Eleanor Finch
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven monarchies, including Dubai, each with its own ruler. The UAE is a constitutional federation with a federal presidential system. The ruler of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE and is considered a constitutional monarch. The UAE's constitution, which came into effect in 1971, establishes the positions of president, vice president, prime minister, and a Federal Supreme Council, among others. The UAE is considered an authoritarian state, with a political system that mixes traditional and modern rule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of government | Federation of seven absolute hereditary monarchies, also known as a constitutional federation |
| Number of Emirates | 7 |
| Emirate members | Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwain |
| Constitution | 152 articles establishing the basis of the UAE and the rights of citizens in ten areas |
| Constitution came into effect | 2nd December 1971 |
| Permanently accepted | May 1996 |
| Legislative Branch | Federal National Council |
| Number of members in the Legislative Branch | 40 |
| Members appointed by rulers of the constituent states | 20 |
| Members elected to serve four-year terms | 20 |
| Judicial Branch | Constitutionally independent judiciary |
| Executive Branch | President, Vice Presidents, Prime Minister, Federal Supreme Council, Council of Ministers (Cabinet) |
| Current President of the UAE | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
| Current Prime Minister and Vice President | Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
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What You'll Learn
Dubai is a constitutional monarchy within the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven monarchies: the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. The UAE is a constitutional federation with a federal presidential system. The Constitution of the UAE, which came into effect on 2 December 1971, was permanently accepted in May 1996. It has 152 articles establishing the basis of the UAE and the rights of citizens in ten areas.
The UAE is a unique political system, neither a constitutional monarchy nor a republic, but a federation with specified powers delegated to the federal government and other powers reserved for the member Emirates. Each Emirate is ruled by its own individual hereditary monarch, known as an Emir. The Emir of Abu Dhabi is the President and Head of State of the UAE, while the Emir of Dubai is the Prime Minister and Head of Government. The Federal Supreme Council consists of the rulers of all seven Emirates, and in theory, this council elects the President and Prime Minister to serve five-year terms. However, in practice, the president and prime minister are always the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively.
The UAE's political system is based on the Constitution, which mixes aspects of traditional and modern rule. It provides for a loosely bound federation in practice, with the Emirates having considerable administrative autonomy within themselves. The Constitution establishes the positions of president, vice president, prime minister, Federal Supreme Council, and a council of ministers known as the cabinet. The Federal Supreme Council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE and consists of the seven Emirate rulers. The president and vice president are elected by the FSC for a five-year term.
The UAE has been described as a "tribal autocracy" where the seven constituent monarchies are led by tribal rulers in an autocratic fashion. The relative prestige and financial influence of each emirate are 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 the president of the UAE. The ruler of Dubai, which is the UAE's commercial centre and a former oil producer, is the vice president and prime minister.
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The UAE is a federation of seven monarchies
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven constituent monarchies, or emirates, each with its own ruler. These seven emirates are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. The federation was formed in 1971 when the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai agreed to unite their two emirates and invite the rulers of five other emirates to join them. The seventh emirate, Ras al-Kaimah, joined the union in early 1972.
The UAE is a federal, presidential, absolute monarchy, with a constitution that came into effect in 1971. The ruler of Abu Dhabi is the President and Head of State of the UAE, while the ruler of Dubai is the Prime Minister and Head of Government. The Federal Supreme Council, which consists of the rulers of all seven emirates, elects the President and Prime Minister to serve five-year terms. However, in practice, the president and prime minister are always the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively.
The constitution of the UAE establishes the positions of the president, vice president, and prime minister, as well as the Federal Supreme Council, a 40-member National Assembly (known as the Federal National Council), and an independent judiciary, including the Federal Supreme Court. The constitution also separates powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches, with legislative and executive powers divided into federal and emirate jurisdictions. While the federal government maintains control over foreign affairs, security, defense, education, public health, and communications policy, each emirate has considerable administrative autonomy and powers, including control over mineral rights and revenues from oil.
The UAE's political system has evolved over time, with reforms enacted in 1976 that led to further centralization and an increase in federal powers. The UAE government has also indicated support for strengthening the legal and legislative authority of the Federal National Council. The country has enjoyed stability since its independence, and its foreign policy is based on the belief in justice and non-interference in international dealings.
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The ruler of Dubai is the Prime Minister of the UAE
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federal, presidential, absolute monarchy composed of seven emirates, each with its own monarch. The UAE is a constitutional federation with a political system based on its Constitution, which came into effect on 2 December 1971 and was permanently accepted in May 1996.
The UAE's Constitution establishes the basis of the country and the rights of its citizens in ten areas, including the federation, its constituencies, and principal aims, as well as the fundamental social and economic basis of the federation. The Constitution also outlines the allocation of legislative, executive, and international jurisdiction between the federation and the emirates.
According to tradition, the ruler of Abu Dhabi is the President and Head of State of the UAE, while the ruler of Dubai is the Prime Minister and Head of Government. The current ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the UAE is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who ascended to these roles in 2006 following the death of his brother, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Mohammed is also the Vice President of the UAE.
The Federal Supreme Council, composed of the rulers of all seven emirates, is responsible for electing the President and Prime Minister to serve five-year terms. However, in practice, the President and Prime Minister are always the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively. The UAE's political system is characterized as authoritarian, with no democratic institutions and a prohibition on internal dissent.
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The UAE constitution gives Dubai administrative autonomy
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federal, presidential, elective constitutional monarchy, composed of seven emirates, including Dubai. The UAE's constitution, which was permanently adopted in July 1996, establishes the basis of the federation and the rights of its citizens. It outlines the political and constitutional organisation of the country, including the federation's fundamental social and economic basis, and the allocation of legislative, executive, and international jurisdiction between the federation and the emirates.
The UAE's constitution provides for a decentralised federation, with each emirate retaining substantial autonomy in governance. Dubai, as one of the seven emirates, enjoys administrative autonomy within the federation. This means that Dubai has the authority to manage its internal affairs, with certain exceptions that fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the federation. The emirates are responsible for maintaining security and order within their territories, providing public utilities, and raising social and economic standards. They also have control over mineral rights and revenues, particularly in the oil industry.
The relationship between the federal government and the emirates is laid out in the constitution. Articles 120 and 121 outline issues that are under the jurisdiction of the respective emirates, while Articles 122 and 123 emphasise the emirates' authority in all matters not explicitly assigned to the federation. Additionally, Article 124 stipulates that the federal authorities must consult the emirates before concluding any international treaties that may affect them.
Dubai's ruler, a position currently held by a member of the Al Maktoum clan, is also the prime minister and head of the government of the UAE. The emirates, including Dubai, have their own executive councils, departments, and autonomous agencies, reflecting the federal ministries and structure. This allows Dubai to independently govern and manage various aspects of its administration, such as the environment, tourism, culture, and health.
While the UAE has worked towards strengthening its federal institutions since gaining independence in 1971, the pace of integration has slowed in recent years due to the considerable autonomy retained by each emirate. The constitution's flexibility has allowed for a compromise between centralisation and individual autonomy, resulting in a loosely bound federation.
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Dubai does not belong to the national judiciary
Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a federal, presidential, absolute monarchy composed of seven emirates, each of which maintains the right to choose between participating in the Federal Judiciary or maintaining its own local judicial system. Dubai is one of the three emirates, along with Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, that have their own local court systems.
The UAE's constitution, which came into effect on 2 December 1971, establishes the basis of the country and the rights of its citizens. It is comprised of 152 articles, which outline the federation, its constituencies, and its principal aims, among other things. The UAE's constitution also stipulates that the Federal Judiciary is one of the five federal authorities of the UAE government, with the Federal Supreme Court as the highest judicial authority in the country. However, the Federal Supreme Court does not have jurisdiction over local matters in emirates with independent judiciaries, such as Dubai.
Dubai's court system consists of three stages: The Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Cassation. The Court of First Instance considers cases, authentications, and all urgent matters related to disputes among the people, as well as the safeguard of their rights, security, and safety. It also undertakes forcible judicial execution as stipulated by law.
The UAE adopts a dual legal system of civil and Sharia laws, with the recent inclusion of common law as practised in Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (DIFC). The principles of the UAE's laws are primarily derived from Islamic Sharia, with most codified legislations being a mixture of Islamic laws and other civil laws, such as Egyptian and French civil laws.
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Frequently asked questions
Dubai is a monarchy, but it is not a constitutional monarchy. Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE is a constitutional federation, or a federal presidential elective constitutional monarchy.
A constitutional federation is a political system where a written constitution defines the powers of the central authority and the regional authorities. In the case of the UAE, the constitution establishes the positions of president, vice president, prime minister, and the Federal Supreme Council. The constitution also outlines the rights of citizens.
The ruler of Dubai is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE. The ruler of Dubai is also the head of the government and the head of the cabinet. The UAE constitution requires that issues be decided with a majority vote, with substantive issues requiring a two-thirds majority that must include Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The seven emirates are ruled by their own individual monarchs, or Emirs, who have considerable administrative autonomy. The emirates have their own secular and Islamic laws for civil, criminal, and high courts.
