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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

At A Glance Population9 /uly 7551 est. )'P Per #apita :PPP>9 7551 est. -uman 'e@elopment Index ,anA9 U&'P9 7551 6reedom -ouse ,ating9 7551 Political ,igBts #i@il (iberties 6reedom of tBe Press ,anA9 6reedom -ouse9 7551 #orruption Index ,anA9 $ransparency International9 755 791579 48 :including 4915195 ; non<citi=ens> ?.;9 55 .; :out of 4 &ot 6ree 1 1 4.4 :out of 4;. countries> 8. :out of 4!5 countries> countries>

UPDATES AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS ......................................................................................3 UPDATES AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS ......................................................................................3 UPDATES AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS.......................................................................................3 STATE INSTITUTIONS/ SEPARATION OF POWERS.....................................................................4 STATE INSTITUTIONS/ SEPARATION OF POWERS.....................................................................4 E"E#U$I%E A&' (E)I*(A$I%E +,A&#-E* ............................................................................................... /U'I#IA,0...............................................................................................................................................1 $-E E2I,A$E* A&' (3#A( )3%E,&2E&$............................................................................................! RIGHTS....................................................................................................................................................10 RIGHTS....................................................................................................................................................10 PE,*3&A( (I+E,$IE*.............................................................................................................................45 (E)I*(A$I3& ,E)U(A$I&) $-E E"E,#I*E 36 ,I)-$*..........................................................................45 ,E#E&$ )3%E,&2E&$ I&I$IA$I%E* A66E#$I&) ,I)-$*.....................................................................47 POLITICAL FORCES............................................................................................................................13 POLITICAL FORCES............................................................................................................................13 P3(I$I#A( PA,$IE* ...............................................................................................................................48 #I%I( *3#IE$0.......................................................................................................................................48 ELECTION RESULTS...........................................................................................................................14 ELECTION RESULTS...........................................................................................................................14
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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION..........................................................................................................15 CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION..........................................................................................................15 CORRUPTION........................................................................................................................................16 CORRUPTION........................................................................................................................................16 RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.............................................................17 RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.............................................................17

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

Updates and Forthcoming Events

UAE Prime 2inister and 'ubai ruler *BeiAB 2uBammad bin ,asBid al<2aAtum announced a new cabinet on 6ebruary 4 9 755!9 appointing new economic9 foreign trade9 and labor ministers and doubling to four tBe number of female ministers. $Bere was no cBange in tBe Aey ministries of energy9 foreign affairs9 or interior. $Be prime minister also Bolds tBe defense portfolio. #licA Bere for tBe new cabinet line<up. Al<2aAtum also issued a decree on /anuary 849 755! appointing Bis son -amdan as crown prince of 'ubai. Al<2aAtoum also issued directi@es on /anuary 4! to launcB a 4C billion dirBam :U.*. ?. billion> plan to build .59555 Bouses for needy nationals and to double tBe budget for social assistance to 7.7 billion dirBams :U.*. ?155 million>. #licA Bere for more details. 2inister of /ustice 2uBammad al<'BaBeri announced on /anuary 19 755! tBat tBe UAE is Boping to amend its law on tBe Dudiciary to allow women to become Dudges and prosecutors. -e added tBat women were being trained for tBe Dob and two women in Abu 'Babi Bad been appointed as prosecutors and would begin worA once tBe amendment to tBe Dudiciary law was passed. If appro@ed9 tBe mo@e would maAe tBe UAE tBe second )ulf Arab country9 after +aBrain9 to allow women to become Dudges.

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

State Institutions Separation o! "o#ers

$Be United Arab Emirates :UAE> is a federation of se@en emiratesE Abu 'Babi9 'ubai9 ADman9 al<6uDayraB9 *BarDaB9 ,aFs al GBaymaB9 and Umm al<Haywayn. EacB of tBe se@en emirates is go@erned by its own traditional rulers. $Be central institutions of tBe UAE9 regulated by tBe constitution9 are ultimately dependent on tBe power of tBe emirate<le@el traditional rulers. $Be UAE gained independence from )reat +ritain on 'ecember 79 4; 4. $Be 4; 4 interim constitution was amended and made permanent in 4;;1 :Arabic $ext of 4; 4 constitution>.

E$ecutive and %egislative &ranches

$Bere is no true separation between tBe executi@e and legislati@e brancBes in tBe UAE. $Be pr !"# $% is tBe Bead of state. -eE < Is cBosen by tBe 6ederal *upreme #ouncil :6*#> to ser@e a fi@e<year term. < Appoints tBe prime minister9 deputy prime minister9 and tBe cabinet. S& "'& (&)*"+) ,"$ -)."# )*/N0&)..)$9 tBe emir of Abu 'Babi9 Bas Beld tBis position since &o@ember 755.. -e succeeded Bis late fatBer *BeiAB Iayed bin *ultan al<&uBayyan wBo Bad been president since 4; 4.

$Be pr"1 1"$"!% rE < Is tBe Bead of go@ernment. < Is cBosen by tBe president. < Is responsible to tBe president and tBe 6*#.

$Be 2"3 pr !"# $%4 < Is cBosen by tBe 6*# to ser@e a fi@e<year term

*BeiAB M0&)11)# ,"$ R)!&"# )*/M)'%019 tBe emir of 'ubai9 Bas Beld botB tBe positions of @ice president and prime minister since /anuary C9 7551. -is late brotBer9 2aAtum bin ,asBid al<2aAtum9 Beld tBe position from 4;;5 until 7551. JBile tBe positions of prime minister and @ice president are currently Beld by tBe same person9 tBis is not reKuired by tBe constitution and Bas not always been tBe case.

$Be 6ederal *upreme #ouncil :6*#>E < Is tBe BigBest legislati@e9 executi@e9 and constitutional autBority in tBe UAE.

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

< Is composed of Bereditary rulers from eacB of tBe se@en emirates. $Be rulers of Abu 'Babi :president> and 'ubai :@ice president> Ba@e @eto power on 6*# decisions. &ew members of tBe 6*# are cBosen by tBe ruling families in eacB emirate. < Is reKuired by law to meet at least annually but in practice usually meets four times a year. < Appro@es federal legislation. < Elects tBe president and @ice president for fi@e<year termsL botB may be re< elected for an indefinite number of times. < Appro@es tBe nomination of tBe prime minister.

$Be #ouncil of 2inisters or #abinetE < Is appointed by tBe president and Beaded by tBe prime minister. < Is responsible to tBe president and tBe 6*#. < 'rafts decrees and laws but cannot appro@e tBem. $Be current 74<member cabinet was appointed on 6ebruary ;9 7551. #licA & r for a cabinet list.

$Be 6ederal &ational #ouncil :6&#> or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani re@iews legislation and proposes amendments but cannot enact or re@ise legislation9 does not Ba@e @eto power9 and only ser@es in an ad@isory and consultati@e role. $Be 6&#E

< Is unicameral. < Is comprised of forty members. < It is controlled by an Executi@e #ommittee composed of tBe 6&#Fs cBairman9 tBe secretary<general9 tBe undersecretary9 and four elected members. < 'iscusses tBe annual budget. < -as tBe power to maAe policy recommendations to tBe cabinet and to summon and Kuestion any minister regarding ministry performance. < #licA Bere for a list of 6&# members. < Election officials stated tBey en@isage uni@ersal suffrage for nationals in four years and an expansion of tBe councilMs role to include more o@ersigBt powers.

In 'ecember 75519 75 of tBe .5 members were elected for tBe first time in tBe countryMs Bistory. $Be go@ernment selected 191!; @oters :including 494!; women> tBat were allowed to run and cast @otes. $Be ruler of eacB of tBe se@en emirates named members to tBe electoral colleges :191!; members in total9 494!; of tBem women>9 wBo tBen elected Balf tBe 6&# members from amongst tBemsel@es. $Be otBer Balf of tBe councilFs members will continue to be appointed by tBe leaders of tBe emirates. $Be go@ernment appointed 75 of tBe .5 members of on 6ebruary .9 75519 including eigBt women.

Prior to 'ecember 75519 all members were appointed by tBe rulers of tBe se@en emirates to ser@e two<year terms witB tBe possibility of renewal. $Be leaders of Abu 'Babi and 'ubai eacB appointed eigBt members9 *BarDaB and ,aFs al< Carnegie Endowment for International Peace &undaci'n (ara las )elaciones Internacionales * el C

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

GBaymaB eacB appointed six members9 and ADman9 Umm al/Haywayn9 and al< 6uDayraB eacB appointed four members.

$Be beginning and end of 6&# sessions are determined by presidential decree. 6&# procedures are go@erned by tBe *tanding 3rder of 4; tBat created permanent committees in tBe areas of defense9 finance9 economics9 legal affairs9 education9 culture9 and Islamic affairs. 2embers of tBe committees are elected annually at tBe first full 6&# meeting of tBe year. EacB member of tBe 6&# Bas to ser@e on at least one committee. 6ederal laws are drafted by tBe #ouncil of 2inisters and tBen submitted to tBe appropriate 6&# committee. $Be committee suggests amendments to tBe proposed draft9 tBe amended draft goes to tBe (egislati@e #ommittee for debate and consultation. $Be draft is tBen presented to tBe president.

'udiciar(

UAE law is based on Islamic legal principles and influenced by EnglisB common law and Egyptian legal traditions. $Be constitution pro@ides for a formally independent DudiciaryL Bowe@er9 in practice Dudicial decisions are subDect to re@iew by tBe go@ernment. $Be 2inistry of /ustice is directly in@ol@ed in almost all aspects of court administration. /udges are appointed by tBe president and tBeir decisions are also subDect to re@iew by tBe 6*#. UAE nationals retain tBeir Dudicial appointment for life9 wBile Dudges tBat are foreign nationals ser@e under renewable contracts. C50r%! < $Be UAEFs federal structure and tBe mixture of Islamic legal principles and EnglisB common law Ba@e created a @ery complex and confusing Dudicial structure. $Bere are two layers of ci@il courtsE tBe federal system and tBe local systems. $Be federal system Bas Durisdiction o@er ci@il matters in all tBe emirates except 'ubai and ,as al<GBaimaB. In addition9 all emirates Ba@e tBeir own sBaria courts. C"2"* C50r%! < $Be federal ci@il courts consist of a tBree<tiered systemE < < $Be C50r%! 5+ F"r!% I$!%)$3 are tBe lowest courts in tBe system and are located in eacB of tBe emirates. $Be F # r)* App )* C50r%! are tBe next le@el of appeal after tBe #ourts of 6irst Instance and are located in eacB of tBe emirates.
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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

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$Be F # r)* S0pr 1 C50r% or tBe #ourt of #assation9 located in Abu 'Babi9 is tBe BigBest court of appeal for all cases Beard in tBe lower courts. It is composed of fi@e Dudges appointed by tBe president witB tBe appro@al of tBe *upreme 6ederal #ouncil wBo arbitrate on inter<emirate disputes and disputes between tBe federal go@ernment and indi@idual emirates. In addition9 it determines tBe constitutionality of laws9 botB at tBe federal and local le@els9 and Bas Dudicial re@iew o@er legislation. $Be 6ederal *upreme #ourt also Bas Durisdiction to in@estigate misconduct by BigB go@ernment officials.

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$Be emirates of 'ubai and ,as al<GBaimaB Ba@e tBeir own local and appellate courts9 wBicB Ba@e Durisdiction o@er all matters tBat tBe constitution does not specifically reser@e for tBe federal system :see section on Emirates and (ocal )o@ernment>. $Bese emirates do not refer cases in tBeir courts to tBe 6ederal *upreme #ourt for Dudicial re@iew.

S&)r") C50r%! < < JBile all but two of tBe emirates Ba@e ceded ci@il Durisdiction from tBe local to tBe federal le@el9 all retain tBeir own separate *Baria courts. $Be relationsBip between tBe *Baria courts and tBe ci@il courts :local and federal> Bas not been clarified in legislati@e texts9 wBicB can lead to some o@erlap in Durisdiction. In some emirates9 *Baria courts consider ci@il9 commercial9 serious criminal9 and especially family matters. $Bey act in accordance witB traditional Islamic law and practice9 and tBeir decisions may be appealed to tBe 6ederal *upreme #ourt. #i@il courts accept Durisdiction of *Baria courts in personal status cases. < #i@il Dudges are enDoined to rely on tBe *Baria in tBe absence of clear legislati@e texts. < < $Be emirate of 'ubai Bas a special *Biite council to act on matters pertaining to *Biite family law. &on<2uslims wBo are tried in *Baria courts can recei@e ci@il penalties at tBe discretion of tBe Dudge. *Baria penalties imposed on non<2uslims can also be o@erturned by a BigBer court.

Cr"1"$)* C50r%! < $Bere are separate criminal courts witB tBeir own appeal system. In tBe criminal courts tBere are tBree stages of litigation tBat mirror tBe ci@il court system9 namely9 tBe #ourts of 6irst Instance9 tBe #ourts of Appeal and tBe 6ederal *upreme #ourt.

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

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$Be *Baria courts may9 at tBe federal le@el only9 Bear appeals of serious criminal cases including rape and robbery9 wBicB were originally tried in lower criminal courts.

Sp 3")* C50r%! < 6ollowing traditional customs9 tBe local rulersF diwans :local traditional courts> maintain tBe practice of re@iewing many types of criminal and ci@il offences before cases are referred to tBe prosecutorFs office. $Be diwans may re@iew sentences passed by Dudges and return cases to tBe court on appeal. $Be diwansF in@ol@ement9 wBicB typically occurs wBen tBe case in@ol@es parties from two different emirates or a citi=en and a non<citi=en9 can lead to long delays in tBe Dudicial process. $Be military Bas its own court system tBat tries only military personnel.

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The Emirates and %ocal Government

Articles 475 and 474 of tBe 4;;1 constitution go@ern tBe relationsBip between tBe central go@ernment and tBe emirates. $Bey gi@e tBe central go@ernment responsibility for foreign policy9 defense9 immigration9 education and BealtB9 tBe currency9 tBe postal system9 communications ser@ices9 air traffic control9 labor relations9 banAing9 delimitation of territory9 and extradition. In 755.9 Article 474 was amended to allow for tBe transfer of legislati@e autBority from emirates to federal organi=ations. Articles 441 and 477 stipulate tBat9 NtBe Emirates sBall exercise all powers not assigned to tBe 6ederation by tBis #onstitution9O and tBat NtBe Emirates sBall Ba@e Durisdiction in all matters not assigned to tBe exclusi@e Durisdiction of tBe 6ederation.O (ocal go@ernment is structured around tBe se@en emirates9 wBose municipal officials are all appointed to tBeir positionsE < A,0 D&)," is tBe largest and wealtBiest emirate and is ruled by tBe president *BeiAB Iayed +in *ultan al<&aByan. $Be emirate is di@ided into two relati@ely independent municipalities9 al<Ain and 'ibba. Abu 'Babi also Bas its own central go@erning body9 tBe Executi@e #ouncil. D0,)" is tBe second largest emirate and is ruled by tBe @ice president *BeiAB 2oBammad +in ,asBid al<2aAtum. $ogetBer witB Abu 'Babi9 'ubai funds most of tBe federal budget. S&)r6)& is ruled by *BeiAB 'r. *ultan +in 2oBammed al<Hassimi. It also Bas its own Executi@e #ouncil and #onsultati@e #ouncil
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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

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F06)"r)& is ruled by *BeiAB -amad +in 2oBammed al<*BarKi. R)! )*/(&)"1)& is ruled by *BeiAB *aKr +in 2oBammed al<Hassimi. Um al<Haywayn is ruled by *BeiAB ,asBid +in ABmed Al 2uMalla. ADman is tBe smallest emirate and is ruled by *BeiAB -umaid +in ,asBid al<&uaimi.

$Be si=e of tBe emirate determines its degree of local autonomy. In tBe smaller and less de@eloped emirates tBe central go@ernment taAes a larger and more prominent role. $Bere are no direct taxes in tBe UAE and eacB emirate earns its re@enue from oil income9 otBer fees or transfers from tBe oil ricB emirates. AltBougB tBe emirates are mandated to contribute Balf of tBeir income to tBe federal go@ernment9 in practice none do so. In more remote areas9 tBe ruler of eacB emirate may cBoose a local representati@e :usually a leading tribal figure> to act as a conduit tBrougB wBicB tBe concerns of inBabitants may be directed to go@ernment. Under tBe terms of tBe constitution9 rulers of tBe emirates may relinKuisB certain areas of tBeir indi@idual responsibility or autBority to tBe federal go@ernment. 3ne sucB significant decision was to unify tBe armed forces in tBe mid<4; 5s. $Be Majlis < #iti=ens may express concerns to tBeir leaders in a traditional consultati@e forum9 called a majlis9 Beld by indi@idual emirate rulers or senior members of tBeir family. #iti=ens often pursue complaints tBrougB tBe maDlis ratBer tBan tBrougB formal administrati@e structures. 'ebates started in tBe majlis often influence go@ernment policy9 especially in cases wBere a consensus is fortBcoming.

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

Rights
"ersonal li&erties

$Be constitution pro@ides for eKuality before tBe law witBout regard to race9 nationality9 or religion. In practice tBere is discrimination against non<citi=ens in most areas of life including employment9 Bousing9 and BealtBcare. $Be constitution pro@ides for freedom of speecB and of tBe press. In practice tBese rigBts are restricted by tBe go@ernment. $Be constitution proBibits torture and unlawful or arbitrary arrest9 searcB9 detention9 or imprisonment. *uspects in custody can formally be detained witBout cBarge indefinitely and are not entitled to legal counsel until an in@estigation is completed. $Be law also permits incommunicado detention. *Baria courts sometimes impose flogging sentences on tBose found guilty of adultery9 prostitution9 and drug abuse. $Be constitution pro@ides for freedom of religion. In practice tBere are restrictions on tBis rigBt. $Be constitution declares tBat Islam is tBe official religion of all se@en emirates. Proselyti=ing of 2uslims is illegal and it is proBibited for 2uslims to con@ert to otBer religions. $Be go@ernment controls and subsidi=es almost all *unni and *Biite mosKues and distributes and monitors tBe sermons of all *unni imams. $Be 755. International ,eligious 6reedom ,eport pro@ides a more detailed discussion of religious freedom in tBe UAE. $Be &ew 0orA<based organi=ation -uman ,igBts JatcB pro@ides a compreBensi@e o@er@iew of Buman rigBts de@elopments in tBe UAE.

%egislation regulating the e$ercise o! rights

P5*"%"3)* P)r%. L)7! < Political parties are illegal.

E* 3%5r)* L)7 <

6or tBe first time in its Bistory9 tBe UAE will Bold elections for public office. 3n 'ecember 49 755C President GBalifa bin Iayed al<&aByan announced tBat Balf of tBe members of tBe 6ederal &ational #ouncil :6&#>9 tBe closest body tBe country Bas to a parliament9 will be indirectly elected. $Be ruler of eacB of tBe se@en emirates will form local assemblies wBicB will tBen elect Balf tBe 6&# members from among tBemsel@es. It is unclear Bow tBe local assembly members will be cBosen. $Be otBer Balf of tBe councilMs members will continue to be appointed by tBe leaders of tBe emirates. $Be .5<member 6&# ser@es in an ad@isory capacity and lacAs legislati@e powers. &o date Bas been set for elections. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace &undaci'n (ara las )elaciones Internacionales * el 45
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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

L)7 5$ A!!53")%"5$! < $Be constitution does not pro@ide for freedom of association or assembly. $Be go@ernment limits freedom of association and public assembly is subDect to go@ernment appro@al. All pri@ate associations9 including cBildrenFs clubs9 cBaritable groups9 and Bobby associations must be appro@ed and licensed by local go@ernment autBorities. In practice9 go@ernment enforcement is inconsistent and unlicensed groups exist. JBile permits are reKuired for organi=ed public gatBerings9 in practice tBe go@ernment does not interfere witB gatBerings Beld in public places witBout a permit9 unless tBere are complaints.

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M #") L)7! < $Be constitution pro@ides for freedom of tBe press. In practice9 tBe situation is extremely mixed. $Be go@ernment proBibits criticism of itself and tBe ruling families9 as well as co@erage of any subDects it considers to be a tBreat to stability but it Bas also allowed tBe establisBment of remarAably free satellite $% stations. $Be media is subDect to 6ederal (aw 4C of 4;!!9 wBicB stipulates tBat all publications be licensed by tBe 2inistry of Information. $Be 2inistry also appro@es tBe appointment of editors. $Be maDority of tBe media is eitBer go@ernment<owned or go@ernment< subsidi=ed and most newspapers rely on tBe go@ernment<owned Emirates &ews Agency for tBeir content. 2ost broadcast media offer only official @iewpoints. $Be go@ernment also censors anti<go@ernment9 pornograpBic9 and radical Islamic internet sites. $Be satellite tele@ision broadcasters al<Arabiya :launcBed in 7558> and Abu 'Babi $% :launcBed in 7555 and owned by Emirates 2edia Inc> were gi@en unprecedented press freedom to produce in@estigati@e and censor<free Dournalism in tBe UAE. In 75559 a free media =one was establisBed in 'ubai called tBe 'ubai 2edia #ity :'2#> in order to attract international media witB low tax rates and press freedom. JitBin tBe '2#9 few restrictions are imposed on media tBat is produced for foreign audiences. < UAE Prime 2inister *BeiAB 2uBammad bin ,asBid al<2aAtum decreed on *eptember 7C9 755 tBat Dournalists can no longer be imprisoned for reasons relating to tBeir worA9 setting a first for tBe decriminali=ation of media offenses in tBe region. A long<time demand of Dournalists9 tBe decision came two days after a 'ubai court sentenced two Dournalists to two montBs in prison for libel against a woman in@ol@ed in a domestic dispute. #licA Bere for more information.

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

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According to tBe annual Jorldwide Press 6reedom Index by ,eporters witBout +orders9 tBe UAE ranAs 1C of 41; countries. $Be index runs from 4 :most press freedom> to 41; :least press freedom>.

P r!5$)* S%)%0! L)7 < < $Bere is an absence of codification of personal status issues. $Be personal status of women in tBe UAE is determined by *Baria or Islamic law. $Be constitution pro@ides for eKuality before tBe law9 but Islamic law discriminates against women in matters sucB as inBeritance and di@orce. 6urtBermore9 women face discrimination in social9 economic9 and legal areas. 2uslim women are proBibited from marrying non<2uslim men and from lea@ing tBe country witBout permission from a male guardian. 2arried women must recei@e tBeir BusbandFs permission to be employed outside tBe Bome. Polygamy is legal in tBe UAE. In /uly 755C a new personal status law was appro@ed by tBe cabinet. $Be draft law contains 818 articles tBat pertain to fi@e areas including marriage9 legal competence9 guardiansBip9 will9 inBeritance9 and endowments. Amongst otBer initiati@es9 tBe law will gi@e women tBe rigBt to end tBeir marriage after petitioning tBe *Baria #ourt9 paying compensation9 or returning tBeir dowry.

Recent Government Initiatives A!!ecting Rights < UAE Prime 2inister *BeiAB 2uBammad bin ,asBid al<2aAtum decreed on *eptember 7C9 755 tBat Dournalists can no longer be imprisoned for reasons relating to tBeir worA9 setting a first for tBe decriminali=ation of media offenses in tBe region. A long<time demand of Dournalists9 tBe decision came two days after a 'ubai court sentenced two Dournalists to two montBs in prison for libel against a woman in@ol@ed in a domestic dispute. #licA Bere for more information. $Be UAE enacted a law in &o@ember 7551 maAing Buman trafficAing punisBable by life imprisonment and set up a national committee to combat Buman trafficAing in 2ay 755 . $Be UAEFs first official Buman rigBts association was establisBed on 6ebruary 4!9 7551 witB tBe aim of Nrespecting and enforcing Buman rigBts according to tBe stateMs laws and constitution.O (ed by former Ambassador 2uBammad al< 'uBaim9 tBe organi=ation will be based in Abu 'Babi.

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

"olitical Forces
"olitical parties

Political parties are illegal and none exist in tBe UAE.

)ivil societ(

All nongo@ernmental organi=ations :&)3s> must be registered witB tBe 2inistry of (abor and *ocial AffairsL Bowe@er9 a number of unregistered &)3s operate openly witBout go@ernment interference. $Bere are approximately 455 domestic &)3s registered at present. &)3s focus on social and Bumanitarian acti@ities and not o@ertly political issues. ,egistered &)3s recei@e subsidies or funds from tBe go@ernment according to tBe si=e of tBeir membersBip. $Bere are no independent Buman rigBts organi=ations in tBe country. $Be only Buman rigBts &)3 is tBe go@ernment<subsidi=ed /urists AssociationFs -uman ,igBts #ommittee9 wBicB focuses on Buman rigBts education. $rade unions9 striAes9 and collecti@e bargaining are illegal. In practice9 tBere Ba@e been numerous striAes by pri@ate sector employees wBo complain of unfair wages and worAing conditions to tBe 2inistry of (abor. $Be go@ernment Bas mediated labor disputes. 6oreign nationals9 wBo maAe up ;! percent of tBe pri@ate sector worAforce9 are not co@ered by legislation go@erning labor standards and are often subDect to exploitation. A number of professional organi=ations existE Accountants and AuditorsF Association 'ubai Press #lub Emirates Internet Association :EIA> Emirates 2edical Association Engineers *ociety /ournalistsF Association UAE #ontractorsF Association

$Be largest umbrella organi=ation for employers is tBe 6ederation of UAE #Bambers of #ommerce and Industry.

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

Election Results

In 'ecember 75519 75 of tBe .5 members were elected for tBe first time in tBe countryMs Bistory. $Be go@ernment selected 191!; @oters :including 494!; women> tBat were allowed to run and cast @otes. $Be ruler of eacB of tBe se@en emirates named members to tBe electoral colleges :191!; members in total9 494!; of tBem women>9 wBo tBen elected Balf tBe 6&# members from amongst tBemsel@es.

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

)onstitutional Revision

$Be 6ederal &ational #ouncil and tBe 6ederal *upreme #ouncil amended tBe 4; 4 interim constitution to maAe tBis a permanent constitution in 2ay 4;;1. $Be amendment named Abu 'Babi as tBe capital of tBe UAE. Under Article 4..9 amendments to tBe constitution are drafted by tBe 6ederal *upreme #ouncil and must be appro@ed by a two<tBirds maDority of tBe 6ederal &ational #ouncil before tBe president signs tBem into law.

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

)orruption

$Be UAE ranAs second among Arab countries and 8.tB out of 4!5 countries worldwide on $ransparency InternationalFs #orruption Perception Index 755 . #orruption cases are in@estigated by tBe Anti<#orruption Unit9 wBicB is part of tBe 'efense 2inistry. $Be arrest and imprisonment of 'ubaiFs customs cBief by tBe Anti<#orruption Unit in 7554 sparAed debate o@er tBe state of corruption in UAE. $Be *tate Audit Institution argued tBat corruption was widespread9 wBile tBe 2inistry of /ustice claimed tBe case to be exceptional. 2aDor newspapers publisBed tBe names and pBotos of tBe officials in a new Nname and sBameO policy. A commission was formed to study corruption and propose anti<corruption legislation. &o new anti< corruption laws Ba@e yet been passed. In 75579 tBe go@ernment enacted stringent anti<money<laundering laws and reforms of tBe banAing sector in tBe waAe of re@elations tBat mucB of tBe financing for tBe *eptember 449 7554 attacAs passed tBrougB tBe UAE.

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms UAE

Rati!ication o! International )onventions

$Be International #on@ention on tBe Elimination of All 6orms of ,acial 'iscrimination :#E,'> on /une 759 4; .. $Be #on@ention on tBe ,igBts of tBe #Bild :#,#> on /anuary 89 4;; . International #o@enant on #i@il and Political ,igBts :##P,>E not ratified International #o@enant on Economic9 *ocial and #ultural ,igBts :#E*#,>E not ratified $Be #on@ention on tBe Elimination of All 6orms of $orture and 3tBer #ruel9 InBuman or 'egrading $reatment or PunisBment :#A$>E not ratified $Be #on@ention of on tBe Elimination of All 6orms of 'iscrimination against Jomen :#E'AJ>E not ratified

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace www.carnegieendowment.org

&undaci'n (ara las )elaciones Internacionales * el i+logo E,terior www.fride.org