Arab World
UAE
The United Arab Emirates, with total proven oil reserves of 98.1 billion
barrels, ranks third and represents around 9.5% of world reserves. The
UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest per capita
incomes and with a sizable annual trade surplus. The UAE Dirham is fixed
at AED 3.685 to US$1.
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Capital: Abu Dhabi |
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Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Natural Gas |
|
Languages: Arabic
(official), English (commercial), Persian, Hindi, Urdu |
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Area: 82,880 sq km |
Population:
2,484,818 (July 2003) |
|
GDP: $53.97 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$22,100 (2002) |
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Exports: $44.9
billion (fob, 2002) |
Imports: $30.8
billion (fob, 2002) |
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Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has the
largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total),
ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in
OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues,
40% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 35% of GDP comes from the
private sector.
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Capital: Riyadh |
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Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Natural Gas, Iron Ore, Gold, Copper |
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Languages: Arabic |
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Area: 1,960,582 sq
km |
Population:
24,293,844 (July 2003) |
|
GDP: $268.9 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$11,400 (2002) |
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Exports: $71
billion (fob, 2001) |
Imports: $39.5
billion (fob, 2001) |
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Kuwait
Kuwait with its strategic location at head of Persian Gulf has an
open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion
barrels—10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of
GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 75% of government income.
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Capital: Kuwait |
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Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Fish, Shrimp, Natural Gas |
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Languages: Arabic
(official), English (commercial) |
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Area: 17,820 sq km |
Population:
2,183,161 (July 2003) |
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GDP: $36.85 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$17,500 (2002) |
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Exports: $16
billion (fob, 2002) |
Imports: $7.3
billion (fob, 2002) |
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Qatar
Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic
meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world.
Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly
important. Long-term goals feature the development of offshore petroleum
and the diversification of the economy.
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Capital: Doha |
|
Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Natural Gas, Fish |
|
Languages: Arabic
(official), English commonly used as a second language |
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Area: 11,437 sq km |
Population: 817,052
(July 2003) |
|
GDP: $15.91 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$20,100 (2002) |
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Exports: $10.9
billion (fob, 2002) |
Imports: $3.9
billion (fob, 2002) |
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Iran
Almost one-tenth of the world's oil and one-fifth of the world's
natural gas reserve are in Iran. Besides this, Iran has large mineral
deposits and considerable forest wealth. Iran's free trade zones offers
incentives for investment and distribution of goods in the domestic and
regional markets.
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Capital: Tehran |
|
Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Natural gas, Coal, Iron Ore, Copper, Cobalt, Lead |
|
Languages: Persian,
Arabic, Kurdish, Luri, Balochi, Turkish |
|
Area: 1.648 million
sq km |
Population:
68,278,826 (July 2003) |
|
GDP: $458.3 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$6,800 (2002) |
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Exports: $24.8
billion (fob, 2002) |
Imports: $21.8
billion (fob, 2002) |
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Iraq
Iraq is the heart of one of the four great ancient civilizations.
Its most valuable industry is the production of petroleum and natural
gas. By late 1980s Iraq was producing a total of 743.3 million barrels
of petroleum and 3.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.
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Capital: Baghdad |
|
Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Natural Gas, Phosphates, Sulfur |
|
Languages: Arabic
(Official), Kurdish, Assyrian, Armenian |
|
Area: 437,072 sq km |
Population:
24,683,313 (July 2003) |
|
GDP: $58 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$2,400 (2002) |
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Exports: $13
billion (fob,2002) |
Imports: $7.8
billion (fob,2002) |
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Lebanon
The home of the Cedars, Lebanon known for its natural beauty has
made impressive gains in economy since the launch of "Horizon2000," the
government's $20 billion reconstruction program in 1993. Real GDP grew
8% in 1994 and 7% in 1995. During 1992-98, foreign exchange reserves
jumped to more than $6 billion from $1.4 billion.
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Capital: Beirut |
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Natural Resources:
Limestone, Iron Ore, Salt, Water-Surplus |
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Languages: Arabic
(official), English (commercial), French |
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Area: 10,452 sq km |
Population:
3,727,703 (July 2003) |
|
GDP: $17.61 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$4,800 (2002) |
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Exports: $1 billion
(fob, 2002) |
Imports: $6 billion
(fob, 2002) |
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Syria
Syria has a strong agricultural sector with roughly 80% of
agricultural land still dependent on rain-fed sources. The major
manufacturing industry in Syria is the production of cotton and silk
textiles. Annual production of petroleum products is about 10 million
metric tons.
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Capital: Damascus |
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Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Phosphates, Chrome and Manganese Ores, Marble |
|
Languages: Arabic
(official), French, English, Kurdish, Armenian |
|
Area: 185,180 sq km |
Population:
17,585,540 (July 2002) |
|
GDP: $63.48 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$3,700 (2002) |
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Exports: $6.2
billion (fob, 2002) |
Imports: $4.9
billion (fob, 2002) |
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Jordan
Jordan is a unique and blessed land of the Old and New Testaments
and the early years of Islam. Its largest industries are phosphate
mining, fertilizers, potash, cement, oil refining and electric power
generation. In late 1980s Jordan turned to light-manufactured goods and
technical industries, such as pharmaceuticals.
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Capital: Amman |
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Natural Resources:
Phosphates, Potash, Whale Oil |
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Languages: Arabic
(official), English (commercial) |
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Area: 89,213 sq km |
Population:
5,460,265 (July 2003) |
|
GDP: $22.63 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$4,300 (2002) |
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Exports: $2.5
billion (fob, 2002) |
Imports: $4.4
billion (fob, 2002) |
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Bahrain
Petroleum production and
processing account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government
revenues and 30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and
transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms
with business in the Gulf.
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Capital: Manama |
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Natural Resources:
Oil, Associated and Non-associated Natural Gas, Fish |
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Languages: Arabic
(official), English (commercial) Farsi, Urdu |
|
Area: 620 sq km |
Population: 667,238
(July 2003) |
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GDP: $9.91 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$15,100 (2002) |
|
Exports: $5.8
billion (2002) |
Imports: $4.2
billion (fob, 2002) |
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Yemen
In mid-1990s Yemen reported strong growth with the onset of oil
production. Yemen has embarked on an IMF-supported structural adjustment
program designed to modernize and streamline the economy, which has led
to foreign debt relief and restructuring.
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Capital: Sanaa |
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Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Fish, Rock Salt, Marble, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Copper |
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Languages: Arabic |
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Area: 527,970 sq km |
Population:
19,349,881 (July 2003) |
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GDP: $15.07 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$800 (2002) |
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Exports: $3.4
billion (fob, 2002) |
Imports: $2.9
billion (fob, 2002) |
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Oman
Petroleum accounts for 75% of export earnings and government
revenues and for roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4
billion barrels. The government is encouraging private investment, both
domestic and foreign, as a prime force for further economic development.
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Capital: Muscat |
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Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Copper, Asbestos, Limestone, Chromium, Natural Gas
|
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Languages: Arabic
(official), English (commercial), Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects |
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Area: 212,460 sq km |
Population:
2,807,125 (July 2003) |
|
GDP: $22.4 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$8,300 (2002) |
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Exports: $10.6
billion (fob, 2002) |
Imports: $5.5
billion (fob, 2002) |
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Egypt
Egypt is a significant
oil producer and a rapidly growing gas producer. The Suez Canal and
Sumed Pipeline are strategic routes for Persian Gulf oil shipments,
making Egypt a focal point in world energy markets. The Egyptian economy
has made remarkable progress in the 1990's under an IMF stabilization
program.
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Capital: Cairo |
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Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Natural Gas, Iron Ore, Phosphates, Talc, Lead, Zinc |
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Languages: Arabic
(official), English and French widely understood |
|
Area: 1,001,450 sq
km |
Population:
74,718,797 (July 2003) |
|
GDP: $289.8 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$4,000 (2002) |
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Exports: $7 billion
(fob, 2002) |
Imports: $15.2
billion (fob, 2002) |
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Libya
The high oil revenue and the small population give Libya one of the
highest per capita GDPs in Africa. The non-oil manufacturing and
construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded
from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production
of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum.
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Capital: Tripoli |
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Natural Resources:
Petroleum, Natural Gas, Gypsum |
|
Languages: Arabic
(official), Italian, English |
|
Area: 1,759,540 sq
km |
Population:
5,499,074 (July 2003) |
|
GDP: $33.36 billion
(2002) |
GDP Per Capita:
$6,200 (2002) |
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Exports: $11.8
billion (fob, 2002) |
Imports: $6.3
billion (fob, 2002) |
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This
chilling production presents a side of the Middle Eastern conflict that
very few Americans have ever seen.
