United Arab Emirates · Constitution
Constitution of the United Arab Emirates
Provisional on adoption at federation in 1971 and made permanent in 1996. It distributes competence between the Union and the seven emirates, reserving foreign affairs, defence, nationality, federal finance and major codes to the Union while leaving to each emirate everything not assigned — including, importantly, natural resources, which are the property of the emirate in which they are situated. It establishes the Federal Supreme Council of Rulers as the highest authority, guarantees equality before the law, personal liberty and property, and declares Islam the official religion and the Sharia a principal source of legislation.
The constitutional text
Provisional on adoption at federation in 1971 and made permanent in 1996. It distributes competence between the Union and the seven emirates, reserving foreign affairs, defence, nationality, federal finance and major codes to the Union while leaving to each emirate everything not assigned — including, importantly, natural resources, which are the property of the emirate in which they are situated. It establishes the Federal Supreme Council of Rulers as the highest authority, guarantees equality before the law, personal liberty and property, and declares Islam the official religion and the Sharia a principal source of legislation.
Separation of powers
Federal, and asymmetric in practice. Seven emirates, of which Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah maintain their own separate local court systems outside the federal judiciary entirely, while the others are integrated into it. Each emirate legislates in its own sphere, and the two financial free zones are separate legal jurisdictions with civil and commercial competence.
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