|
The United Arab
Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates:
Abu Dhabi, Dubai,
Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ra's al-Khaimah and
Fujairah.
The federation was formally
established on 2 December 1971.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al
Nahyan was elected as President on 3 November 2004, following the
death of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who held the post from
the foundation of the State on 2 December 1971 until his death on 2
November 2004. The Supreme Council meets at five-year intervals to
reaffirm the existing President or elect a new one.
The term of elected office for
the Vice-President is also five years, and the post is presently
held by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was elected
following the death of his brother, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, in early 2006.
The federal system of government
includes:
The Supreme Council, made up of the
rulers of each emirate, is the top policy-making body in the state.
If a ruler cannot attend Supreme Council meetings he may delegate
his Crown Prince to take his seat.
Crown Princes and deputy rulers
attending meetings when their ruler is present have no formal role
in the Council.
The Council of Ministers or Cabinet
headed by the Prime Minister, is the executive authority for the
federation.
The 40-member Federal National Council
has both a legislative and supervisory role. Introduction of
indirect elections in December 2006 and the participation of 9 women
in the parliament is intended to be the first phase of a process
designed to enhance public participation and the role played by the
FNC in government. Other steps include a strengthening of the
legislative and legal powers of the FNC and the development of more
effective and more viable channels of coordination between the FNC
and the executive authorities, such as the Cabinet.
The Federal Judiciary, whose
independence is guaranteed by the Constitution, includes the Supreme
Court and the Courts of First Instance.
Each of the seven emirates has
its own
local government the complexity of
which differs according to the size and population of each emirate.
Each follows a general pattern of municipalities and departments.
The relationship between the
Federal and Local Governments is
laid down in the Constitution, and allows for a degree of
flexibility in the distribution of authority.
Traditional Government
still plays an important part in the government of the UAE, with the
institution of the majlis (or majalis) maintaining a
role in ensuring that the people have free access to their rulers.
Foreign Policy, the remit of the
UAE Federal Government, is derived from a set of guiding principles,
amongst which are a deep belief in the need for justice in
international dealings between states, including the necessity of
adhering to the principle of non-interference in the internal
affairs of others and the pursuit, whenever possible, of peaceful
resolution of disputes, together with support for international
institutions, such as the United Nations.
Disaster and development aid
is an important part of UAE foreign policy, through organisations
such as the
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development,
The Zayed Foundation,
Red Crescent Society.
List of UAE
government Ministries
Supreme Council Members
HH
President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi
HH
Vice-President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai
HH
Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah
HH
Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ra's al-Khaimah
HH
Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah
HH
Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Mu'alla, Ruler of Umm al-Qaiwain
HH
Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman
Crown Princes
HH
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Chairman
of Abu Dhabi Executive Council
HH
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of
Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council
HH
Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler
of Sharjah, Chairman of Sharjah Executive Council
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al
Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ra's al-Khaimah
HH
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah
HH
Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm al-Qaiwain
HH
Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman
Deputies of the Rulers
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Industry
HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler
of Dubai
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah
HH Sheikh Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of RaÕs al-Khaimah
HH Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Ra's al-Khaimah
HH Sheikh Hamad bin Saif Al Sharqi, Deputy Ruler of Fujairah
The Federal Supreme Council has
both legislative and executive powers. It ratifies federal laws and
decrees, plans general policy, approves the nomination of the Prime
Minister and accepts his resignation. It also relieves him of his
post on the recommendation of the President.
The Council of Ministers or
Cabinet, described in the Constitution as 'the executive authority'
for the Federation, includes the usual complement of ministerial
portfolios and is headed by a Prime Minister, chosen by the
President in consultation with his colleagues on the Supreme
Council. The Prime Minister, currently the Vice-President (although
this has not always been the case), then selects the ministers, who
may be drawn from any of the Federation's component emirates,
although, naturally, the more populous emirates have generally
provided more members of each Cabinet.
A 24-member Cabinet was appointed
on 11 February 2006, according to the proposal of Vice President HH
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who had been requested to
form a new Government following his accession as Ruler of Dubai and
election as Vice-President the previous month. This Cabinet was
reshuffled on 17 February 2008 to include a new portfolio for
foreign trade and the realignment of several ministries of state.
Members of the Cabinet
Prime Minister and Minister of Defence: Vice
President HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Deputy Prime Minister: HH Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Deputy Prime Minister: HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Finance: HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Minister of Interior: HH Lt Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Presidential Affairs: HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al
Nahyan
Minister of Foreign Affairs: HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research: Sheikh Nahyan
bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
Minister of Public Works: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
Minister of Foreign Trade: Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi
Minister of Cabinet Affairs: Mohammed Abdullah Al Gargawi
Minister of Energy: Mohammed bin Dha'en Al Hamili
Minister of Economy: Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri
Minister of Social Affairs: Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi
Minister of Education: Dr Hanif Hassan Ali
Minister of Health: Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami
Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development: Abdul Rahman
Mohammed Al Owais
Minister of Justice: Dr Hadef bin Jua'an Al Dhaheri
Minister of Environment and Water: Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad
Minister of Labour: Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs: Dr Mohammed Anwar Gargash
Minister of State for Financial Affairs: Obaid Humaid Al Tayer
Minister of State: Dr Maitha Salem Al Shamsi
Minister of State: Dr Khalifa Bakheet Al Falasi
Minister of State: Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimi
|
