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United Arab Emirates — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in the United Arab Emirates is 1,000,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in the United Arab Emirates is 22.11 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, the United Arab Emirates ranked at No. 462

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, the United Arab Emirates ranked at No. 241

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of the United Arab Emirates are reported to have 110,0003 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in the United Arab Emirates are reported to have 15,7304 firearms

ImpactsDeath and Injury

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Homicides (any method)

ChartIn the United Arab Emirates, annual homicides by any means total

2006: 395
2005: 566
2004: 277
2003: 45

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn the United Arab Emirates, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2008: 0.35
2006: 0.85 8
2005: 1.368 5
2004: 0.61
2003: 1.12
2002: 1.008
1999: 2.99
1998: 0.78
1997: 1.43
1996: 1.06

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

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Regulation of Firearm Exports

In the United Arab Emirates, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law 9

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Small Arms Exports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from the United Arab Emirates is reported to be US$2,756,92810 (2011)

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Regulation of Firearm Imports

In the United Arab Emirates, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 9

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Small Arms Imports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to the United Arab Emirates is reported to be US$20,028,61210 (2011)

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in the United Arab Emirates is reported to be US$32011

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In the United Arab Emirates, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are specifically regulated by law9

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Transparency of Small Arms Transfers

In the most recent survey of state transparency when declaring firearm and ammunition exports, the United Arab Emirates was ranked number 38 among 49 major small arms exporting nations in 2011, with a score of 8.50 points of a possible total of 2512

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in the United Arab Emirates includes the Convention of 1 July 1969 on Reciprocal Recognition of Proofmarks on Small Arms13

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Tracing

In the United Arab Emirates, state authorities carry out14 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

League of Arab States

As a member of the League of Arab States, the United Arab Emirates adopted the Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material in January 200215

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, the United Arab Emirates abstained from endorsing16 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed17 by the United Arab Emirates

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, the United Arab Emirates committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects18

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, the United Arab Emirates has submitted one or more national reports19 9 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In the United Arab Emirates, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated9

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In the United Arab Emirates, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated9

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of the United Arab Emirates submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is not apparent9

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated9 by the United Arab Emirates to other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, the United Arab Emirates has not declared2 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, the United Arab Emirates has been a Member State of the United Nations since 197120

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list21 the United Arab Emirates as a Participating State

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms - Annexe online.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

5.

UNODC.2011.‘Homicide in 207 Countries - United Arab Emirates.’ Global Study on Homicide 2011: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,6 October. (Q6289)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2008.‘Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed.’ Tenth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2005-2006).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,10 December. (Q10)Full Citation

7.

UNODC.2006.‘Reported Overall Homicide Numbers and Rates per 100,000 Population for 64 Countries, 2003-04.’ Ninth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2003 – 2004).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,10 December. (Q9)Full Citation

8.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘Middle East and North Africa, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3813)Full Citation

9.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

10.

Marsh, Nicholas.2013.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,14 February. (Q16)Full Citation

11.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

12.

Lazarevic, Jasna.2011.‘Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer 2011, covering major exporters.’ Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,6 July. (Q5354)Full Citation

13.

UNGA.1969.‘Reciprocal Recognition of Proof Marks.’ Convention for the Reciprocal Recognition of Proof Marks on Small Arms of July 1, 1969.Brussels:United Nations General Assembly,1 July. (Q5999)Full Citation

14.

United Arab Emirates.2005.‘Tracing.’ National Report of the United Arab Emirates on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of United Arab Emirates to the United Nations,14 July. (Q4790)Full Citation

15.

League of Arab States / UNODA.2002.‘Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Council of the League of Arab States / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,1 January. (Q3215)Full Citation

16.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

17.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

18.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

19.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

20.

UN.2013.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,7 April. (Q290)Full Citation

21.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation