United Arab Emirates

noun
1.
an independent federation in E Arabia, formed in 1971, now comprising seven emirates on the S coast (formerly, Pirate Coast or Trucial Coast) of the Persian Gulf, formerly under British protection: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah (joined 1972), and Fujairah. About 32,300 sq. mi. (83,657 sq. km).
Capital: Abu Dhabi.
Abbreviation: U.A.E.
Formerly Trucial Oman, Trucial Sheikdoms, Trucial States.
British Dictionary definitions for United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

plural noun
1.
a group of seven emirates in SW Asia, on the Persian Gulf: consists of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Qaiwain, Ras el Khaimah, and Fujairah; a former British protectorate; became fully independent in 1971; consists mostly of flat desert, with mountains in the east; rich petroleum resources. Official language: Arabic. Official religion: Muslim. Currency: dirham. Capital: Abu Dhabi. Pop: 5 473 972 (2013 est). Area: 83 600 sq km (32 300 sq miles) Former name (until 1971) Trucial States, UAE
United Arab Emirates in Culture
United Arab Emirates [(em-uhr-uhts, uh-meer-uhts)]

A federation of seven kingdoms on the Persian Gulf coast of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered to the east by Oman, the south and west by Saudi Arabia, and the northwest by Qatar.

Note: Once the domain of pirates, the area was subdued by the British in 1820. It was a British protectorate from 1892 until the late 1960s.
Note: Oil reserves have been exploited since the early 1960s.