Area: 777 sq km

Population: 35,157; Male: 20,832; Female: 14,325

Ruler: Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmad Al Mu'alla

Location:

The Emirate of Umm Al-Quwain is located on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, stretching over a distance of 24 kilometers, between Sharjah to the west, and Ras Al-Khaimah to the east. This emirate is situated to the north of Ajman on a peninsula that protrudes from the UAE's Gulf coastline and stretches inland to the oasis of Falaj Al Mu'alla, the name of the Emirate's Ruling Family. It extends for 23 km (15 miles) along the Arabian Gulf Coast.

The land spreads towards the interior for a distance of 32 kilometers approximately. The total area of the emirate is 777 square kilometers, equivalent to 1% of the country's total area, excluding the islands. The town of Umm Al-Quwain is the capital of the emirate, situated on a deep creek one kilometer in width and 5 kilometers long. It is the centre of the Ruler's office, companies, establishments, banks, commercial markets, Seaport, the Research and Pisciculture Centre which help to develop fisheries of the country. The region of Falaj Al-Mulla is known to be the agricultural part of the Emirate, located 50 kilometers Southeast of Umm Al-Quwain. The other large part is Seneyah Island, located one kilometer away from Umm Al-Quwain, with a total area of 90 square kilometers, known to harbor large species of birds, deer and Al-Qaram trees.

History:

Umm Al Qaiwain's archaelogical sites are Ad Door, a thriving port town at the beginning of the common era, and nearby Tell Abraq, a fortified settlement from around 2,500 BC.

Industry:

Many of the people are still dependent on traditional forms of employment such as fishing and date cultivation. Falaj Al Mu'alla, with its rolling sand dunes is an important agricultural area. Industrial development can be found in the capital, which has the same name as the Emirate, with the establishment of Umm Al Qaiwain Cement Industries and a plastics factory. The Ahmed Bin Rashid Port and Free Zone is located 30 miles north east of Dubai, in Umm al Qaiwain. The Port consists of 4 wharves, totalling 845 meters of quay wall within an area of 400.000 sq.m. The Free Zone was set up in 1988 within the confines of the port. The Free Zone and Port Authority provides various incentives, as well as administrative and logistical support to the resident companies.

A multi-million Dirham "Dreamland" Aqua park, is in the process of being built in Umm Al Qaiwain, and is presently approaching the completion of its first phase. The park, to be completed by 1998, will be the largest of its kind in the world, bringing with it a whole new world of entertainment for not only the residents of the Emirates and the Gulf states, but also for people and tourists from all over the world. The Dh160 million park, only a thirty minute drive from Dubai, will have all sorts of water rides, a Dolphin Show, the first of its kind in the Arab World, as well as two aqua restaurants that will offer international cuisine, a 21-shop arcade, a 70 by 45 meter wave pool, an amphitheater as well as a yacht club, a parachuting and sky diving club, a 320 room five star hotel and a 150 room five star chalet. The Ajman Aqua park will cover an area of about 220,000 sq.m. and is expected to cater to about 8000 visitors a day. This project will add a new dimension to the economy of the country, as well as a boost in the recreational facilities of Umm Al Qaiwain.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the UAE University jointly operate the National Mariculture Centre which is located in this emirate. It has experimented in raising in saline water the fast breeding freshwater fish, the tilapia, as well as prawn, rabbit fish, mullet and grouper. The experimental fish are fed on pellets manufactured at the centre from locally produced fishmeal.