United Arab Emirates · Government
Government and administration in United Arab Emirates
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state — President
- Elected by the Federal Supreme Council from among the seven rulers; in practice the Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
- Highest authority — Federal Supreme Council of Rulers
- The seven emirate rulers; elects the President and approves federal legislation.
- Executive — Council of Ministers
- Headed by the Prime Minister, in practice the Ruler of Dubai.
- Legislative — Federal National Council
- Forty members, half indirectly elected; reviews legislation but cannot block it.
- Audit — Federal Audit Authority
- Audits federal public expenditure.
How legislation is made
Draft federal legislation is prepared by the Council of Ministers, reviewed by the Federal National Council, approved by the Supreme Council of Rulers and ratified by the President before publication in the Official Gazette. The Federal National Council may propose amendments but the Supreme Council may enact legislation over its objection. Much regulation now issues as federal decree-laws. Free-zone legislation is enacted by the DIFC and ADGM authorities under their own procedures.
Enforcement institutions
- Public Prosecution (federal and emirate-level)
- Directs criminal investigation; Dubai and Abu Dhabi maintain their own.
- Central Bank of the UAE
- Banking and insurance supervision; anti-money-laundering.
- Securities and Commodities Authority
- Regulates onshore capital markets.
- DFSA and FSRA
- Financial regulators of the DIFC and ADGM respectively, independent of onshore regulators.
- Federal Competition Regulation Committee
- Merger control and competition enforcement.
Government bodies and regulators
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