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The article about [[Lutefisk]] claims: "Lutefisk (prounounced loo-te-fisk) is a well-known food of Norway and Sweden (prounounced loo-ta-fisk)which consists of white fish (normally Cod) soaked in lye as a preservative, then dried until it hardens. It is edible after multiple rinsings of water to remove the otherwise poisonous lye, and has a jelly-like consistency after washing."
The '''United Arab Emirates''' (formerly the ''Trucial States'') is an oil-rich desert country situated in the south-east of the [[Arabia|Arabian Pensinsula]] in [[Southwest Asia]], comprised of seven [[emirate]]s: [[Abu Dhabi]], [[Ajman]], [[Dubai]], [[Fujairah]], [[Ras al-Khaimah]], [[Sharjah]] and [[Umm al-Qaiwain]].
This is actually wrong. The fish is dried first, [[Stockfish]], and then soaked in lye or another base (like birch ash). After this it is rinsed in water. And another thing; it tastes delicious :)
It neighbours [[Oman]], [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Qatar]]. The UAE is also a part of the [[Middle East]].
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right" width="300px">
<caption><font size="+1"><b>الإمارات العربيّة المتّحدة<br>Dawlat Al-Amarat Al-'Arabiyya<br>
Al-Muttahida</b></font></caption>
<tr><td style="background:#efefef;" align="center" colspan=2>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" width="165px">[[Image:Uae_flag_medium.png]]</td>
<td align="center" width="165px">[[Image:SmallNationalArmsofUAE.png]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" width="165px"><font size="-1">([[Flag of the UAE|In Detail]])</font></td>
<td align="center" width="165px"><font size="-1">([[media:NationalArmsofUAE.png|Full size]]) </font></td></tr>
</table></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" colspan=2 style="border-bottom:3px solid gray;"><font size="-1">''National [[motto]]: None''</font></td></tr>
<tr><td align=center colspan=2>[[image:LocationUnitedArabEmirates.png]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>Official [[language]]: </td><td>Arabic</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Capital]] city: </td><td>[[Abu Dhabi]] City</td></tr>
<tr><td>Largest city: </td><td>[[Dubai]] City</td></tr>
<tr><td>Land area </td><td>82,880 km² </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Population]]
<br> - Total ([[2000]])
<br> - [[Density]] </td><td>[[List of countries by population|Ranked 114th]]
<br> 2,407,460
<br> 29/km² </td></tr>
<tr><td>President</td><td>Sheikh [[Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>Prime Minister</td><td>Sheikh [[Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>Independence declared </td><td>[[2 December]], [[1971]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Currency]] </td><td>[[UAE dirham]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Time zone]] </td><td>[[UTC]] +4 </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[National anthem]] </td><td> [[Arabic Emirati Tahiat Alalam]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Top-level ___domain|Internet TLD]] </td><td>.AE</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[List of country calling codes|Calling code]] </td><td>971</td></tr>
</table>
== History ==
''Main article: [[History of the United Arab Emirates]]''
The Trucial States of the [[Persian Gulf]] coast granted the [[United Kingdom]] control of their defense and foreign affairs in nineteenth-century treaties. In [[1971]], six of these states - [[Abu Dhabi]], [[Ajman]], [[Fujairah]], [[Sharjah]], [[Dubai]], and [[Umm al-Qaiwain]] - merged to form the United Arab Emirates. They were joined in [[1972]] by [[Ras al-Khaimah]].
== Politics ==
''Main article: [[Politics of the United Arab Emirates]]''
The Supreme Council consists of the rulers of the seven emirates. The President and Vice-President are elected by the Supreme Council every five years. The Supreme Council also elects the Council of Ministers, while a 40-member Federal National Council, drawn from all the emirates, reviews proposed laws. There is a federal court system; all emirates except Dubai and Ras al-Khaimah have joined the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts.
== Economy ==
''Main article: [[Economy of the United Arab Emirates]]''
The UAE's wealth is largely based on [[oil]] and [[gas]] output, some 33% of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]]. It is the third largest oil producer in the Gulf after [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Iran]]. Since 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high [[standard of living]]. The country's per capita GDP is not far below the GDPs of the leading West European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed it to play a vital role in the affairs of the region.
== Emirates ==
''Main article [[Emirates of the United Arab Emirates]]''
The UAE comprises the following seven emirates:
*[[Abu Dhabi]]
*[[Ajman]]
*[[Dubai]]
*[[Fujairah]]
*[[Ras al-Khaimah]]
*[[Sharjah]]
*[[Umm al-Qaiwain]]
== Geography ==
''Main article: [[Geography of the United Arab Emirates]]''
[[Image:Tc-map.png|Map of the United Arab Emirates]]
The UAE lies in [[Southwest Asia]], bordering the [[Gulf of Oman]] and the [[Persian Gulf]], between [[Oman]] and [[Saudi Arabia]]. It is a flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; with mountains in the east. Its strategic ___location along southern approaches to the [[Strait of Hormuz]] makes it a vital transit point for world crude oil. The UAE is considered to be one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called "[[Cradle of Humanity]]"
== Demographics ==
''Main article: [[Demographics of the United Arab Emirates]]''
The UAE's population of almost 2.4 million contains some 1.6 million non-nationals - indeed 50% of the population is [[South Asian]]. The population growth rate is low compared to its neighbours. Religious beliefs are almost exclusively [[Muslim]]. Around 80% of the population can read and write.
== Culture ==
''Main article: [[Culture of the United Arab Emirates]]''
Rooted in [[Islamic culture]], the UAE has strong ties with the rest of the [[Arab]] world. The government are committed to preserving traditional forms of art and culture, including via the [[Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation]]. Change is apparent in social life however - attitudes towards women are shifting, and new sports are becoming popular alongside traditional [[camel]] racing.
*[[Music of the United Arab Emirates]]
===Holidays===
{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Date !! style="background:#efefef;" | English Name !! style="background:#efefef;" | Local Name
|-
| 1 January || New Year's Day ||
|-
| Varies || || Eid-ul-Adha
|-
| Varies || [[Islam]]ic New Year || El am Hejir
|-
| Varies || || Ashura - Muharrum/Dr.Babu Jagjivan Ram
|-
| Varies || Prophet's Birthday || Eid-Milad Nnabi
|-
| August 6 || Accession of [[H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan-al Nahyan]] ||
|-
| Varies || Ascension of Mohammed || Lailat al Miraj
|-
| December 2 || National Day ||
|-
| Varies || End of Ramadan || Eid Al Fitr
|}
== Miscellaneous topics ==
* [[Communications in the United Arab Emirates]]
* [[Transportation in the United Arab Emirates]]
* [[Military of the United Arab Emirates]]
* [[Foreign relations of the United Arab Emirates]]
* [[List of cities in the United Arab Emirates]]
{{msg:Southwest_Asia}}
{{msg:OPEC}}
[[ar:امارات]]
[[da:Forenede Arabiske Emirater]]
[[de:Vereinigte Arabische Emirate]]
[[eo:Unuiĝintaj Arabaj Emirlandoj]]
[[es:Emiratos Árabes Unidos]]
[[et:Araabia Ühendemiraadid]]
[[fr:Émirats arabes unis]]
[[nl:Verenigde Arabische Emiraten]]
[[ja:アラブ首長国連邦]]
[[pl:Zjednoczone Emiraty Arabskie]]
[[fi:Arabiemiirikuntien liitto]]
[[sl:Združeni arabski emirati]]
[[sv:Förenade Arabemiraten]]
[[ta:ஐக்கிய அரபு அமீரகம்]]
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