A/HRC/14/43/Add.3 I. Introduction 1. At the invitation of the Government, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance visited the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah) from 4 to 8 October 2009. He held meetings with authorities from the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Given the federal structure of the United Arab Emirates and the scope of competences of the Emirates, the Special Rapporteur conducted meetings both at the federal and Emirates level. A list of official meetings held during the visit is contained in the annex. 2. Apart from the agenda with the Government and State institutions, the Special Rapporteur also had meetings with representatives of civil society, including community members, academics and other organizations and individuals. 3. The Special Rapporteur wishes to express his sincere gratitude to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its cooperation and openness throughout the visit. He also wishes to convey his deep appreciation to all representatives of civil society that cooperated with him throughout the visit. The Special Rapporteur was particularly honoured to be the first special procedures mandate holder invited to visit the country. He hopes that many more special procedures will follow after his visit and the one undertaken by the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography in October 2009. II. General background A. Political structure 4. The United Arab Emirates was established in 1971 as a federal State consisting of seven Emirates: Abu Dhabi (capital), Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm alQiwain and Fujairah. The Constitution of the United Arab Emirates stipulates that the Federation exercises its sovereignty inside the international borders of the member Emirates, while the member Emirates exercise their sovereignty over all matters for which the Federation does not have competence under the Constitution. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language. B. Demographic and ethnic composition 5. Based on information from the Federal National Council Committee of Foreign Workers and the Ministry of Labour, the total population residing in the United Arab Emirates, including nationals and non-nationals, is currently estimated around 6 million. Among foreign nationals, Indians would constitute the largest group (29.2 per cent), followed by Pakistanis (20.8 per cent) and Bangladeshis (8.3 per cent). Members of other Asian communities, including China, the Philippines, Thailand, Korea, Afghanistan and Iran would make up approximately 16.6 per cent of the total population. Expatriates from Europe, Australia, North Africa, Africa and Latin America would make up 8.3 per cent of the overall population. More detailed and precise figures should be available following the general census due to be held in April 2010. 4 GE.10-12576