# United Arab Emirates (AE)

**Capital:** Abu Dhabi  
**Currency:** UAE Dirham (AED) (AED)  
**Population:** 11'294'243  
**Area:** 83'600 km²

The United Arab Emirates (AE) is a federal monarchy of seven emirates on the Persian Gulf and the leading trade, logistics and re-export hub of the Middle East. As a member of the GCC customs union, the UAE levies a common external tariff of usually 5 percent (50 percent on alcohol, 100 percent on tobacco) plus 5 percent import VAT through the Federal Tax Authority. Customs clearance is handled per emirate: Dubai via Mirsal 2 on the Dubai Trade platform, Abu Dhabi via the Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform (ATLP); 12-digit HS codes apply since January 2025. The economy is shaped by oil and gas, aluminium, financial services, tourism and a vast re-export sector. Infrastructure is world-class: the container port of Jebel Ali (around 15.5 million TEU in 2024, the world's ninth-largest), Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, the east-coast ports of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, the cargo airports Dubai International and Al Maktoum (DWC) and the Etihad Rail freight network. Numerous free zones such as JAFZA make the country the central transshipment platform between Asia, Europe and Africa. A structural risk remains its location at the Strait of Hormuz.

**Top Import Partners:** CN, IN, US, JP, KR

**Top Export Partners:** SA, IN, IQ, HK, OM

**Top Import Goods:** Edelsteine, Elektronische Geräte, Kraftstoffe, Maschinen, Kunststoffe

**Top Export Goods:** Mineralöle, Edelmetalle, Kunststoffwaren, Maschinen

**Key Airports:**
- [Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/al-maktoum-international-airport-dwc)
- [Dubai International Airport (DXB)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/dubai-international-airport-dxb)
- [Sharjah International Airport (SHJ)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/sharjah-international-airport-shj)
- [Zayed International Airport (AUH)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/zayed-international-airport-auh)
- [Al Ain International Airport (AAN)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/al-ain-international-airport-aan)
- [Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/al-bateen-executive-airport-azi)
- [Al Minhad Air Base (NHD)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/al-minhad-air-base-airport-nhd)
- [Fujairah International Airport (FJR)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/fujairah-international-airport-fjr)
- [Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RKT)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/ras-al-khaimah-international-airport-rkt)
- [Sas Al Nakheel Air Base](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/sas-al-nakheel-air-base-airport-29998)

**Key Seaports:**
- [Mina Jabal Ali (AE JEA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/mina-jabal-ali-port-ae-jea)
- [Mina Saqr (AE MSA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/mina-saqr-port-ae-msa)
- [Abu Zaby (AE AUH)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/abu-zaby-port-ae-auh)
- [Jabal Az Zannah/ruways (AE JED)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/jabal-az-zannahruways-port-ae-jed)
- [Khawr Fakkan (AE KLF)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/khawr-fakkan-port-ae-klf)
- [Zirkuh](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/zirkuh-port-1494)
- [Al Fujayrah](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/al-fujayrah-port-1114)
- [Al Hamriyah Lpg Terminal (AE HAM)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/al-hamriyah-lpg-terminal-port-ae-ham)
- [Al Jazeera Port (AE JAZ)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/al-jazeera-port-ae-jaz)
- [Ash Shariqah (AE SHJ)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/ash-shariqah-port-ae-shj)

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*Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ae](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ae)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/ae](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/ae)*