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United Arab Emirates: Government

Key Figures

Chief of State:
Muhammed Bin Zayed Al Nuhayyan
Head of Government:
Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktum

Overview

Government Name:
United Arab Emirates
Constitution:
Adopted: 1971; Permanently accepted in May 1996, this constitution provides a legal and political framework for the operation of the United Arab Emirates as a federation of seven emirates.
Government Type:
Federation of Emirates
United Arab Emirates Flag
Coat of Arms of United Arab Emirates

Index of Economic Freedom

Grades each country on a scale of 0 to 100, based on ten freedoms, with 100 representing the greatest amount of economic autonomy from government intervention. Source: Heritage Foundation (2023)

Country Risk Rating

A3
Changes in generally good but somewhat volatile political and economic environment can affect corporate payment behavior. A basically secure business environment can nonetheless give rise to occasional difficulties for companies. Corporate default probability is quite acceptable on average. Source: Coface (2022)

Government Branches

Main Powers Election Process Election Cycle 1
Executive

Ratifies federal laws and decrees, plans general policy, and may relieve the prime minister of his post.

President is appointed by hereditary state rulers and the prime minister is appointed by the president.

President is hereditary, Prime Minister: 5 years
Judicial

Courts act in accordance with interpretations of Islamic law but are accountable to the secular Federal Supreme Court.

Appointed by the Supreme Council of Rulers.

Until dismissal by executive branch
Legislative

Responsibility for examining and amending proposed federal legislation.

Federal National Council (Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani) 20 members are appointed by hereditary state rulers and 20 members are indirectly elected by an electoral college.

4 years

Regional Trade Blocs
Arab League
GCC

International Organization Participation [2]

Environmental Agreements [3]

Tax Information [2]

Tax Authority:
Information not available
Tax Name:
Information not available

Sources:

  1. ElectionGuide http://www.electionguide.org/
  2. EY, http://www.ey.com
  3. CIA World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
  4. U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/