A Successful Federation

Since 1971, the UAE has enjoyed remarkable political stability

When seven desert emirates along the Arabian Gulf announced in 1971 that they were forming a political federation, few observers believed it would last for long, and history was on the side of the doubters. Past attempts at unification or federation in the Arab world, such as the brief union between Egypt and Syria, had failed miserably.

But today, 36 years later, the United Arab Emirates is not only alive and well, but setting new standards of excellence for the region.

The world is well aware of the UAE’s economic success. Equally impressive is the remarkable political stability that has been achieved by the world’s most successful federation, one composed of seven distinct emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ra’s al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Qaiwain.

The UAE’s “founding father,” H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1968 when Great Britain announced its intention to withdraw from the Arabian Gulf by 1971. Sheikh Zayed took the lead in calling for a federation of the seven emirates which, under the British protectorate, had been known as the Trucial States. In December 1971, the United Arab Emirates was born.

Sheikh Zayed became the UAE’s first President, a position he was reelected to every five years until his death in 2004, and H.H. Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai became the Vice President. Over the years, Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Rashid, and the rulers of the other five emirates forged a new nation – one based on a constitution with a federal structure that allowed for significant local-level autonomy.

Under the UAE’s constitution, the President and Vice President are elected for five-year terms by the Supreme Council, which is composed of the Rulers of each of the seven emirates.

Upon H.H. Sheikh Zayed’s death, his son, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was elected President of the UAE. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai, was elected Vice President and Prime Minister in February 2006.

Democratic Reforms,
Democratic Traditions

The UAE has a 40-member parliament, known as the Federal National Council (FNC), which is empowered to examine proposed legislation and advise members of the cabinet. Members of the FNC are drawn from each of the seven emirates in proportion to each emirate’s population.

Formerly, members of the FNC were appointed by the Rulers of each emirate. But under new reforms introduced in 2006, each Ruler now selects an “electoral college.” Each emirate’s electoral college is empowered to elect half of that emirate’s seats on the FNC; the other half are appointed by the Ruler. The UAE’s first electoral college consists of 6,689 members, of whom 1,189 are women.

In addition to these election reforms, the UAE maintains the region’s historic, democratic tradition of the majlis. All citizens of an emirate have free and direct access to the emirate’s Ruler, who holds frequent counsels (majlis) at which any citizen may raise any issue or voice any opinion.

Federal Structure

Key to the UAE’s success is its strong and constitutionally-defined federal structure. While the constitution assigns specific authorities to the federal government – such as foreign affairs, defense, education, public health, currency and communications services – it states that in all other matters the individual emirates shall have jurisdiction. This constitutional structure, similar in many ways to the U.S. Constitution, has allowed each emirate to establish its own local government and determine its own strategy for economic development, land use, and local services.

Old, traditional rivalries that characterized the period prior to establishment of the federation have largely disappeared and the UAE is enjoying the kind of national unity, identity, and common spirit today that is truly an example for the rest of the world.

The White Fort is the oldest building in Abu Dhabi and was once the home of the ruling family. It is now the Centre of Documentation and Research.