The United Arab Emirates are a federation, formed in 1971, made up of seven Emirates. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven and represents over 85% of the territory. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the country and the seat of the federal government. The highly cosmopolitan population of Abu Dhabi amounts to 1,600,000 inhabitants, out of a total of over 4 million inhabitants in the United Arab Emirates (4,104,695 inhabitants, according to the annual census of 2005).
Following the death of the Emir of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, on 2 November 2004, who served as President of the Federation since its foundation, his eldest son Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan succeeded him at the head of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the Federation. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, the half-brother of Sheikh Khalifa, is the crown prince and Chairman of the Executive Council (Prime Minister) of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The United Arab Emirates wish to reinforce their cultural, university, scientific and technical cooperation with France. In this framework, the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi was officially opened in October 2006.

The Cultural District

Built on the island of Saadiyat (the Island of Happiness), a natural island with an area of 27 sq km, the Cultural District will host a number of world-renowned cultural establishments: the universal museum of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, whose architectural project is designed by Jean Nouvel, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum designed by Franck Gehry, a Performing Arts Centre designed by Zaha Hadid, a Maritime Museum designed by Tadao Ando, and the Sheikh Zayed National Museum designed by Norman Foster. This Cultural District will form part of a new urban complex with 150,000 inhabitants, located at a short distance from the historic centre of Abu Dhabi.
The Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), in charge of numerous development projects under the authority of the government of Abu Dhabi, is the main contractor for the Saadiyat island project of Abu Dhabi.