Conventional long form : United Arab Emirates
Conventional short form: None
Local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
Local short form: None
Former: Trucial States
Abbreviation : UAE
| Data Code |
TC |
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| Government type: |
Federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates |
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| National capital: |
Abu Dhabi |
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| Administrative divisions: |
7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn |
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| Independence: |
2 December 1971 (from UK) |
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| National holiday: |
National Day, 2 December (1971) |
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| Constitution: |
2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996) |
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| Legal system: |
Federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ras al Khaymah have joined the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts |
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| Suffrage: |
None |
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| Executive branch: |
Chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 6 August 1966) and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai) head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai) and Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president note : there is also a Supreme Council of Rulers which is composed of the seven emirate rulers; the council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation, Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power; meets four times a year elections : president and vice president elected by the Supreme Council of Rulers (a group of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held NA October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan reelected president; percent of Supreme Council of Rulers vote - NA, but believed to be unanimous; MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum elected vice president; percent of Supreme Council of Rulers vote - NA, but believed to be unanimous |
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| Legislative branch: |
Unicameral Federal National Council or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states to serve two-year terms) elections: none note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto |
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| Judicial branch: |
Union Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president |
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| Political parties and leaders: |
None |
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
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| International organization participation: |
ABEDA, AFDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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| Flag description: |
Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side |
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