Located in the Arabian Gulf, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has an area of 82,880 square kilometers (31,877 square miles) and, as of 2004, a population of 2,513,915. Abu Dhabi is its capital. The country is bordered by Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the Arabian Gulf. The UAE is mainly desert, and its hot and dry climate reflects this terrain. It was formed in 1971 after the merger of six states: Abu Dhabi, Aajman, Al Furayjah, Al Shariqah, Dubai, and Umm el Quiwan. In 1972 Rass el Khaymah joined these member states. From 1971, the year Great Britain granted the UAE its independence, to 2004, Sheikh Zayid bin Sultan al-Nahyan (1918–2004), the ruler of Abu Dhabi, served as president of the federation, along with Maktum bin Rashid al-Maktum (b. 1946), ruler of Dubai, as vice president. At Sheikh Zayid bin Sultan al-Nahyan's death in 2004, his eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan (b. 1948), was chosen...