State PCS
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al-Khaimah together form the:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option C — Seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates
Detailed Solution
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al-Khaimah.
Formation of the UAE:
The area was earlier known as the "Trucial States", because the local rulers signed truces (treaties) with Britain in the 19th century. Britain controlled their defence and foreign affairs.
When Britain decided to withdraw from the Gulf, six emirates united to form the UAE on 2 December 1971 (now celebrated as "National Day" or "Eid Al Etihad").
Ras Al-Khaimah joined on 10 February 1972, making seven.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, was the first President and is called the "Father of the Nation".
About the seven emirates:
- Abu Dhabi: the largest emirate (about 87 per cent of the UAE's area) and the capital of the UAE; has most of the oil reserves.
- Dubai: the most populous emirate; a global business, trade, tourism and aviation hub.
- Sharjah: known as the cultural capital; UNESCO named it the "Cultural Capital of the Arab World" in 1998 and the "World Book Capital" in 2019.
- Ajman: the smallest emirate by area.
- Umm Al-Quwain: the least populous.
- Fujairah: the only emirate entirely on the Gulf of Oman (east) coast, outside the Strait of Hormuz.
- Ras Al-Khaimah: in the north; known for Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE.
Government:
- The President is traditionally the ruler of Abu Dhabi, and the Vice-President and Prime Minister is the ruler of Dubai.
- The present President is Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (since 2022).
- The "Federal Supreme Council", consisting of the seven rulers, is the highest authority.
About the UAE:
- Its currency is the UAE dirham.
- Indians form the largest community in the UAE.
- The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, the first traditional stone Hindu temple in the Middle East, was inaugurated by PM Modi in February 2024.
- India and the UAE signed a "Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" (CEPA) in 2022.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The GCC has six member countries: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
- ✗Oman's provinces are called governorates, such as Muscat and Dhofar.
- ✗Saudi Arabia's regions include Riyadh, Makkah and Eastern Province.
Quick tip
Remember: UAE = seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah); formed 2 December 1971 (Ras Al-Khaimah joined 1972); Abu Dhabi = capital and largest; Ajman = smallest; currency dirham.
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World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers world GK: countries with their capitals, currencies and parliaments, national symbols, famous landmarks, the longest, largest and highest features of the world, and international boundary lines such as the Radcliffe, McMahon and Durand Lines. The most common questions match a country with its capital or currency, or a parliament with its name (such as the Knesset of Israel or the Diet of Japan). Revise countries continent by continent, giving extra attention to India's neighbours. Questions on boundary lines usually ask which two countries a line separates. Practise the world GK questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.