The federal government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE federal government or UAE government) is the national government of the United Arab Emirates, a unitary federation of seven self-governing emirates. The federal government is divided into a legislative, executive, and judicial branch. The executive branch namely, the Cabinet led by the prime minister, and the judicial branch, both report to the president. The Federal Supreme Council is the highest legislative body and is responsible for appointing the president.[1][2]
Article 120 of the UAE Constitution grants the federal government its mandate, and outlines its jurisdictions and balance of power with local governments.[3]
The UAE federal government was formed on 2 December 1971, when the rulers of five emirates, formerly part of the Trucial States established the United Arab Emirates. The Constitution established the federal government and outlined its mandates and jurisdictions in Article 120 and Article 121. As part of the balance of powers between the Emirates, federal ministries were allocated based on representation, with the Emirate of Dubai maintaining Defence, Finance and Economy and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi retaining six cabinet posts, including Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs. Although not required in the Constitution, by convention, the ruler of Abu Dhabi has always assumed the position of president and the ruler of Dubai always held the position of prime minister, except for the period between 1971-1979, when the crown prince of Dubai at the time, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, held the position while his father was the ruler of Dubai and vice president.[4]
The Federal Supreme Council is one of the five federal bodies described in the Constitution, and the highest constitutional authority of the federal government. The Council appoints the president, confirms the appointment of the prime minister, and approves or rejects federal laws. Membership of the Council consists of the rulers of each of the emirates, with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the Emirate of Dubai holding exclusive veto rights.[6]
The Federal National Council (the FNC) is one of the five federal bodies of the UAE, and is the consultative parliamentary organ of the federal government. The 40-member council consists of 20 members appointed by the rulers of each emirate, and the other 20 are voted by a selected electoral college. The FNC has authority to question federal ministers, review the federal budget, and provide suggestions to government bodies.[7][2]
The president holds wide-ranging powers including the authority to issue decrees for federal laws, consult with the prime minister on the appointment of federal ministers or heads of federal authorities and acts as supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. The president nominates the prime minister and judges for the Federal Supreme Court; as head of the Federal Supreme Council, the president can call meetings and set policy agendas in addition to exclusive authority over foreign affairs.[8]
The prime minister is the head of government and leads the Cabinet. The Cabinet interprets federal law and issues resolutions to federal ministries and agencies on how to enforce the laws. The federal government has 52 federal ministries and bodies under its supervision, who have varying jurisdiction based on agreements with local governments; federal bodies such as Emirates Post, and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority have national jurisdiction.[9]
The Constitution allows each emirate major autonomy on various aspects of local governance, and the right to request the federal government to manage some of those areas of autonomy.[10] Each emirate interprets federal law independently and has the right to issue its own guidelines and laws, and thus laws and procedures can differ greatly between various local governments. Each local government has its own ruler, and executive council which manages the day-to-day affairs of the emirate.[4]
Jurisdiction and scope of local governments vary widely between emirates, with the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi maintaining independent energy, education, judicial, and religious affairs departments, while others, such as the Emirate of Ajman maintaining only municipal and economic policy affairs, with other aspects such as energy and water management, religious affairs, and health delegated to the federal government.[11]
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