UAE

Country Flag:

Name of Country: United Arab Emirates (Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah)

Map of Country:

Name of Capital City: Abu Dhabi

Type of State: Federation of Emirates

Country Area: 83600 (sq km)  

Population:  4,798,491(July 2009 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Religions: Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%

Administrative Divisions

• 7 Emirates (imarat): Abu Dhabi (Abu Zaby), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Sharjah (Ash Shariqah), Dubai (Dubayy), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

Date of Constitution

• An interim constitution was drafted in December 2, 1971, and made permanent on December 2, 1996.

Head of State

• The head of state is the President, who is chosen by the seven members of the Federal Supreme Council (FSC) to serve a five-year term.
• The powers of the President include appointing the cabinet, or Council of Ministers.
• Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan became head of state on November 8, 2004. He succeeded his father, Sheikh Zayid bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan, who died on November 2, 2004. Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan was then appointed crown prince.

Executive Branch

• The executive branch is comprised of the President, Vice President, and the Federal Supreme Council (FSC).
• The FSC, which meets four times a year, establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation. Within the FSC, the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have effective veto power.
• The Prime Minister and the members of the cabinet are responsible to the President and to the FSC.
• Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al-Maktum, the ruler of Dubai, was appointed as prime minister on January 5, 2006. The appointment followed his election by the Supreme Federal Council as deputy-head of state.

Legislative Branch

• The unicameral legislative branch is composed of the Federal National Council (Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani). The Council has no legislative powers, and serves only in advisory capacity.
• The Council is composed of 40 members, 20 of whom are appointed by the rulers of the seven emirates to serve two-year terms, while the other 20 are elected by a special constituency of 7000 persons selected by local governments. Of the 40 members the share of Abu Dhabi and Dubai is 8 members each. Sharjah and Ra’s al Khaymah have 6 members each, and Ajman, Umm al Oaywayn, and Al Fujayrah each have four members on the Federal National Council.

Judiciary Branch

• The UAE has a federal judiciary encompassing all the emirates except Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.
• In civil matters, the lowest courts are the Courts of First Instance, located in each of the emirates. There are separate criminal and Shari’a courts.
• Federal Appeal Courts are located in each of the emirates. A Court of Cassation, located in Abu Dhabi, is the highest court of appeal and is empowered to adjudicate disputes between courts, determine the constitutionality of local and federal laws, investigate misconduct by high government officials, and hear offenses against the Federation.
   

Relationship Between the Three Branches

• The Federal Supreme Council (FSC), composed of the rulers of the seven emirates, is the highest legislative, executive, and constitutional authority in the land.
• The constitution provides for an independent judiciary.
• Judges are appointed by the President.

• Based on a dual system of Sharia and civil courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

Membership in International Organizations:

• United Nations (UN): December 9, 1971

• International Monetary Fund (IMF): September 22, 1972

• World Trade Organization (WTO): April 10, 1996

• Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC): November 27, 2000

• World Bank – International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD): September 22, 1972

• World Bank – International Finance Corporation (IFC): September 30, 1977

• World Bank – Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA): October 20, 1993

• World Bank – International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID): January 22, 1982

• ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO