United Arab Emirates is an Asian country located on the shores of the Persian Gulf, and Gulf of Oman, sharing a border with Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The population of this country is approx 1,10,27,000 with 83,600 square kilometers area. Only 11.6% of the total population are natural citizens of the United Arab Emirates, the rest are all foreigners. Notable among them are 38% Indian, 10% Egyptian, 9% Bangladeshi, 9% Pakistani, 6% Filipino, etc. The official language is Arabic, but in practice both Arabic and English are spoken equally. 63% Sunni Muslims, 6% Shia Muslims, 12% Christians, 6% Hindus, 3% Buddhists, and followers of other religions live in this country.
The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the United Arab Emirates cannot practice any commercial or financial activity while in office, nor can they enter into any commercial transactions with the government.
These are positive aspects. Now let's discuss the negative aspects.
Democracy is a rare thing in the Middle East, and it's the same here. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federal constitutional monarchy composed of a federation of seven hereditary monarchies. The country is governed by a Federal Supreme Council, which consists of the rulers (Sheikhs) of each emirate. The Council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE, and it elects the President and Vice President from among its members. The President holds significant executive authority, including the appointment of the Prime Minister, and ratifying laws. The Federal National Council is a consultative parliamentary body composed of 40 members. Half of the members are elected by an electoral college, while the other half are appointed by the rulers of the emirates. The FNC reviews and provides recommendations on federal laws, discusses the budget, and questions ministers, but it does not have full legislative authority.
Admirable Articles of United Arab Emirates's Constitution
Article 17
Education is a fundamental factor for the progress of the society. Education is mandatory in its primary stage and is free of charge at all stages in the UAE. The law lays down the necessary plans for disseminating and spreading everywhere all levels of education and for eradicating illiteracy.
Article 21
Private property is protected and the restrictions against it shall be specified by law. A person may not be deprived of his/her private property except in such circumstances as may be dictated by the public interest, in accordance with the provisions of law, and for equitable consideration.
Article 22
Public property is inviolable. Every citizen has the duty of protecting public property. The law specifies the cases in which violating that duty is punishable.
Article 23
The natural resources and wealth in each Emirate are deemed the public property of that Emirate. The community shall preserve and utilize in a good way those resources and wealth for the interest of the national economy.
Article 25
All persons are equal in law. There shall be no distinction among the citizens of the UAE on the basis of race, nationality, faith or social status.
Article 27
Crimes and punishments shall be defined by the law. A person may not be punished for an act or omission committed before the relevant law is promulgated.
Article 28
Penalty is personal. An accused is presumed innocent until proved guilty in a legal and fair trial.
An accused person has the right to appoint as his/her attorney at law anyone who is capable to defend him/her in trial.
The law specifies the cases where a counsel for defense must represent an accused person.
An accused person may not be physically or morally harmed.
Article 30
Freedom of opinion and of expressing that opinion verbally, in writing, or by any other medium of expression is guaranteed as provided in law.
Article 35
The door for holding a public office is open to all citizens on the basis of equal conditions and in accordance with the provisions of the law.
A public office is a national service entrusted to the person who holds that office. A public servant shall, while performing his/her duties, seek to achieve only the public interest.
Article 39
Public confiscation of property is prohibited. A person’s private property may not be confiscated except by court judgment and in such cases as may be provided in law.
Article 62
While in office, the Prime Minister, the Deputies of the Prime Minister, or any Minister of the UAE may not practice any professional, commercial or financial activity or enter into any commercial transactions with the Government of the UAE or the Governments of the Emirates or holds, besides his office, more than one official post in the Government of an Emirate.
Facts of United Arab Emirates's Constitution
Preamble (Part of it)
WE, the Rulers of the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Um AI Quwain and Fujairah,
Desiring to create closer links among themselves in the form of an independent sovereign federal state capable of protecting its existence and the existence of its members and cooperating with the sister Arab states and with all other friendly member states of the United Nations Organization and of the community of nations, in general, on the basis of mutual respect and exchange of interests and benefits;
Desiring also to lay the foundation for federal rule in the coming years on a sound basis that reflects the reality and the capacity of the Emirates at the present time, enables the Federation to achieve its objectives, safeguards the identity of its members in a way consistent with these objectives and, at the same time, prepares the people of the Federation for a dignified and free constitutional life while going ahead towards a full-fledged representative democratic regime in an Islamic and Arab community free of fear and anxiety; and
Announce to Allah, the Supreme and Almighty, and to all the people our approval of the Constitution undersigned by us.
May Allah, the best Protector and Defender, grant us success.
Article 7
Islam is the official religion of the UAE. The Islamic Shari’a is a main source of legislation in the UAE. The official language of the UAE is Arabic.
Article 12
The foreign policy of the UAE shall be directed towards supporting the Arab and Islamic causes and interests and towards establishing closer friendship and co-operation with all the nations and peoples on the basis of the principles of the charter of the United Nations Organization and international ideals.
Article 32
Freedom to exercise religious worship is guaranteed in accordance with the generally-accepted traditions provided that such freedom is consistent with the public policy or does not violate the public morals.
Article 46
The Federal Supreme Council is the highest authority in the UAE. The Federal Supreme Council consists of the Rulers of all the member Emirates of the UAE; In case of a Ruler’s absence or when it is not possible for a Ruler to attend, the acting Ruler in the Emirate substitutes the Ruler in the Federal Supreme Council.
An Emirate has a single vote in the deliberations of the Council.
Article 47 (Part of it)
The Federal Supreme Council has the following powers:
1. Draw up the general policy in all the matters vested in the UAE by the Constitution and consider anything that may achieve the goals of the UAE and the common interest of the member Emirates.
2. Sanction the federal laws before they are promulgated including the Annual General Budget Act and the Closing Account Act.
3. Sanction the decrees relating to the matters which, under the provisions of the Constitution, must be sanctioned or approved by the Supreme Council before these decrees are promulgated by the President of the UAE.
4. Sanction, by decree, the international treaties and conventions.
5. Upon a proposal by the President of the UAE, approve the appointment of the Prime Minister of the UAE, accept his resignation, and remove him from office.
6. Approve the appointment and accept the resignation and, in the cases provided in the Constitution, the dismissal of the President and Judges of the Federal Supreme Court. In all cases, a decree is issued.
7. Exercise high oversight over the UAE’s affairs, in general.
8. Assume such responsibilities as may be provided in the Constitution or in the federal laws.
Article 51
The Federal Supreme Council elects from among its members a President and a Vice President. The Vice President exercises all the powers of the President in the event of the President’s absence for any reason.
Article 52
The term of office of the President and the Vice President is five years according to the Gregorian calendar and may be re-elected for the same office.
The President and the Vice President takes, on assuming office, the following oath before the Supreme Council
“I swear by Allah, the Great, that I shall be faithful to the United Arab Emirates; respect its Constitution and laws; protect the interests of the people of the UAE; discharge my duties honestly and faithfully, and safeguard the independence of the UAE and its territorial integrity.”
Article 54 (Part of it)
The President of the UAE has the following powers:
● Preside over the Supreme Council and direct its discussions.
● Convene and dismiss the Supreme Council as may be provided in the rules of procedure specified by the Council in its by-law. The Council must be convened if a member of the Council so requests.
● Sign and promulgate the federal laws, decrees and decisions sanctioned by the Supreme Council.
● Subject to the approval of the Supreme Council, appoint the Prime Minister, accept his resignation, and relieve him from office; and, upon the proposal of the Prime Minister of the UAE, appoint the Deputy Prime Ministers and the ministers, accept their resignation, and relieve them from office.
Article 70
For a person to be a member of the FNC, that person must:
1. Be a citizen of an Emirate of the UAE, and resides permanently in the Emirate which that person represents in the FNC.
2. Be, when selected, not less than twenty-five years of age according to Gregorian calendar.
3. Has civil capacity, is known for good manners and reputation, and has not previously been convicted of an offence against honor unless he has been rehabilitated in accordance with the law.
4. Has adequate knowledge of reading and writing.
Article 89
Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 110, federal bills, including financial bills, are presented to the FNC and, then, sent to the President of the UAE who forward them for approval to the Supreme Council. The FNC discusses the bills brought before it and may approve, amend, or reject them.
