United Arab Emirates, a country in the Middle East. It lies at the southern end of the Persian Gulf, in eastern Arabia, and consists of seven loosely united sheikhdoms, or emirates—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Qaiwain, Ras al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
Early in the 1800's, when it was known as the Pirate Coast, the region was occupied by independent sheikhdoms engaged in piracy and often warring among themselves.
