| 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 |
