| Country name: |
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 Oman, Trucial States
abbreviation:
UAE
|
| Government type: |
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
|
| 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
|
| Independence: |
2 December 1971 (from UK)
|
| National holiday: |
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
|
| Constitution: |
2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)
|
| Legal system: |
federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah have joined the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts
|
| 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); 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 Federal Supreme Council (FSC) 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 FSC (a group of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held NA October 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan reelected president; percent of FSC vote - NA, but believed to be unanimous; MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum elected vice president; percent of FSC vote - NA%, but believed to be unanimous
|
| 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
|
| Judicial branch: |
Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
|
| Political parties and leaders: |
none
|
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
|
| International organization participation: |
ABEDA, 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, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
|
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Asri Said Ahmad al-DHAHIRI
chancery:
Suite 700, 1255 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
[1] (202) 955-7999
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF
embassy:
Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi
mailing address:
P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch); note - work week is Saturday through Wednesday
telephone:
[971] (2) 4436691
FAX:
[971] (2) 4435441
consulate(s) general:
Dubai
|
| Flag description: |
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side
|
|
