Economy of the United Arab Emirates Economy of the United Arab Emirates The economy of the United Arab Emirates is the second largest in the Middle East (after Saudi Arabia), with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $403.2 billion (AED 1.46 trillion) in 2014. The Emirates have been successfully diversifying its economy. Although the UAE has the most diversified economy in the GCC, its economy remains extremely reliant on petroleum (oil). With the exception of Dubai, most of the UAE is dependent on oil revenues. Petroleum and natural gas continue to play a central role in the economy, especially in Abu Dhabi. More than 85% of
Emirate of Dhala Emirate of Dhala Dhala or Dhali` ( '), Amiri ( '), or the Emirate of Dhala ( "") was a state in the British Aden Protectorate, the Federation of Arab Emirates of the South, and its successor, the Federation of South Arabia. Its capital was Dhala (Ad Dali'). Previously Dhala' was under the suzerainty of the Zaidi imams of Yemen, the emirs of Dhala, of the Amiri dynasty. In 1904 it became a British protectorate, eventually joining of the Aden Protectorate. The Emirate was a founding member of the Federation of Arab Emirates of the South in 1959, and the