Government

The United Arab Emirates is a Federal Sovereign State, comprised of seven Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khamimah. The Federation was established on December 2 1971 originally as six Emirates until Ras Al Khaimah joined in February 1972.

The highest federal authority in the UAE is the Supreme Council of the UAE which is comprised of the rulers of the seven emirates. Both the President and Vice President are elected by the Supreme Council from its members.

Under the provisional constitution, the federal authorities hold responsibility for foreign affairs, security and defense, nationality and immigration, education, public health, currency, postal, telephone and other telecom, air traffic control and licensing of aircraft, labor relations, banking, delimitation of territorial waters and extradition of criminals. Individual Emirates hold jurisdiction in all matters not assigned to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federation.

The federal government also includes a Council of Ministers (Cabinet), a Federal National Council and an independent judiciary presided over by the Federal Supreme Court. The Cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister who is appointed by the President with the consent of the members of the Supreme Council.

The Federal National Council (FNC) which consists of representatives of each Emirate is the Legislative Council with executive authority to initiate and implement laws. The Council is also responsible for monitoring the performance of the Federal Government and debating Government policy although it has no power of veto.

The FNC has 40 members drawn from each Emirate in proportion to its population. In addition to the federal government structure, each Emirate has its own local government arrangement which differ in size and scope. Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the largest Emirates have the most sophisticated local governments