The UAE is known for its two largest cities, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which draw millions of tourists each year. Dubai, a regional business hub known for its sleek skyscrapers, is home to the largest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa. Abu Dhabi is the seat of the Federal National Council and serves as the national capital of the UAE.

The UAE avoided the widespread unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East during the Arab Spring, though in 2011 political activists and intellectuals called for greater public participation in governance. In response, the government launched infrastructure investment plans to help the poor and also cracked down on those calling for reform. Rights groups have criticized the government for detaining, disappearing and sometimes torturing its challengers.

The UAE is one of the Gulf’s most liberal countries, with a constitution that allows for freedom of religion. The country is made up of a federation of monarchies, where the legal system is a mix of civil and Islamic law.