The UAE Federal Government
The United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a federation of seven emirates, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ra’s al-Khaimah and Fujairah, was formally established on 2 December 1971.
Islam is the official religion of the federation. Islamic Shari’aa is the source of legislation in the UAE, and the official language is Arabic.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was elected as President of the UAE on 3 November 2004, following the death of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who held the post from the foundation of the state until his death on 2 November 2004.
Goals of the Federation
The federation of the UAE, through the Federal Government with all its institutions, aims at achieving the following goals:
- Preserving the sovereignty, independence, security and stability of the federation of the emirates (the UAE)
- Pushing away any hostility against the federation’s existence or the existence of any of the emirates comprising it
- Preserving the rights and freedoms of the people
- Achieving prosperity and advancement in all fields
- Providing decent lives for all citizens
- Achieving solid cooperation between the seven emirates for their common interest and towards the achievement of the above goals, while maintaining respect of each emirate to the sovereignty and independence of the other emirates in its internal affairs and as stipulated within the constitution
In terms of foreign policy of the federal government, the focus is on supporting the interests and issues of the Arab and Islamic world, while strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation with the entire world based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and the ideal international ethical principles.
UAE Federal Institutions
The UAE’s constitutionally based federal system of government includes the following institutions:
- The Supreme Council
- The Council of Ministers
- The Federal National Council
- Federal Judiciary
Meanwhile, each of the seven emirates has its own local government, the complexity of which differs according to the size and population of individual emirates. Each follows a general pattern of municipalities and departments. The relationship between the federal and local governments is laid down in the Constitution, which allows for a degree of flexibility in the distribution of authority. This relationship is evolving over time, dictated by administrative requirements.
The Supreme Council
The top policy-making body in the state is made up of the rulers of each emirate. The Supreme Council reaffirms the existing President or elects a new one at five-yearly intervals. The term of elected office for the Vice-President is also five years and the post is presently held by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was elected following the death of his brother, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in early 2006.
Members of the Supreme Council are:
- HH President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi
- HH Vice-President, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai
- HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah
- HH Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ra’s al-Khaimah
- HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah
- HH Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Ruler of Umm al-Qaiwain
- HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman
The Council of Ministers
Also known as the Cabinet, the Council of Ministers is the executive authority for the Federation and is headed by the Prime Minister.
For more information on the Cabinet of the UAE, please see the section dedicated for it on the main menu, or kindly visit the website of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs on the following link:
www.moca.gov.ae
The Federal national Council
The FNC has both a legislative and supervisory role, and is a member of the International Parliamentary Union, as well as the Arab Parliamentary Union.
Formerly, the 40 members of the FNC, drawn from each of the seven emirates on the basis of their size and population, were appointed by the rulers, but under the present system each ruler selects an electoral college whose members must be at least 100 times the number of FNC members for the emirate (eight each for Abu Dhabi and Dubai, six each for Sharjah and Ra’s al-Khaimah, and four each for Fujairah, Ajman and Umm al-Qaiwain). The members of each electoral college then elect half of the FNC members for their emirate, with the remaining half being appointed by the ruler. The first elections under this system were held in December 2006, resulting in the groundbreaking election of one woman, Dr Amal Qubaissi, to the FNC. In addition, eight other women were appointed to the parliamentary body.
Introduction of indirect elections is considered to be the first phase of a process designed to enhance the role played by the FNC in government. Other steps include a strengthening of the legislative and legal powers of the FNC and the development of more effective and more viable channels of coordination between the FNC and the executive authorities, such as the Cabinet.
The Federal Judiciary
The Federal Judiciary, whose independence is guaranteed by the Constitution, includes the Supreme Court and the Courts of First Instance.