Constitution of the United Arab Emirates (1971)

The permanent constitution of an elective federal monarchy.

Overview

Adopted December 2, 1971 at the union of six emirates, joined by Ras Al Khaimah in 1972, the UAE Constitution establishes a federation of absolute monarchies with a federal supreme council of rulers electing the president and vice president, by convention the ruler of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It allocates powers between federal government and emirates, with residual sovereignty resting with emirates, and provides an appointed Federal National Council, strengthened consultatively since 2006 with partial election. The 1971 text was made permanent in 1996, adding Abu Dhabi as capital. It is unusual as a stable federation of monarchies.