AED to HKD Live Rate

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

24 00 N, 54 00 E

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Middle East

Southeast Asia

total: 83,600 sq km

land: 83,600 sq km

water: 0 sq km

country comparison to the world: 116

total: 1,108 sq km

land: 1,073 sq km

water: 35 sq km

country comparison to the world: 184

total: 1,066 km

border countries (2): Oman 609 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

total: 33 km

regional border(s) (1): China 33 km

1,318 km

733 km

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

territorial sea: 12 nm

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

mean elevation: 149 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m

mean elevation: NA

elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

petroleum, natural gas

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

agricultural land: 4.6%

arable land 0.5%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 3.6%

forest: 3.8%

other: 91.6% (2011 est.)

agricultural land: 5%

arable land 3.2%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 0.9%

forest: 0%

other: 95% (2011 est.)

923 sq km (2012)

10 sq km (2012)

population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population

population fairly evenly distributed

frequent sand and dust storms

occasional typhoons

lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills

air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

consists of a mainland area (the New Territories) and more than 200 islands

six times the size of Washington, DC

6,072,475 (July 2017 est.)

note: the UN estimated the country's total population was 9,400,145 as of mid-year 2017; immigrants make up more than 88% of the total population, according to UN data (2017)

country comparison to the world: 110

7,191,503 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 100

noun: Emirati(s)

adjective: Emirati

noun: Chinese/Hong Konger

adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong

Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Philippine 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.)

Chinese 92%, Filipino 2.5%, Indonesian 2.1%, other 3.4% (2016 est.)

Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Cantonese (official) 88.9%, English (official) 4.3%, Mandarin (official) 1.9%, other Chinese dialects 3.1%, other 1.9% (2016 est.)

total dependency ratio: 17.4

youth dependency ratio: 16.2

elderly dependency ratio: 1.2

potential support ratio: 83.4 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 35.9

youth dependency ratio: 15.2

elderly dependency ratio: 20.7

potential support ratio: 4.8 (2015 est.)

total: 30.3 years

male: 32.1 years

female: 25 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 115

total: 44.4 years

male: 43.5 years

female: 45 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

2.37% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

0.32% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 166

15.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 128

8.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 208

1.9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 225

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 117

10.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 51

population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population

population fairly evenly distributed

urban population: 86.1% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population: 100% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.64% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Dubai 2.415 million; Sharjah 1.279 million; ABU DHABI (capital) 1.145 million (2015)

Hong Kong 7.26 million (2014)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.47 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 3.2 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 2.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.69 male(s)/female

total population: 2.18 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.74 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 165

total: 10 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 137

total: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 216

total population: 77.7 years

male: 75 years

female: 80.4 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

total population: 83 years

male: 80.4 years

female: 85.9 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

2.32 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 87

1.19 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 221

3.6% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 171

1.56 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

1.91 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2013)

5.33 beds/1,000 population (2016)

improved:

urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 99.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 98% of population

rural: 95.2% of population

total: 97.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2% of population

rural: 4.8% of population

total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

31.7% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 20

NA

3.3% of GDP (2017)

country comparison to the world: 124

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.8%

male: 93.1%

female: 95.8% (2015 est.)

total: 12.1%

male: 7.9%

female: 21.8% (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 108

total: 9.9%

male: 10.9%

female: 8.5% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 129

Buddhist or Taoist 27.9%, Protestant 6.7%, Roman Catholic 5.3%, Muslim 4.2%, Hindu 1.4%, Sikh 0.2%, other or none 54.3%

note: many people practice Confucianism, regardless of their religion or not having a religious affiliation (2016 est.)

29.8 years (2008 est.)

74.8% (2012)

total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 16 years (2014)

conventional long form: United Arab Emirates

conventional short form: none

local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah

local short form: none

former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States

abbreviation: UAE

etymology: self-descriptive country name; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"; "emirates" derives from "amir" the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince"

conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

conventional short form: Hong Kong

local long form: Heung Kong Takpit Hangching Ku (Eitel/Dyer-Ball); Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu (Hanyu Pinyin)

local short form: Heung Kong (Eitel/Dyer-Ball); Xianggang (Hanyu Pinyin)

abbreviation: HK

etymology: probably an imprecise phonetic rendering of the Cantonese name meaning "fragrant harbor"

federation of monarchies

presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

name: Abu Dhabi

geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E

time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)

2 December 1971 (from the UK)

none (special administrative region of China)

Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July (1997) is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

history: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996

amendments: proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present, and approval by the Supreme Council president; amended 2009 (2016)

history: several previous (governance documents while under British authority); latest drafted April 1988 to February 1989, approved March 1990, effective 1 July 1997 (Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as the constitution); note - since 1990, China's National People's Congress has interpreted specific articles of the Basic Law

amendments: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, and the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, approval by two-thirds of Hong Kong’s deputies to the NPC, and approval by the Hong Kong chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC

mixed legal system of Islamic law and civil law

mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law (in matters of family and land tenure)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years

see China

limited; note - rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens

18 years of age in direct elections for half of the Legislative Council seats and all of the seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past 7 years; note - in indirect elections, suffrage is limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies for the other half of the legislature and a 1,200-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad sectoral groupings, central government bodies, municipal organizations, and elected Hong Kong officials

chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)

head of government: Prime Minister Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan, MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (both since 11 May 2009)

cabinet: Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president

elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council - composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates - for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held 3 November 2009 (next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president

election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan reelected president; FSC vote NA

note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the 7 emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power

chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)

head of government: Chief Executive Carrie LAM (since 1 July 2017)

cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo appointed by the chief executive

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5-17 March 2013 (next to be held in March 2018); chief executive indirectly elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the PRC Government for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 March 2017 (next to be held in 2022)

election results: Carrie LAM elected chief executive; Election Committee vote - Carrie LAM 777, John TSANG 365, WOO Kwok-hing 21, invalid 23

note: the Legislative Council voted in June 2010 to expand the Election Committee to 1,200 members

description: unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members indirectly elected by an electoral college whose members are selected by each emirate ruler proportional to its FNC membership, and 20 members appointed by the rulers of the 7 constituent states; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 3 October 2015 (next to be held in 2019); note - the electoral college was expanded from 129,274 electors in the December 2011 election to 224,279 in the October 2015 election; 347 candidates including 78 women ran for 20 contested seats in the 40-member FNC

election results: 19 men and 1 woman were elected; seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; note - only 1 woman (from Ras Al Khaimah) won an FNC seat

description: unicameral Legislative Council or LegCo (70 seats; 35 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; 30 members indirectly elected by the approximately 220,000 members of various functional constituencies based on a variety of methods; five at large “super-seat” members directly elected by all of Hong Kong’s eligible voters who do not participate in a functional constituency; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 4 September 2016; (next to be held in September 2020); note - by-election to be held on 11 March 2018 to fill 4 seats left vacant after 4 legislators were removed from office

election results: percent of vote by block - pro-democracy 36.0%; pro-Beijing 40.2%, localist 19.0%, other 4.8%; seats by block/party - pro-Beijing 40 (DAB 12, BPA 7, FTU 5, Liberal Party 4, NPP 3, other 9); pro-democracy 23 (Democratic Party 7, Civic Party 6, PP-LSD 2, Professional Commons 2, Labor 1, NWSC 1, PTU 1, other democrats 3), localists 6 (ALLin HK 2, CP-PPI-HKRO 1, Demosisto 1, Democracy Groundwork 1, other localist 1), non-aligned independent 1; note - 2 localists were barred from taking office in November 2016 and 4 pro-democracy legislators were removed in July 2017

highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases)

judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiry of their appointment terms

subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and emirate level; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts; the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system; note - the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts both adjudicate civil and commercial disputes.

highest court(s): Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges, and 20 non-permanent judges); note - a sitting bench consists of the chief justice and 3 permanent judges and 1 non-permanent judge

judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the Hong Kong Chief Executive upon the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, an independent body consisting of the Secretary for Justice, other judges, and judicial and legal professionals; permanent judges appointed until normal retirement at age 65, but can be extended; non-permanent judges appointed for renewable 3-year terms without age limit

subordinate courts: High Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance); District Courts (includes Family and Land Courts); magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals

none; political parties are banned

parties:

ALLinHK (alliance of 6 localist groups)

Business and Professional Alliance or BPA [LO Wai-kwok]

Civic Party [Alvin YEUNG]

Civic Passion or CP [CHENG Chung-tai] (part of Civic Passion-Proletariat Political Institute-Hong Kong Resurgence Order alliance or CP-PPI-HKRO that dissolved after the 2016 election)

Democracy Groundwork [LAU Siu-lai]

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [Starry LEE Wai-king]

Democratic Party [WU Chi-wai]

Demosisto [Nathan LAW]

Federation of Trade Unions or FTU [Stanley NG Chau-pei]

Labor Party [Steven Kwok Wing-kin]

League of Social Democrats or LSD [Avery NG Man-yuen]

Liberal Party [Felix CHUNG Kwok-pan]

Neighborhood and Workers Service Center or NWSC [LEUNG Yui-chung]

New People's Party or NPP [Regina IP Lau Su-yee]

People Power or PP [Raymond CHAN]

Youngspiration [Sixtus "Baggio" LEUNG Chung-hang]

others:

Professional Commons (think tank) [Charles Peter MOK]

Professional Teachers Union or PTU

note: political blocks include: pro-democracy - Civic Party, Democratic Party, Labor Party, LSD, NWSC, PP, Professional Commons, PTU; pro-Beijing - DAB, FTU, Liberal Party, NPP, BPA; localist - ALLinHK, CP, Democracy Groundwork, Demosisto; there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

NA

Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China)

Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong

Civic Act-up (pro-democracy)

Federation of Hong Kong Industries

Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Albert HO] (pro-China)

Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council or HKTUC (pro-democracy)

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce or HKGCC

Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union or HKPTU [FUNG Wai-wah]

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

ADB, APEC, BIS, FATF, ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC (NGOs), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador Yusif bin Mana bin Said al-UTAYBA (since 28 July 2008)

chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400

FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432

consulate(s) general: Boston, Los Angeles, New York

none (Special Administrative Region of China); Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) carries out normal liaison activities and communication with the US Government and other US entities

commissioner: Clement C.M. LEUNG

office: 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] 202 331-8947

FAX: [1] 202 331-8958

HKETO offices: New York, San Francisco

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Steven C. BONDY (since 22 March 2018)

embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi

mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi

telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200

FAX: [971] (2) 414-2603

consulate(s) general: Dubai

chief of mission: Consul General Kurt W. TONG (since 27 August 2016); note - also accredited to Macau

consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

mailing address: Unit 8000, Box 1, DPO AP 96521-0006

telephone: [852] 2523-9011

FAX: [852] 2845-1598

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification

red with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower in the center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star in its middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flag and represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region; the five stars echo those on the flag of China

golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red

orchid tree flower; national colors: red, white

name: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)

lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia

note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)

special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP from the oil and gas sector to 30%.

Since the discovery of oil in the UAE nearly 60 years ago, the country has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. The country's free trade zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors.

The global financial crisis of 2008-09, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency and ultimately a $20 billion bailout from the UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi Government that was refinanced in March 2014.

The UAE’s dependence on oil is a significant long-term challenge, although the UAE is one of the most diversified countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Low oil prices have prompted the UAE to cut expenditures, including on some social programs, but the UAE has sufficient assets in its sovereign investment funds to cover its deficits. The government reduced fuel subsidies in August 2015, and has announced plans to introduce excise and value-added taxes by January 1, 2018. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on economic diversification, promoting the UAE as a global trade and tourism hub, developing industry, and creating more job opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.

Hong Kong has a free market economy, highly dependent on international trade and finance - the value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of reexports, is about four times GDP. Hong Kong has no tariffs on imported goods, and it levies excise duties on only four commodities, whether imported or produced locally: hard alcohol, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil, and methyl alcohol. There are no quotas or dumping laws. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983.

Excess liquidity, low interest rates and a tight housing supply have caused Hong Kong property prices to rise rapidly. The lower and middle-income segments of the population increasingly find housing unaffordable.

Hong Kong's open economy has left it exposed to the global economic situation. Its continued reliance on foreign trade and investment makes it vulnerable to renewed global financial market volatility or a slowdown in the global economy.

The mainland has long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for about half of Hong Kong's total trade by value. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of mainland tourists to the territory surged from 4.5 million in 2001 to 47.3 million in 2014, outnumbering visitors from all other countries combined. After peaking in 2014, overall tourist arrivals dropped 2.5% in 2015 and 4.5% in 2016. The tourism sector rebounded in 2017, with visitor arrivals rising 3.2% to 58.47 million. Travelers from Mainland China totaled 44.45 million, accounting for 76% of the total.

The Hong Kong Government is promoting the Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the preferred business hub for renminbi (RMB) internationalization. Hong Kong residents are allowed to establish RMB-denominated savings accounts, RMB-denominated corporate and Chinese government bonds have been issued in Hong Kong, RMB trade settlement is allowed, and investment schemes such as the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII) Program was first launched in Hong Kong. Offshore RMB activities experienced a setback, however, after the People’s Bank of China changed the way it set the central parity rate in August 2015. RMB deposits in Hong Kong fell from 1.0 trillion RMB at the end of 2014 to 559 billion RMB at the end of 2017, while RMB trade settlement handled by banks in Hong Kong also shrank from 6.8 trillion RMB in 2015 to 3.9 trillion RMB in 2017.

Hong Kong has also established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. In 2015, mainland Chinese companies constituted about 50% of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and accounted for about 66% of the exchange's market capitalization.

During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown rapidly. In 2014, Hong Kong and China signed a new agreement on achieving basic liberalization of trade in services in Guangdong Province under the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), adopted in 2003 to forge closer ties between Hong Kong and the mainland. The new measures, which took effect in March 2015, cover a negative list and a most-favored treatment provision. On the basis of the Guangdong Agreement, the Agreement on Trade in Services signed in November 2015 further enhanced liberalization, including extending the implementation of the majority of Guangdong pilot liberalization measures to the whole Mainland, reducing the restrictive measures in the negative list, and adding measures in the positive lists for cross-border services as well as cultural and telecommunications services. In June 2017, the Investment Agreement and the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation (Ecotech Agreement) were signed under the framework of CEPA.

Hong Kong’s economic integration with the mainland continues to be most evident in the banking and finance sector. Initiatives like the Hong Kong-Shanghai Stock Connect, the Hong Kong- Shenzhen Stock Connect the Mutual Recognition of Funds, and the Bond Connect scheme are all important steps towards opening up the Mainland’s capital markets and have reinforced Hong Kong’s role as China’s leading offshore RMB market. Additional connect schemes such as ETF Connect (for exchange-traded fund products) are also under exploration by Hong Kong authorities. In 2017, Chief Executive Carrie LAM announced plans to increase government spending on research and development, education, and technological innovation with the aim of spurring continued economic growth through greater sector diversification.

$691.9 billion (2017 est.)

$682.8 billion (2016 est.)

$662.7 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 33

$453 billion (2017 est.)

$437.5 billion (2016 est.)

$428.8 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 44

$378.7 billion (2017 est.)

$334.1 billion (2017 est.)

1.3% (2017 est.)

3% (2016 est.)

3.8% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 181

3.5% (2017 est.)

2% (2016 est.)

2.4% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

$68,200 (2017 est.)

$69,300 (2016 est.)

$69,200 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 14

$61,000 (2017 est.)

$59,400 (2016 est.)

$58,700 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 18

24.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

27.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

29.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

24.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

26.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

24.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 52

household consumption: 50.5%

government consumption: 12.1%

investment in fixed capital: 20.4%

investment in inventories: 1.3%

exports of goods and services: 94.9%

imports of goods and services: -79.2% (2017 est.)

household consumption: 66.6%

government consumption: 10%

investment in fixed capital: 22.3%

investment in inventories: 0.7%

exports of goods and services: 191.9%

imports of goods and services: -191.3% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 0.9%

industry: 49.8%

services: 49.2% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 0.1%

industry: 7.2%

services: 92.7% (2017 est.)

dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish

fresh vegetables and fruit; poultry, pork; fish

petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles

trading and logistics, financial services, professional services, tourism, cultural and creative, clothing and textiles, shipping, electronics, toys, clocks and watches

-0.1% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

3% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 103

5.344 million

note: expatriates account for about 85% of the workforce (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

3.965 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 95

agriculture: 7%

industry: 15%

services: 78% (2000 est.)

manufacturing: 3.8%

construction: 2.8%

wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels: 53.3%

financing, insurance, and real estate: 12.5%

transport and communications: 10.1%

community and social services: 17.1%

note: above data exclude public sector (2013 est.)

3.6% (2014 est.)

2.4% (2001 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

2.6% (2017 est.)

2.7% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 24

19.5% (2003 est.)

19.6% (2012 est.)

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

revenues: $83.44 billion

expenditures: $112.4 billion

note: the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (2017 est.)

revenues: $66.19 billion

expenditures: $62.86 billion (2017 est.)

22% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 136

19.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 155

-7.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 195

1% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 15

60.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

62.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 73

43.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

44.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 122

calendar year

1 April - 31 March

2.1% (2017 est.)

1.8% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 100

2% (2017 est.)

2.6% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 93

NA%

0.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

0.5% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 133

$134.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$129 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 31

$310.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$285.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 17

$355.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$333.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

$1.736 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.613 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

$412.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$389.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

$719.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$676.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

$195.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$201.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$180.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

$3.185 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$3.233 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.101 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

$7.878 billion (2017 est.)

$8.412 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

$10.06 billion (2017 est.)

$14.88 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

$314.7 billion (2017 est.)

$298.6 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 18

$540 billion (2017 est.)

$502.5 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates (2012 est.)

electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, watches and clocks, toys, "jewelry, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares, and other articles of precious or semi-precious materials"; Hong Kong plays an important role as entrep?t to the Chinese mainland; in 2017, 58% of Hong Kong’s re-exports originated in mainland China, and 54% were destined for the Chinese mainland

India 9.9%, Iran 8.9%, Japan 8.8%, Switzerland 8.5%, Oman 5.4%, China 5.1% (2016)

China 54.3%, US 8.5%, India 4.1% (2016)

$241.3 billion (2017 est.)

$230.3 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 20

$561.4 billion (2017 est.)

$520.1 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is reexported)

China 7.4%, US 6.9%, India 6.8%, Germany 4.4% (2016)

China 45.5%, Taiwan 9.8%, South Korea 6.7%, Japan 6.3%, US 4.4% (2016)

$89.79 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$85.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

$398.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$386.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

$239.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$218.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 34

$494.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$505.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

$144.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$134.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 38

$1.901 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.786 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

$124.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$114.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

$1.806 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.723 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -

3.67 (2017 est.)

3.67 (2016 est.)

3.67 (2015 est.)

3.67 (2014 est.)

3.67 (2013 est.)

Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar -

7.8 (2017 est.)

7.76 (2016 est.)

7.76 (2015 est.)

7.75 (2014 est.)

7.75 (2013 est.)

53.7 (2011 est.)

53.3 (2007 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

5.1% (31 December 2017 est.)

5% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

population without electricity: 177,824

electrification - total population: 98%

electrification - urban areas: 99%

electrification - rural areas: 93% (2012)

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

119.7 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

35.75 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 61

110.6 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

41.74 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 98

1.205 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

11.62 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

28.9 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 34

12.63 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

99.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 35

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 107

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 180

0.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 151

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 187

3.106 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

2.684 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 136

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 88

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 139

97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 147

479,400 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 156

901,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

388,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

334,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

9,625 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

413,700 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

332,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

60.18 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 15

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

186 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

4.49 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

11.08 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 120

20.53 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 14

3.243 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 42

6.091 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 151

245 million Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

90 million Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 43

total subscriptions: 2,285,809

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 56

total subscriptions: 4,318,346

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 36

total: 19,905,093

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 328 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

total: 17,584,969

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 245 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 62

general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai

domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic and coaxial cable

international: country code - 971; linked to the international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2016)

general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services

domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network

international: country code - 852; multiple international submarine cables provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Western Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China (2015)

except for the many organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts; restrictions since June 2017 on some satellite channels and websites originating from or otherwise linked to Qatar (2018)

4 commercial terrestrial TV networks each with multiple stations; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; 3 licensed broadcasters of terrestrial radio, one of which is government funded, operate about 12 radio stations; note - 4 digital radio broadcasters operated in Hong Kong from 2010 to 2017, but all digital radio services were terminated in September 2017 due to weak market demand (2018)

.ae

.hk

total: 5,370,299

percent of population: 90.6% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 74

total: 6.066 million

percent of population: 85% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

number of registered air carriers: 12

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 498

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 84,738,479

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 16.647 billion mt-km (2015)

number of registered air carriers: 7 (registered in China)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 253 (registered in China)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 41,867,157

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11.294 billion mt-km (2015)

A6 (2016)

B-H (2016)

43 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 100

2 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 201

total: 25

over 3,047 m: 12

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 2 (2013)

total: 2

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)

total: 18

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 6 (2013)

5 (2013)

9 (2013)

condensate 533 km; gas 3,277 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 3,287 km; oil/gas/water 24 km; refined products 218 km; water 99 km (2013)

total: 4,080 km

paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)

country comparison to the world: 157

total: 2,100 km

paved: 2,100 km (2015)

country comparison to the world: 174

total: 618

by type: general cargo 97, oil tanker 26, other 495 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 34

total: 2,576

by type: bulk carrier 1,142, container ship 471, general cargo 226, oil tanker 346, other 391 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 9

major seaport(s): Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah), Mubarraz Island (Abu Dhabi), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah)

container port(s) (TEUs): Dubai Port (15,585,000), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah) (4,414,000) (2015)

LNG terminal(s) (export): Das Island

major seaport(s): Hong Kong

4.86% of GDP (2017)

4.99% of GDP (2016)

5.66% of GDP (2014)

6.06% of GDP (2013)

country comparison to the world: 6

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Critical Infrastructure Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA), Land Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense, Presidential Guard, Joint Aviation Command (2018)

no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Army, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Southern Command (2016)

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men, optional service for women; 17 years of age for male volunteers with parental approval; 2-year general obligation, 12 months for secondary school graduates; women may train for 9 months regardless of education (2016)

defense is the responsibility of China

boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies

Hong Kong plans to reduce its 2,800-hectare Frontier Closed Area (FCA) to 400 hectares by 2015; the FCA was established in 1951 as a buffer zone between Hong Kong and mainland China to prevent illegal migration from and the smuggling of goods

the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated

despite strenuous law enforcement efforts, faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people