UAE Political System: Leaders, Structure, and Reforms
HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Was elected President of the United Arab Emirates on 3 November 2004, succeeding his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Political System
- Since the establishment of the Federation in 1971, the seven emirates have forged a distinct national identity through consolidation of their federal status and enjoy a desirable degree of political stability.
- The political system of the UAE enables the country to develop a modern administrative structure while, at the same time, ensuring that the best of the traditions of the past are maintained, adapted, and preserved.
- In 2007, major steps were taken, both at a federal and at a local level, in terms of reforming the structure of government.
- These steps are designed both to make it more responsive to the needs of the country’s population and to ensure that it is better equipped to cope with the challenges of development in a manner that is in keeping with current best practices in administration and the delivery of services, as well as being more cost-effective.
- The process has been directed, at a federal level, by the country’s President, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- It has been devised and guided at an executive level by the Vice President and Prime Minister, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has also overseen reforms in Dubai.
- Similar programs have been launched in other member emirates of the federation, in particular by its largest component, Abu Dhabi, again directed by HH Sheikh Khalifa, as Ruler of Abu Dhabi,
- and implemented by the Crown Prince and Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
UAE Cabinet Members
- The most important development during 2007 was the formal launching, early in the year, of a UAE Government Strategy for the years ahead.
- Covering 21 individual topics, in the six sectors of social development, economic development, public sector development, justice and safety, infrastructure and rural areas development, the strategy is based upon the National Program unveiled by President HH Sheikh Khalifa in December 2005.
Drawn up after extensive consultation between the federal ministries, as well as other bodies, the strategy was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
- A key focus of the strategy is the maintaining of continuous cooperation between federal and local authorities.
- HH Sheikh Mohammed noting that ‘Creating synergy between the federal and local governments is one of the most important vital elements of development’ in the strategy.
Other General Principles Include:
- Revitalization of the regulatory
- Policy-making role of the ministries
- Improvement of their decision-making mechanisms,
- Increasing of the efficiency of governmental bodies
- Upgrading of the level of the services provided in accordance with customer needs.
Other Principles Include:
- An improvement of the civil service, based on competence, effective Emiratisation, and leadership training
- Empowering the ministries, in accordance with public policies and reviewing and upgrading of existing legislation.
Abu Dhabi Government Policy Agenda
- In August, the Abu Dhabi government announced its own policy agenda for 2007 and 2008.
- The agenda included 18 independent policy statements providing details of plans in areas such as:
- Planning and economy, energy, tourism, health, education, labor, civil services, culture and heritage, food control, urban planning, transport, environment, health and safety, municipal affairs, police and emergency services, electronic government, women, and legislative reform.
In Short:
The most important development during 2007 was the formal launching of a UAE Government Strategy for the years ahead, based on the National Programme unveiled by Sheikh Khalifa in December 2005.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan commented:
“For the people of Abu Dhabi, the publication of a comprehensive policy agenda will provide unprecedented understanding of the priorities and plans of the government. For the private sector, the initiatives outlined in this agenda represent huge opportunities to operate in new sectors that were previously the traditional realm of the government. For citizens and residents, the policy agenda signals a new era in accountability, transparency, and government performance.”
The Agenda is Expected To:
- Enhance the spirit of teamwork among government departments,
- Improving government performance
- Improving the quality of services delivered to residents of the emirate,
- Strengthening Abu Dhabi’s ability to attract inward investment.
- The process of administrative reform got under way in late 2004, following the election of HH Sheikh Khalifa as President, with a restructuring of the government of Abu Dhabi.
- Following the election of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid as Vice President and his appointment as UAE Prime Minister in early 2006, after his succession as Ruler of Dubai, the process was then rolled out throughout the country.
Federal National Council (FNC)
- One initial step was designed to enhance public participation in government, through the introduction of indirect elections to the country’s parliament, the Federal National Council (FNC).
- The changes were first announced by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his statement on National Day, 2 December 2005.
- Formerly the 40 members of the FNC, drawn from each of the seven emirates on the basis of their population, were appointed by the rulers.
- Under the new reforms, each ruler selected an Electoral College for his emirate, with its members amounting to at least 100 times the number of FNC members for the emirate,- (eight each for Abu Dhabi and Dubai, six each for Sharjah and Ra’s al-Khaimah, and four each for Fujairah, Ajman and Umm al Qaiwain).
- The Colleges were then given the responsibility of electing half of the FNC members for their emirate, with the remaining half being appointed by the ruler.
FNC’s Functions
- Discussing constitutional amendments and draft laws, which may be approved, amended, or rejected.
- Reviewing the annual draft budget of the federation.
- Debating international treaties and conventions.
- Influencing the Government’s work through the channels of discussion, question and answer sessions, recommendations and following up on complaints.
New Wave of Change
- In December 2005, President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa called for a greater role for the FNC,
- the ultimate objective being to increase participation and ‘to entrench the rule of law and due process, accountability, transparency and equal opportunity…’
- The political modernization process was envisaged in three stages:
- First, conduct elections to elect half the FNC members through an Electoral College;
- Second expand the powers of the FNC and increase the number of FNC members, which would require extensive constitutional studies and possible modifications, at the end of which the political institution would be a more enabled body;
- An open election for half the Council.
Federal National Council (FNC)
- A National Electoral Committee was established in August 2006, headed by the Minister of State for FNC Affairs.
- The selection of the Electoral Colleges was completed by the autumn, with active campaigns then being commenced by those members who sought to win election to the Council.
- The elections themselves, late in the year, saw a respectably high turnout, with one woman being among the successful candidates.
- The remaining seats for each emirate had been filled by nomination from the rulers, the new Federal National Council had nine women amongst its 40 members, representing 22.5 per cent of the total
- It is an indication of the way in which the UAE’s women are expanding their participation in all levels of government and political society.
- The system of indirect elections now in operation is perceived as being only a first stage in the reforming of the FNC’s role in government.
- Other steps planned for the future 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, like the Cabinet.
- An expansion of the number of FNC members, to reflect the increase in the number of the country’s citizens, now many times larger than it was when the UAE was founded in 1971.
- Consideration is also being given to the introduction of an electoral process at local level, although no timetable has yet been announced for this.
“. . . we are still committed to the promise that we had earlier made to develop the UAE’s political experiment and widen the participation of Emiratis in public life and enhance the FNC’s role as a supervisory authority. We also long for a real and effective participation from the FNC in supporting the government and its policies . . .”
SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM AT THE OPENING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE FOURTEENTH LEGISLATIVE CHAPTER OF THE FNC.
- The member emirates of the UAE were known until 1971 as the Trucial States,
- each having had separate treaty relationships with Britain.
- The federal state is officially entitled Dawlat al Imarat al Arabiyya al Muttahida (State of the United Arab Emirates).
Philosophy Behind the UAE
The philosophy behind the UAE was explained in a statement that was released on 2 December 1971 as the new state was formally established:
- The United Arab Emirates has been established as an independent state possessing sovereignty.
- It is part of the greater Arab nation.
- Its aim is to maintain its independence, its sovereignty, its security and its stability, in defense against any attack on its entity or on the entity of any of its member Emirates.
- It also seeks to protect the freedoms and rights of its people and to achieve trustworthy co-operation between the Emirates for the common good.
- To work for the sake of the progress of the country in all fields, for the sake of providing a better life for its citizens, to give assistance and support to Arab causes and interests, and to support the charter of the United Nations and international morals.
- Each of the component emirates already had its own existing institutions of government prior to 1971 and, to provide for the effective governing of the new state
- the rulers agreed to draw up a provisional Constitution specifying the powers that were to be allocated to the new federal institutions, all others remaining the prerogative of the emirates.
Areas of responsibility assigned to the federal authorities, under Articles 120 and 121 of the Constitution, were
- Foreign affairs, security and defense, nationality and immigration issues, education, public health, currency, postal, telephone and other communications services, air traffic control and licensing of aircraft, in addition to a number of other topics specifically prescribed, including labour relations, banking, delimitation of territorial waters and extradition of criminals.
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 Soud bin 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 the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
- HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council
- HE Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council
- HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ra’s al-Khaimah
- HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah
- HE Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Crown Prince of Umm al-Qaiwain.
- HE Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman
Local Government
- Each of the emirates also has its own local government.
- The largest and most populous emirate, Abu Dhabi, has its own central governing organ, the Executive Council, chaired by the Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Under which there are a number of separate departments, equivalent to ministries
- A number of autonomous agencies, such as
– Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD),
– Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)
– Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH)
– Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD)
The emirate is divided into two regions,
the Western Region and the Eastern Region, headed by Ruler’s Representatives.
The main cities, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, are administered by municipalities, each of which has a nominated municipal council, these coming under the Department of Municipal Affairs, while a new municipal authority has been created for the Western Region.
Dubai Executive Council
- The Dubai Executive Council, established in 2003, has similar functions for the UAE’s second-largest emirate.
- In late 2006, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was appointed as the Council’s new Chairman,
- it has overseen a drive by local departments to improve their efficiency and the coordination between their various activities, as well as efforts to upgrade the level of services offered to the public.
- It is also responsible for assisting the Ruler, Vice President and Prime Minister, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, in preparation of development plans for the emirate and in formulation and implementation of both federal and local legislation.
- Key developments over the course of the last year have included a restructuring of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and of the Land Department, both key players in the management of the emirate’s rapid development
Sharjah and Ajman
- Sharjah and Ajman also have Executive Councils, and Sharjah has a Consultative Council that covers the whole emirate.
- Sharjah, with three enclaves on the country’s East Coast, has adopted the practice of devolving some authority on a local basis, with branches of the Sharjah Emiri Diwan (Court), headed by deputy chairmen, in both Kalba and Khor Fakkan.
- A similar pattern of municipalities, departments and autonomous agencies can be found in each of the other emirates.
- In smaller or more remote settlements, the ruler of each emirate may choose a local representative, an emir or wali, to act as a conduit through which the concerns of inhabitants may be directed to government.
- In most cases, these are the leading local tribal figures, whose authority derives both from their fellow tribesmen and from the confidence placed in them by the ruler, an example of the way in which leaders within the traditional system have become involved with, and lend legitimacy to, the new structures of government.
Federal and Local Government
- The powers of the various federal institutions and their relationship with the separate local institutions have evolved and changed since the establishment of the state.
- Under the terms of the Constitution, rulers may relinquish certain areas of authority to the Federal Government, one significant such decision being that to unify the armed forces in the mid-1970s.
- The relationship between the federal and local systems of government continues to evolve.
- These new systems of government have not, however, replaced the traditional forms which coexist and evolve alongside them.