UAE Explorer: Fun Facts & Surprising Secrets

Dive into colorful UAE trivia—landmarks, culture, wildlife, and cool records. Ready to test your knowledge and discover something new?

  1. Which city is the capital of the United Arab Emirates?
    1. Dubai
    2. Abu Dhabi
    3. Sharjah
    4. Al Ain
  2. Which ruler founded the UAE federation in 1971?
    1. Mohammed bin Rashid
    2. Khalifa bin Zayed
    3. Rashid bin Saeed
    4. Zayed bin Sultan
  3. What is the national animal of the UAE?
    1. Arabian Oryx
    2. Peregrine Falcon
    3. Camel
    4. Sand Gazelle
  4. Which body of water borders the UAE to the north and east?
    1. Persian Gulf
    2. Gulf of Oman
    3. Red Sea
    4. Arabian Sea
  5. What language is officially used for government and business in the UAE?
    1. Arabic
    2. English
    3. Urdu
    4. Hindi
  6. Which emirate is famous for its modern urban skyline and Burj Khalifa?
    1. Dubai
    2. Abu Dhabi
    3. Sharjah
    4. Ajman
  7. What is the UAE’s currency called?
    1. Bahraini Dinar
    2. Saudi Riyal
    3. UAE dirham
    4. Qatari Riyal

Answers and explanations

  1. Question: Which city is the capital of the United Arab Emirates?
    Answer: Abu Dhabi
    Explanation: Abu Dhabi is the political and administrative capital and also the largest of the seven emirates by area. Dubai is often mistaken for the capital because of its fame and skyline.
  2. Question: Which ruler founded the UAE federation in 1971?
    Answer: Zayed bin Sultan
    Explanation: Sheikh Zayed is called the Father of the Nation for uniting the emirates in 1971 and modernizing the country; some may confuse him with later leaders like Khalifa.
  3. Question: What is the national animal of the UAE?
    Answer: Arabian Oryx
    Explanation: The Arabian oryx symbolizes conservation success after being reintroduced from near extinction; people sometimes guess falcon because it’s the national bird, not animal.
  4. Question: Which body of water borders the UAE to the north and east?
    Answer: Persian Gulf
    Explanation: The Persian Gulf lies along most of the UAE coastline; the Gulf of Oman touches a small eastern section near Fujairah, which is a common confusion.
  5. Question: What language is officially used for government and business in the UAE?
    Answer: Arabic
    Explanation: Arabic is the official language, though English is widely used in business and daily life, which leads many to think English is the official language.
  6. Question: Which emirate is famous for its modern urban skyline and Burj Khalifa?
    Answer: Dubai
    Explanation: Dubai hosts the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, while other emirates are known for culture or oil rather than ultra-tall skyscrapers.
  7. Question: What is the UAE’s currency called?
    Answer: UAE dirham
    Explanation: The UAE dirham (AED) is the official currency; people sometimes say 'dinar' or 'riyal' because those are currencies of nearby countries.