d on a dual system of Sharia and civil courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

none

Executive branch:

chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 3
November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November
2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID
Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin
Rashid Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers
SULTAN bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) and HAMDAN bin
Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the
seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional
authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions
federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi)
and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power
elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC for
five-year terms (no term limits); election last held 3 November 2004
upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President
ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next to be held in 2009); prime
minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan elected president by
a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktum
unanimously affirmed vice president after the 2006 death of his
brother Sheikh Maktum bin Rashid Al-Maktum

Legislative branch:

unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad
al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the rulers of the
constituent states, 20 members elected to serve two-year terms)
elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains
appointed) held in the UAE on 18-20 December 2006; the new electoral
college - a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointed
by the rulers of the seven emirates - were the only eligible voters
and candidates; 456 candidates including 65 women ran for 20
contested FNC seats; one female from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi won a
seat
note: reviews legislation but cannot change or veto

Judicial branch:

Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77,