Capital of United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi — Facts & Quiz
The capital of United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi. United Arab Emirates sits in Asia, has a population of 9,441,129, and uses the AED. Official languages include Arabic.
Quick facts
- Capital: Abu Dhabi
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~9,441,129
- Area: 83,600 km²
- Population density: 113 people per km²
- Official language: Arabic
- Currency: AED
- ISO code: AE
How big is United Arab Emirates?
By population, United Arab Emirates ranks 97th in the world, holding roughly 0.12% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 114th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. United Arab Emirates has 113 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, United Arab Emirates is the 30th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to United Arab Emirates in population are Belarus (9,534,954) and Israel (9,038,309).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Austria (83,879 km²) and Azerbaijan (86,600 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Arabic is spoken officially in 25 countries in this dataset, including Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros and Djibouti, and 19 others.
United Arab Emirates uses the AED, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi is the capital, while Dubai is the largest city, the usual trap in quizzes. Abu Dhabi sits on a T-shaped island in the Persian Gulf. For the flag, a red bar at the pole with green, white and black stripes running from it.
The flag of United Arab Emirates: red, green, white and black
🇦🇪 The flag is three horizontal stripes of green, white and black, with a wider vertical red stripe at the flagpole. It uses the four Pan-Arab colours, here standing for fertility (green), neutrality (white), oil (black) and unity (red). Red was part of the flags of all the emirates before they united.
Region and neighbours
United Arab Emirates is a country at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia, on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, made up of seven emirates. It shares land borders with 2 countries: Oman and Saudi Arabia.
- Oman 🇴🇲 — capital Muscat
- Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 — capital Riyadh
Three facts about United Arab Emirates
- The UAE became independent from the United Kingdom on 2 December 1971, and Ras Al Khaimah joined as the seventh emirate in February 1972.
- Arabic is the official language, while English is the most spoken language and the language of business.
- Abu Dhabi is home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum.
Sources: Wikipedia: United Arab Emirates, Wikipedia: Flag of the United Arab Emirates, Wikipedia: Abu Dhabi, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on United Arab Emirates
- Asian capitals quiz — match United Arab Emirates to Abu Dhabi
- Asian flags quiz — spot the United Arab Emirates flag among its neighbours
United Arab Emirates capital quiz
What is the capital of United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪?
- Abu Dhabi
- Damascus
- Astana
- Jakarta
Show answer
Abu Dhabi
What is the capital of Israel 🇮🇱?
- Kathmandu
- Beijing
- Kuwait City
- Jerusalem
Show answer
Jerusalem
What is the capital of Tajikistan 🇹🇯?
- Tbilisi
- Dushanbe
- Tehran
- Jerusalem
Show answer
Dushanbe
What is the capital of Azerbaijan 🇦🇿?
- Ankara
- Kuala Lumpur
- Manama
- Baku
Show answer
Baku
What is the capital of Jordan 🇯🇴?
- Ankara
- Amman
- Jakarta
- Pyongyang
Show answer
Amman
United Arab Emirates capital quiz tip
Dubai is the famous one, but the capital of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi.
United Arab Emirates is also in the Middle East capitals quiz.
United Arab Emirates in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block United Arab Emirates belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for United Arab Emirates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of United Arab Emirates?
The capital of United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi.
Is Dubai the capital of the UAE?
No. Dubai is the UAE's largest city; the capital is Abu Dhabi.
What is the population of United Arab Emirates?
About 9,441,129, making it the 97th most populous country in the world.
How big is United Arab Emirates?
83,600 square kilometres, ranking 114th by land area, at a density of 113 people per square kilometre.
What currency does United Arab Emirates use?
The AED, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the United Arab Emirates flag?
The flag of United Arab Emirates is three horizontal stripes of green, white and black, with a wider vertical red stripe at the flagpole. It uses the four Pan-Arab colours, here standing for fertility (green), neutrality (white), oil (black) and unity (red). Red was part of the flags of all the emirates before they united.
Which countries border United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates shares land borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
How can I remember the capital of United Arab Emirates?
Abu Dhabi is the capital, while Dubai is the largest city, the usual trap in quizzes. Abu Dhabi sits on a T-shaped island in the Persian Gulf. For the flag, a red bar at the pole with green, white and black stripes running from it.
More capitals to learn
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