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The UAE - Political System
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POLITICAL SYSTEM |
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Since its formation in 1971, the Federation of seven emirates comprising the UAE has brought an enviable degree of political stability and security to the region. In fact the UAE is the only state in the Arab world to have a working federal system that has stood the test of time.
Each emirate has its own local government, while under a provisional constitution that was agreed in 1971, the Federal Government has responsibility for the following: foreign affairs, security and defence; nationality and immigration issues; education; public health; currency; postal, telephone and other communications services; air-traffic control and licensing of aircraft; labour relations; banking; delimitation of territorial waters and the extradition of criminals. In May 1996, the provisional constitution was made permanent, and Abu Dhabi was designated as the Federation’s capital.
The Federal of government includes the Supreme Council, the Council of Ministers (Cabinet), a parliamentary body known as the Federal National Council (FNC), and the Federal Supreme Court. |
The Supreme Council and Cabinet
From among its members, which consist of the rulers of the seven emirates, the Supreme Council elects a president to serve for a renewable five-year term in office; accordingly, it re-elected Sheikh Khalifa as President in November 2009. The Council has both legislative and executive powers: it ratifies federal laws and decrees, plans general policy, approves the nomination of the Prime Minister and accepts his resignation.
The Council of Ministers, described in the Constitution as ‘the executive authority’ of the Federation, is headed by a prime minister. The Prime Minister selects the Cabinet, but this selection requires the president’s ratification. |
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Supreme Council Members
H.H. President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
H.H. Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid ai Maktoum, ruler of Dubai.
H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.
H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed al Qasimi, Ruler of Ra’s al-khaimah.
H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah.
H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Ruler of Umm al-Qaiwain.
H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman. |
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Crown Princes
H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Duabi.
H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council.
H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ra’s al-Khaimah.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.
H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Crown Prince of Umm al-Qaiwain.
H.H. Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman. |
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Deputy Rulers
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Industry.
H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.
H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Ra’s al-Khaimah.
H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Saif al Sharqi, Deputy Ruler of Fujairah.
H.H. Sheikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Deputy Ruler of Umm al-Qaiwain.
H.H. Sheikh Nasser bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Deputy Ruler of Ajman. |
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Member of the Cabinet
Prime Minister and Minister of Defence: Vice President H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior: Lt. Gen. H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Depty Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs: H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Minister of Finance: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Minister of Foreign Affairs: H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
Minister of Public Works: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
Minister of Foreign Trade: Sheikh Lubna Al Qasimi.
Minister of Cabinet Affairs: Mohammed Abdullah Al Gargawi.
Minister of Energy: Mohammed Dhaen Al Hamili.
Minister of Economy: Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri.
Minister of Social Affairs: Maryam Al Roumi.
Minister of Education: Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami.
Minister of Health: Dr. Hanif Hussan Ali.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais.
Minister of Justice: Dr. Hadef bin Juaan Al Dhahiri.
Minister of Environment and Water: Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad.
Minister of Labour: Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs: Dr. Mohammed Anwar Gargash.
Minister of State for Financial Affairs: Obaid Humaid Al Tayer.
Minister of State: Dr. Maitha Salem Al Shamsi.
Minister of State: Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimi. |
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Federal National Council
The Federal National Council, or FNC, has forty members, twenty of whom were elected by an electoral college, with the remainder nominated by the rulers of the respective emirates. Nine members of the FNC are women. The FNC’s functions include: |
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Discussing constitutional amendments and draft laws, which may be approved, amended or rejected; |
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Reviewing the annual draft budget of the Federation; |
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Debating international treaties and conventions; and |
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Influencing the Government’s work through the channels of discussion, question-and-answer sessions, recommendations and following up on complaints. |
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FNC members hold office for four years, and the Council sits from the third week of October, in synchrony with the main period of Cabinet activity. |
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Federal Judiciary
The Federal Judiciary, which is accorded independence under the Constitution, includes the Federal Supreme Court and Courts of First Instance. The Federal Supreme Court comprises five judges appointed by the Supreme Council. The judges decide on the constitutionality of federal laws and arbitrate on inter-emirate disputes, as well as disputes between the Federal Government and the emirates. |
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Local Government
Corresponding to the federal institutions are the local government of the seven emirates. Varying in size, they have evolved along with their respective emirates’ growth. Their mechanisms differ from emirate to emirate, depending on factors such as population, area, and degree of development. |
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Traditional Government
In many emirates, the ruler and a number of other senior family members continue to hold an open majlis, or gathering (the term literally mean’s place of sitting). In which participants may raise a wide range of topics, both of personal interest and of broader concern. |
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Political Developments
In recent years, in the line with the UAE’s rapid socio-economic developments, major steps have been taken to reform governmental structure. A key focus of the strategy is to create synergy between federal and local government. Other principles include revitalizing the regulatory and policy-making roles of the ministries and improving their decision-making mechanisms; increasing the efficiency of governmental bodies; and upgrading their services in accordance with the needs of the people, as well as reviewing and upgrading existing legislation.
The elections for the FNC, first held in 2006, were also an important step in the process of reform, the ultimate objective being gradually to increase popular participation and to entrench the rule of law and due process, accountability, transparency and equal opportunity. |
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| Source: UAE2010 Yearbook - UAE National Media Council |
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