THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The UAE is a country located in the south east end of the

Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the
east and Saudi Arabia to the south as well as sharing sea
borders with Qatar and Iran.
The UAE is a federation of seven states Abu Dhabi, Dubai,
Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain formed on 2nd December 1971.
Each emirate is governed by an absolute monarch and together
they fully form the Federal Supreme Council.
The Federal Supreme Council
The Supreme Council , comprising the rulers of the seven
emirates, has both legislative and executive powers.
1. H.H.Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the
United Arab Emirates, Emir of Abu Dhabi, President of the
Federal Supreme Council
2. H.H.Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice
President of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister of
the United Arab Emirates, Emir of Dubai, Vice President of
the Federal Supreme Council.
3. H.H.Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, Emir of Sharjah
4. H.H.Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Emir of Ajman
5. H.H.Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Emir of
Fujairah
6. H.H.Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Emir of Umm alQuwain
7. H.H.Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi, Emir of Ras Al
Khaimah

He who does not know his past cannot make the best
of his present and future, for it is from the past that we
learn. Sh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
HISTORICAL STAGES IN THE FORMATION OF THE
FEDERATION
Formerly known as the TRUCIAL STATES, the UNITED ARAB
EMIRATES are a federation of seven individual states, all ruled
by emirs.
Founded between the 7th and 8th centuries, the Trucial States
granted the United Kingdom control of their defence and
foreign affairs in treaties signed in the 19 th century.
With British protection, acts of piracy declined allowing the
pearl industry to thrive and generate income and employment
to citizens along the Persian Gulf.
The Pearl industry collapsed following the second world war
pushing the country into an economically difficult period, until
the 1960s when the first cargo of crude oil was shipped from
Abu Dhabi.
In 1968, the British Government under the pressure of adverse
economic conditions announced the termination of all its
treaties protecting the Trucial States and its intention to
withdraw from the Gulf by the end of 1971.
Sheikh Zayed Bin Rashid Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and Sheikh
Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai promptly initiated the
move towards establishing a federation to protect oil rich coast
from ambitious neighbouring countries.

A meeting was held in February 1968 at Al Semha. Here Sheikh

Zayed and Sheikh Rashid agreed to merge their respective
emirates in an union and jointly conduct foreign affairs,
defense, security and adopt a common immigration policy. This
came to be known as UNION ACCORD.
From 25-27 February 1968 nine states convened in a
constitutional conference in Dubai - the Trucial States and
Bahrain and Qatar. Bahrain declared independence on 14 th
August 1971 and Qatar followed on 1st September 1971.
The foundation of an independent sovereign state was finally
proclaimed on 2nd December 1971 and after Ras Al Khaimah
joined on the 10th Febraury 1972 the federation was complete.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL

The Federal Supreme Council meets four times each year and its meetings
are often on an informal basis and attend meetings of the Board,
consisting of the seven rulers of the emirates of the Federation or those
acting in their emirate in the case of their absence. Each has one vote in
the Council's resolutions.The Supreme Council of the Union has the
following functions:
1. The general policies in all matters entrusted to the Union by this
Constitution and to consider what would that achieve the objectives
of the Union and the common interests of the member Emirates.
2. The ratification of the various federal laws before they are issued,
including the laws of the annual general budget of the Union and
the final account.
3. The ratification of the decrees on the subject matters under the
provisions of this Constitution for the ratification or approval of the

Federal Supreme Council prior to the issuance of these decrees by

the Federal President.
4. Ratification of institutions and agreements are ratified by decree.
5. To approve the appointment of the Federal Prime Minister and
the Federal Cabinet and the acceptance of their resignation and
removal from office upon the proposal of the Federal President.
6. To approve the appointment of the President and Judges of the
Federal Supreme Court and the acceptance of their resignations and
dismissal in the circumstances prescribed in the Constitution. Are all
decrees.
7. High control over the affairs of the Union in general.
8. Any other functions stipulated in this Constitution or federal laws.
The CONSTITUTION defined as its highest objective the common good of
the UAE as a whole. The Provincial Constitution consists of 152 articles,
divided into a Preamble and 10 parts, specified the powers which came to
be allocated to the new federal institutions while all others were to remain
the prerogative of the local government of the individual emirates.

Under articles 120 and 121 of the Constitution, the areas under the
purview of the the federal authorities are foreign affairs, security and
defence, nationality and immigration issues, education, public health,
currency, postal, telephone and other communications services, air traffic
control and licensing of aircrafts, labour relations, banking, delimitation of
territorial waters and extradition of criminals. All other matters were left to
the jurisdiction of the individual emirates and their local governments. In
May 1996, the Federal Supreme Council comprising the rulers of the
seven emirates- approved two amendments to the provisional
Constitution and agreed to make it permanent.
The working together of federal and local governments underlines the
UAEs unique combination of traditional and modern political systems that
have guaranteed national stability and laid the foundation for
development.

ORIGINAL FOUNDERS OF UAE

AND MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL

Ruler of Abu Dhabi, President of UAE

UAE

Ruler of Dubai, Prime Minister of

H.H.Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Maktoum

H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al

Ruler of Sharjah

Ruler of Fujairah

H.H.Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi

Al Sharqi

H.H.Sheikh Saif Bin Hamad

Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah

Al Quwain

Ruler of Umm

H.H.Sheikh Saqr Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi

Rashid Al Mualla

H.H.Sheikh AHMAD Bin

Ruler of Ajman
H.H.Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi

FEDERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL

In line with the UAEs rapid socio-economic developments,
major steps have been taken both at the federal and local
levels, to reform the political system in the UAE in order to
make it more responsive to the needs of the countrys
population and to ensure that it is better equipped to cope with
the challenges of development.
This process has been directed, at a federal level, by President
Sheikh Khalifa and devised and guided at an executive level by
UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai,
H.H.Sheikh Mohammad.
Elections to the Federal National Council and the launch of the
UAE Government Strategy in 2007 were important
developments in the reform process. A key focus of the UAE
Government Strategy was to create synergy between federal
and local governments, improve decision making mechanisms,
increase efficiency of governmental bodies and upgrading of
services in accordance with the needs of the people.
The FEDERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL FNC is the UAEs advisory
council, comprising 40 members-eight from Abu Dhabi and
Dubai; six from Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah ; four from Ajman,
Umm al Quwain and Fujairah.
The FNCs functions include :

Discussing constitutional amendments and draft laws

Reviewing the annual draft budget of the Federation
Debating international treaties and conventions
Influencing the Governments work through the channels of
discussion

Having followed a practice of nominating all 40 members

between 1972 and 2006, 20 members of the FNC were elected
by an Electoral College in 2006, with the remainder nominated
by the rulers of the respective emirates. The move was aimed
at allowing wider participation and interactions of the citizens
of the country.

SYMBOLS OF THE UAE

The Flag

Coat of Arms

The flag of the UAE was officially adopted on December 2,

1971.
The flag features the Pan-Arab colours of red, green, white and
black, which are the colours symbolic of Arab Unity. In addition,
other colour references include green representing fertility;
white representing neutrality, and black the incredible oil
wealth within its borders.
The emblem of the UAE was adopted in 1973, and is composed
of a golden falcon holding onto a red parchment depicting the

name of the country in Kufic script. Centered on the falcons

chest is a disc representing the national flag.
Motto Allah, Al Watan, Al Rais God, then the Homeland,
then the President
Bird : Peregrine falcon

REFERENCES
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En.wikipedia.org/wiki/federal_supreme_council
Worldatlas.com
Sheikhmohammed.com
Uaeinteract.com
http://www.saadiyat.ae/en/about-abudhabi