Unlike its counterpart in Zimbabwe, though, the UAE has not been immune to the global economic downturn and its economic growth has been hampered in recent years as global demand for its products and services has decreased (UAE 2011). Currently, analysts expect continued slow economic growth for the UAE (Siddiqi 41) but further challenges remain including an enormous expatriate workforce and inflationary growth (UAE 2011). Likewise, unlike Zimbabwe, the UAE has enjoyed a stable political history that has helped attract international investment. In this regard, Heard-Bey emphasizes that, "Above all, it is the combination of the adopted federal form of government with the inherited role of the tribal rulers, which makes the UAE unique in terms of political structure and reality of governmental administration" (358). Comparison of Zimbabwe and UAE Development and Economic Metrics

As can be readily discerned from the data in Table 1 and with selected metrics graphically depicted in Figures 1 through 3 below, Zimbabwe and the UAE are at two ends of the economic development spectrum -- indeed, Zimbabwe appears a just a blip compared to the UAE. Not surprisingly, the UAE's oil and gas resources have helped contribute to the country's transition into a modern free market economy, but there are also significant differences in the types of industries in each country, with Zimbabwe remaining a largely agricultural economy while the UAE has radically diversified its economy into a service industry that adds value rather than relying on harvest-based resources as with Zimbabwe.

Table 1

Comparison of Key Development and Economic Metrics: Zimbabwe and the UAE

Metric

Zimbabwe

UAE

Population

12,084,304

5,148,664

Area

390,757 sq km

83,600 sq km

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.7%

0.9%

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.457 billion

$246.8 billion

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.474 billion

$301.9 billion

GDP - real growth rate

9%

3.2%

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$500

$49,600

Unemployment rate

95%

2.4%

Labor force - by occupation:

Agriculture: 66%

Industry: 10%

Services: 24%

Agriculture: 7%

Industry: 15%

Services: 78%

Population below poverty...

GDP (purchasing power parity): Zimbabwe vs. UAE
Figure 2. GDP (official exchange rate): Zimbabwe vs. UAE

Figure 3. GDP -- per capita (PPP).

Source: Based on tabular data in CIA World Factbook

Conclusion

The research showed that Zimbabwe is a developing nation faced with many of the same economic development problems that confront other African countries, including widespread corruption, hyperinflation and an agricultural-based economy that is subject to the whims of nature. In spite of relatively abundant natural resources, Zimbabwe continues to struggle to overcome these challenges and join the international community in more meaningful ways. Despite these challenges, though, the research also showed that Zimbabwe has experienced its first significant economic growth in more than a decade and analysts project continued growth provided that its staggering unemployment levels and political instability problems can be resolved. Nevertheless, the majority of Zimbabwe's population earns less than $2 a day while by very sharp contrast, the citizens of the UAE enjoy an annual income of nearly $50,000. In sum, with less than half as many people and a fifth of the geographic area, the UAE outdistances Zimbabwe across the board in terms of economic development, but such comparisons are meaningless unless the historical context in which such development has occurred is taken into account.

Works Cited

Heard-Bey, Frauke. (2005). "The United Arab Emirates: Statehood and Nation-building in a Traditional Society." The Middle East Journal 59(3): 357-359.

Mumbengegwi, Clever. Macroeconomic and Structural Adjustment Policies in Zimbabwe.

New York: Palgrave, 2002.

Siddiqi, Moin. (2006). "Gulf Cooperation Council Goes for Growth: High-Growth Gulf

Economies Are Poised for Continued Robust Expansion in 2007 and beyond. The Six-

Member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Could Develop into the World's 10th

Largest Economic Power within a Decade." The Middle East 373: 40-42.

"United Arab Emirates." (2011). CIA World Factbook. [Online]. Available: https://www.cia.

gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/.

"Zimbabwe." (2011). CIA World Factbook. [Online]. Available: https://www.cia.gov / library/publications/the-world-factbook/.