TBL KTCHN,TOLT,OFFC INDOR DCORTION (EXCL GOODS OF HDG NO 7010/7018) 5

701349

GLSSWR FR TBL KTCHN,TOLT,OFFC INDOR DCORTION (EXCL GOODS OF HDG NO 7010/7018) 5

701391 OF LEAD CRYSTAL 5 711711 CUFFLINGS AND STUDS 5 711719 BANGLES 5

711790 JEWELLERY STUDDED WITH IMITATION PERALS OR IMITATION OR SYN. STONES 5

732392

OTHER HOUSEHOLD ARTICLES OF CAST IRON ENAMELLED 5

732394 UTENSILS - OTHER HOUSEHOLD ARTICLES OF IRON (OTHER THAN CAST IRON)OR STEEL,ENAMELLED 5

741810 OF EPNS 5

761510 OTHER TABLE AND KITCHENWARE OF ALUMINIUM 5

940330 CABINETWARE 5 940350 BED STEAD 5 940360 OTHER WOODEN FURNITURE 5 940381 FURNTIURE OF WICKERWORK/BAMBOO 5

940389 OTHER - FURNITURE OF OTHER MATERIALS, INCLUDING CANE, OSIER, BAMBOO PR SIMILAR MATERIALS 5

940390 PARTS OF FURNITURES OF HEADING 9403 5

940490 HANDMADE POUFFES/ARTICLES OF BEDDING, CUSHIONS ETC 5

940510 HANGNG LMPS COMPLETE FITNGS 5 940530 LGHTNG SETS OF A KIND USD FR CHRISTMS TREE 5 950510 ARICLES OF CHRISTMAS 5 950590 OTHER MAGICAL EQUIPMENTS 5 960190 WRKD MOTHR OF PEARL & ARTCLS THEROF 5

960200 WORKED VEGETABLE CARVING MATERIAL & ARTICLES THEREOF 5

960310 BROOMS & BRUSHES,CONSTNG OF TWIGS/OTHR VGTBL MTRLS BOUND TOGTHR,WTH/WTHT HNDLS 5

960622

BUTTONS OF BASE METAL NOT COVERED WITH TEXTILE MATERIAL 5

961400 SMOKING PIPES (INCLUDING PIPE BOWLS) & CIGARS AND CIGGERATE HOLDERS AND PARTS THEREOF 5

970110 MADHUBANI PAINTINGS(ON TXTLS) 5

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970190 DOMESTIC ARTICLES OF WOOD HAND DECORATED 5

970200 ORIGNL ENGRVNGS,PRNTS & LITHOGRPHS

970300 ORIGINAL SCULPTURE & STATUARY IN METAL 5 970500 STUFFED ANIMALS & BIRDS (TAXIDERMY)

970600

ANTIQUES OF AN AGE EXCDNG ONE HUNDRED YRS 5

420229

HANDBAGS OF OTHER MATERIALS EXCLUDING WICKER WORK OR BASKET WORK 5

420231 JEWELLERY BOX - SURFACE OF LEATHER 5 420239 JEWELLERY BOX - OTHER SURFACE OF LEATHER 5 480210 HAND MADE PAPER 5

482390 PRODUCT CONSISTINGS OF SHEETS OF PAPER/ RBORD, IMPREGNGTED,COTED OR COVERED WITH PLASTICS 4.62

580430 HAND MADE LACE 5

580500 HAND WOOVEN TAPESTRIES HAND MADE OR NEDDLE WORKED BY HAND, OF COTTON - EMBRODIERY 5

580810 BRAIDS, IN PCS OTHER THAN OF COTTON 5

581010 EMBORIDERY IN THE PIECE, IN STRIPS OR IN MOTIFS - EMBRODIERY WITHOUT VISIBLE GROUND 5

581092 EMBROIDERY BADGES, MOTIFS AND THE LIKE 5 581100 KANTHA - EMBROIDERY 5

610431 ENSAMBLES OF WOOL OR FINE ANIMAL HAIR - CROCHETTED 5

611710 SHAWLS OF WOOL 5 640610 EMBROIDERED UPPERS OF TEXTILE MATERIALS 5

691110 TABLEWARE OF BONE CHINA AND SHOFT PORCELAIN 5

691200

CERAMIC TABLEWARE (E.G. OF IMITATION PORCELAIN/OR SEMI-PORCELAIN) 5

691310 STATUETTES ETC OF PORCELAIN/CHINA 5

691390 OTHER STATUETTE ETC (EXCL OF PORCLAIN /CHINA 5

691410 OTHER CERMC ARTCLS OF PORCELAIN / CHINA 5

691490 OTHER CERMC ARTCLS EXCL OF PORCELAIN / CHINA 5

700992 OTHR GLASS MIRRORS, FRAMED 5 701810 BANGLES 5 701890 GLASS STATUE OF OTHR ARTCLE OF HDG 7018 5 702000 GLOBES FOR LAMPS & LANTERNS 4 711311 SILVER FILLIGREE WORK 5

741999 UTENSILS ARICLES OF COPPER ALLOYS ELECTROPLATED WITH NICKLE SILVER 5

830621 OTHER ORNMNT PLTED WITH PRCS METAL 5 830629 OTHR STATUETTES(EXCLUDING WORKS OF ART) 5

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830630 PHOTOGRPH,PICTURE/SMLR FRAMES,MIRORS 5 830890 IMITATION ZARI SPANGLES 5 920290 OTHER STRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 5 920590 FLUTES 5

920600 PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS (E.G. DRUMS, XYLOPHONES, CYMBOLS, CASTENETS, MARACAS) 5

940550 HURRICANE LANTERNS 5

960899 PEN HOLDERS PENCIL HOLDERS AND SIMILAR HOLDERS 5

830610 BELLS GONGS AND THE LIKE 5 482370 ARTICLE OF PAPER MACHIE 5 640320 KOLAPURI CHAPPALS AND SIMILAR FOOTWEAR 5 Source: WIS, TRAINS