
The United Arab Emirates' constitution, authored by the Palestinian-Jordanian judge, lawyer, and legal advisor Adi Al Bitar, came into effect on 2 December 1971 as a temporary constitution. It was permanently accepted in July 1996 and consists of 152 articles establishing the basis of the UAE and the rights of citizens in ten areas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the constitution came into effect | 2nd of December 1971 |
| Date the constitution was permanently accepted | July 1996 |
| Author | Adi Al Bitar |
| Number of Articles | 152 |
| Number of Parts | 10 |
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What You'll Learn
- The UAE Constitution was written by Adi Bitar, a Palestinian-Jordanian judge, legal advisor and lawyer
- It came into effect on 2nd December 1971 as a temporary constitution and was permanently accepted in July 1996
- The Constitution has 152 Articles and is written in 10 parts
- It lays down the relationship between the federal and local governments
- The Constitution provides the legal and political framework for the UAE's operation as a federation of seven emirates

The UAE Constitution was written by Adi Bitar, a Palestinian-Jordanian judge, legal advisor and lawyer
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Constitution came into effect on 2 December 1971 and was permanently accepted in July 1996. The UAE Constitution was written by Adi Bitar, a Palestinian-Jordanian judge, legal advisor, and lawyer. Bitar was also the Secretary-General of the Trucial States Council.
The Constitution of the United Arab Emirates provides a legal and political framework for the operation of the UAE as a federation of seven emirates. It is written in 10 parts and has 152 articles establishing the basis of the UAE and the rights of citizens in ten areas. These areas include the federation, its constituencies and principal aims, and the fundamental social and economic basis of the federation.
Article 1 of the Constitution establishes the United Arab Emirates as a federal, independent, and sovereign state consisting of the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah. The Constitution also lays down the relationship between the federal and local governments, with the emirates having jurisdiction in all matters not assigned to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federation.
The UAE celebrates the formation of the Union and the acceptance of the federal constitution as National Day on 2 December. This date also marks the anniversary of the historically independent kingdoms, the modern emirates that constitute the UAE, and the modern kingdoms of Qatar and Bahrain entering into a treaty with the United Kingdom in 1853 and agreeing to a Perpetual Maritime Truce.
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It came into effect on 2nd December 1971 as a temporary constitution and was permanently accepted in July 1996
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Constitution came into effect on 2nd December 1971 as a temporary constitution. It was written by Adi Bitar, a Palestinian-Jordanian judge, legal advisor and lawyer. Bitar was born in Jerusalem in 1924 and worked across the Middle East. He graduated from the Jerusalem Law Classes in 1948 and was registered as a lawyer in 1949. He worked in Sudan as a judge before returning to Jerusalem to establish his own law firm in 1959.
The UAE Constitution was permanently accepted in July 1996. It consists of 152 articles establishing the basis of the UAE and the rights of citizens in ten areas. These areas include the federation, its constituencies, and its principal aims, as well as the fundamental social and economic basis of the federation. The Constitution also covers the allocation of legislative, executive, and international jurisdiction between the federation and the emirates.
The Constitution provides a legal and political framework for the operation of the UAE as a federation of seven emirates. It explains the main rules of the political and constitutional organisation of the country and demonstrates the main purpose of the establishment of the federation and its objectives at the local and regional levels. The Constitution lays down the relationship between the federal and local governments, with the federal authorities consisting of the Federal Supreme Council, the UAE President and Vice President, the UAE Council of Ministers, the Federal National Council, and the Federal Judiciary.
Articles 46 to 109 of the Constitution state provisions relating to the roles, responsibilities, and powers of the federal authorities. The Constitution is flexible and allows the emirates to exercise authority in certain matters. It also provides for amendments in its tenth part - final and transitional provisions. The UAE celebrates the formation of the Union and the acceptance of the federal constitution as National Day on 2nd December.
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The Constitution has 152 Articles and is written in 10 parts
The Constitution of the United Arab Emirates came into effect on 2 December 1971 and was permanently accepted in July 1996. It was authored by Adi Bitar, a former judge and legal advisor. The Constitution is divided into 10 parts and contains 152 Articles that establish the foundation of the UAE and the rights of its citizens.
The 10 parts of the Constitution cover the following areas:
- The Federation: This part includes Article 1, which establishes the United Arab Emirates as a federal, independent, and sovereign state consisting of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah.
- Constituencies and Principal Aims: This part likely outlines the structure and objectives of the federal government, including the roles and responsibilities of different branches.
- Fundamental Social and Economic Basis of the Federation: This part addresses the social and economic pillars of the federation, including the free movement of capital and goods between emirates, and the abolition of inter-emirate taxes and duties.
- Legislative, Executive, and International Jurisdiction: This part delineates the allocation of powers and responsibilities between the federal and local governments, including the roles of federal authorities and the emirates' jurisdiction in matters not exclusively under federal control.
- Security and Defence: This part likely covers the provisions for armed forces and security matters, including the maintenance of security and order within the territories of each emirate.
- Financial Affairs: This part deals with the financial and economic aspects of the federation, such as fiscal policies and inter-emirate trade agreements.
- Public Rights, Responsibilities, and Freedoms: This part outlines the rights and freedoms guaranteed to the citizens of the UAE, as well as their responsibilities towards the state.
- Amendments and Revisions: This part provides a framework for amending the Constitution, including the processes and requirements for making changes to the document.
- Transitional Provisions: This part likely outlines the steps and timeline for implementing the Constitution and transitioning from any previous legal frameworks.
- Final Provisions: This part may include any additional information or concluding statements, such as the date of enactment and any signatures or endorsements required to finalise the document.
The Constitution of the United Arab Emirates serves as the legal and political framework for the country, providing a basis for federal rule and outlining the relationship between the federal and local governments. It is a comprehensive document that guides the functioning of the UAE as a modern and independent nation.
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It lays down the relationship between the federal and local governments
The United Arab Emirates UAE Constitution was written by Adi Bitar, a Palestinian-Jordanian judge, legal advisor and lawyer. It came into effect on 2 December 1971 as a temporary constitution and was permanently accepted in July 1996. The Constitution is written in 10 parts and has 152 Articles.
The UAE Constitution lays down the relationship between the federal and local governments. Articles 46 to 109 of the Constitution state provisions relating to the roles, responsibilities and powers of the federal authorities. The Constitution explains the main rules of the political and constitutional organisation of the country, including the federation's objectives at the local and regional levels.
Article 122 provides that the emirates shall have jurisdiction in all matters not assigned to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federation. Article 123 states that the member emirates of the federation may conclude limited agreements of a local and administrative nature with neighbouring states or regions, provided that such agreements do not conflict with the interests of the federation or federal laws.
Article 124 provides that the federal authorities must seek the opinion of the relevant emirate before concluding any international treaty or agreement that may affect that emirate. In the case of a difference of opinion, the matter shall be referred to the Federal Supreme Court for a decision.
The Constitution also provides for the establishment of the Federal Supreme Council, which is the highest authority in the UAE. The Council consists of the Rulers of all the Emirates and is responsible for undertaking various tasks, including drawing up the general policy in all matters assigned to the UAE by the Constitution and ratifying federal laws and decrees. The Council also approves the appointment and removal of the Prime Minister, President and Judges of the Federal Supreme Court.
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The Constitution provides the legal and political framework for the UAE's operation as a federation of seven emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Constitution came into effect on 2 December 1971 and was permanently accepted in July 1996. The Constitution, authored by Adi Bitar, a judge and legal advisor, is written in 10 parts and has 152 Articles. It provides the legal and political framework for the UAE's operation as a federation of seven emirates.
The UAE Constitution establishes the basis of the UAE and the rights of its citizens in ten areas. These areas include the federation, its constituencies and principal aims, and the fundamental social and economic basis of the federation. The Constitution also lays down the relationship between the federal and local governments. For example, Article 122 provides that the emirates shall have jurisdiction in all matters not assigned to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federation. Article 123 states that member emirates may conclude limited agreements with neighbouring states or regions, provided that such agreements do not conflict with the interests of the federation or federal laws.
The Constitution also explains the main rules of the political and constitutional organisation of the country. It demonstrates the main purpose of the establishment of the federation and its objectives at the local and regional levels. It elaborates on the major social and economic pillars of the federation and stresses the public rights, responsibilities and freedoms. It also explains federal authorities and federal legislation, as well as details about other areas such as financial affairs, provisions for armed and security forces, and legislative, executive and international matters.
Articles 46 to 109 of the Constitution state further provisions relating to the roles, responsibilities and powers of the federal authorities. The Constitution is flexible and allows the emirates to exercise authority in certain matters. Article 116 provides that the emirates shall exercise all powers not assigned to the federation by the Constitution. Article 117 provides that governance in each emirate shall aim to maintain security and order within its territories, provide public utilities for its inhabitants, and raise social and economic standards.
The UAE Constitution also outlines the objectives of the UAE. These include maintaining the UAE's independence and sovereignty, safeguarding the UAE's security and stability, repelling any aggression against the UAE or its member states, protecting the rights and freedoms of the people of the UAE, and establishing close cooperation among the Emirates for their common interests.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of the United Arab Emirates was written in 1971 and came into effect on 2 December of that year. It was initially a temporary constitution but was made permanent in July 1996.
The UAE Constitution was authored by Adi Bitar, a Palestinian-Jordanian judge, legal advisor and lawyer.
The UAE Constitution provides a legal and political framework for the operation of the United Arab Emirates as a federation of seven emirates. It has 152 articles establishing the basis of the UAE and the rights of citizens in ten areas.

























