Politics of the United Arab Emirates

Template:Politics of the United Arab Emirates Administratively, the UAE is a loose federation of seven emirates, each with its own ruler. The pace at which local government in each emirate evolves from traditional to modern is set primarily by the ruler. Under the provisional constitution of 1971, each emirate reserves considerable powers, including control over mineral rights (notably oil) and revenues. In this milieu, federal powers have developed slowly. The constitution established the positions of president (chief of state) and vice president, each serving 5-year terms; a Council of Ministers (cabinet), led by a prime minister (head of government); a supreme council of rulers; and a 40-member National Assembly, a consultative body whose members are appointed by the emirate rulers. President Shaikh Zayyed bin Sultan Al Nahyyan has been president of the UAE since it was founded until his death on 2nd November 2004.

Politics

The relative political and financial influence of each emirate is reflected in the allocation of positions in the federal government. The ruler of Abu Dhabi, whose emirate is the UAE's major oil producer, is president of the UAE. The ruler of Dubai, which is the UAE's commercial center and a significant oil producer, is vice president and prime minister.

Since achieving independence in 1971, the UAE has worked to strengthen its federal institutions. Nonetheless, each emirate still retains substantial autonomy, and progress toward greater federal integration has slowed in recent years. A basic concept in the UAE Government's development as a federal system is that a significant percentage of each emirate's revenues should be devoted to the UAE central budget.

The UAE has no political parties. There is talk of steps toward democratic government, but nothing concrete has emerged. The rulers hold power on the basis of their dynastic position and their legitimacy in a system of tribal consensus. Rapid modernization, enormous strides in education, and the influx of a large foreign population have changed the face of the society but have not fundamentally altered this traditional political system.

Criticism from human rights groups

As of 2004, the governments of the United Arab Emirates have been accused by several human rights organisations of acting in contravention of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the country's failure to allow freedom of expression. The Barnabas Fund organization cites that the Dubai emirate removed the right of appeal against deportation by expatriates accused of `religious crimes`, such as trying to convert a Muslim to another religion. Amnesty International lists further problems relating to human rights on its website, such as the mass detainment of 250 persons related to the United States-led War on Terror, the ill treatment of prisoners in prison, and the continued use of flogging and the death penalty.

Miscellaneous data

Country name:
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: Emirates
local long form: Dawlat Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah (Arabic: الإمارات العربيّة المتّحدة)
local short form: Al Imarat (الإمارات)
formerly: Trucial States
abbreviation: UAE

Data code: TC

Government type: Federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Capital: Abu Dhabi (Arabic: أبوظبي)

Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwain

Independence: December 2, 1971 (from United Kingdom)

National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1971)

Constitution: 2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)

Legal system: Federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah have joined the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts

Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state: acting President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan (since 3 November 2004), also ruler of Abu Dhabi
Head of Government: Prime Minister Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum (مكتوم بن راشد آل مكتوم) (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan (سلطان بن زايد آل نهيان) (since 20 November 1990). See List of Prime Ministers of the United Arab Emirates
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
note: There is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) which is composed of the seven emirate rulers; the council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation, Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power; meets four times a year
elections: President and vice president elected by the FSC (a group of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held NA October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan reelected president; percent of FSC vote - NA, but believed to be unanimous; Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum elected vice president; percent of FSC vote - NA, but believed to be unanimous

Legislative branch: Unicameral Federal National Council or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states to serve two-year terms)
elections: none
note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto

Judicial branch: Union Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: none

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

See also : United Arab Emirates