The Constitution outlines the federal authorities that run the country.

Each of them has its responsibilities in

governance. In Article 45, the authorities consist of the following:

1. The Federal Supreme Council:

• Consists of the rulers of all the emirates composing the federation, or of their substitutes in the event of
their absence or in capacity to attend.
• Responsibility of the Federal Supreme Council: It draws up general policies and approves various
federal legislations. It consists of the rulers of the seven emirates.

From left to right:

 Ruler of Dubai: Sheikh Mohamed
 Ruler of Ajman: Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid al-Nuaimi
 Ruler of Fujairah: Sheikh Hamad bin Muhammad bin Hamad al-Sharqi
 Ruler of Ras al Khaimah: Sa'ud Bin-Saqr al-Qasimi
 Ruler of Sharjah: Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qasimi
 Ruler of Umm al Qaiwain: Sheikh Saud bin Rashid al-Mualla

2. The UAE President and his deputy:

• The President of the UAE is Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
• The Federal Supreme Council elects from among its members a president and a vice president for a five-
year term according to the Gregorian calendar and may be reelected for the same office.
• Role of the UAE President: The president is the head of the state, the supreme commander of the
armed forces and the chairman of the supreme council and the supreme petroleum council.

3. The Federal Council of Ministers:

Consists of:
• The Prime Minister -The Prime Minster is the head of the cabinet, or Council of Ministers. The current
(2021) Prime Minister of the UAE is H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
• Two Deputy Prime Ministers
• The Ministers of the UAE ·
• An active General Secretariat composed of a number of employees to assist it in the conduct of its work.
The President appoints the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministers.
• Role: The Federal Council of Ministers: It executes all internal and external affairs of the federation as
written in the UAE Constitution and the federal laws.

4. The Federal National Council:

Consists of forty members.
• Twenty members elected by the citizens and twenty nominated by the rulers of the emirates. The number
of seats assigned to each emirate is proportionate to its population as follows: ·
• Abu Dhabi - 8 seats
• · Dubai - 8 seats ·
• Sharjah - 6 seats
• · Ajman - 4 seats ·
• Umm Al Quwain - 4 seats
• · Ras Al Khaimah - 6 seats ·
• Fujairah - 4 seats
• Responsibility of the Federal National Council: It is the consultative council, the parliamentary body of
the UAE. Its main function is passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws.

• 5. The Federal Judiciary:

• The legal structure in the UAE is composed of two systems: · The Federal Judiciary presided over by the
Federal Supreme Court as the highest judicial authority.
• · The local judicial departments at the local government (Emirate) level
• . The Supreme Court maintains five judges appointed by the President of the UAE, after an approval by the
Federal Supreme Council.
• The Federal Judiciary: In cases of conflict, it determines which laws and policies are constitutional, or
allowable, and which are not.