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| United Arab Emirates |
| A Federal State established on the Second of December 1971, consisting of seven emirates which are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. HH Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was elected as a president on 3rd November 2004, to succeed his late father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May Allah forgive him), who was the first elected president for the country since the 2nd December 1971 until he passed away on 2nd November 2004. |
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Federation Authority: |
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The federation authority, pursuant to the stipulations of the Constitution, consists of a Federal Supreme Council, Council chairman and his deputy, council of Ministers, a federal national council and the federal judiciary. |
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Federal Supreme Council |
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The Federal Supreme Council is the highest decision-making authority in the country, and it is composed of the emirs (governors) of the seven emirates. The chairman is elected by the council every five years. The tenure of the vice-chairman is also five years, and is currently held by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, who was elected after the passing away of his brother, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum (May Allah forgive him), in early 2006. |
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Members of the Federal Supreme Council |
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- HH Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and the emir of Abu Dhabi.
- HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president of the UAE, Prime Minister and the Emir of Dubai.
- HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and the Emir of Sharjah.
- HH Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and the Emir of Ras Al Khaimah.
- HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and the Emir of Fujairah.
- HH Sheikh Saud Rashid bin Ahmed Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and the Emir of Umm Al Quwain.
- HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and the Emir of Ajman.
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President and Vice President of The Federation |
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The Supreme Council elects its president from among its members, while the vice-president takes over all responsibilities of the President in his absence. Article (52) of the Constitution limited the term of office of the president and his vice for five calendar years renewable upon re-election. |
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Council Of The Ministers |
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The Federal council of ministers consists of the Prime Minister and his deputy, and a number of Ministers. The Council shall, as the executive body of the federation and under the supervision of the President and the Supreme Council, manage all internal and external affairs related to the federation pursuant to the Constitution and federal laws. |
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Federal national council |
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The Federal National Council is the fourth federal authority in the hierarchy of five authorities as stipulated by the Constitution, namely: "The federal Supreme Council, President of The Federation and His Vice, federal Council of Ministers, Federal National Council and the federal judiciary". Article (45) of the constitution gives the Council "legislative mandate to discuss constitutional amendments". Constitutional Article (144), and "Draft Federal Law" and "International treaties and conventions" and "State budget and its final account", the Constitution articles (89 - 91) and By Law – articles (97-84).
In the past, the seven Emirs chose the members of the Federal National Council which represents the seven emirates, and the number of members reflects the size and population of each, but under the new system, each emir selects an Electoral College and the number of its members is 100 times more than the number of the representatives of the emirate in the Federal National Council (8 members from each of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, 6 from each of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, 4 from each of Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain). The members of each Electoral College shall elect half the Federal National Council members for their emirate, while the other half are appointed by the emir. |
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Federal Judiciary |
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As per the Constitution, justice shall be the basis for governance, and the judiciary shall be independent and with supreme judiciary power with full respect to the law and ethics. A Supreme Federal Court shall be the ultimate judiciary power in the State, while there shall also be federal courts of first instance. |
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Location |
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- In the east of the Arabian Peninsula, Southwest Asia, closer to southern coasts of the Arabian Gulf.
- Lies between 22 and 26.5 north latitude and between 51 and 56.5 east longitude.
- The UAE is surrounded in the north and north-west by the Arabian Gulf, and to the west Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and from the south, there is the Sultanate of Oman and Saudi Arabia, while to the east, the Gulf of Oman and the Sultanate of Oman.
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Size |
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The UAE is estimated to lay on around 82880 square kilometers, which makes it the third in size among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries following Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, while Abu Dhabi forms 87% of its total size. |
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Borders |
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Land borders with neighboring countries runs along 876 km (410 km with the Sultanate of Oman and 457 km with Saudi Arabia). Whereas the marine borders form 42% of the total length of the border line. |
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Coastline |
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The length of the coastal line on the south of the Arabian Gulf is about 1318 kilometers. |
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Regional Waters |
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Generally shallow, with an average depth of 35 meters, and are characterized by abundant coral reefs rich with pearls mussel and famous for its richness in fisheries. |
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Main Emirates |
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Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. Each emirate is named after the name of its main city, in addition to the city of Al Ain that is under Abu Dhabi’s government. |
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Natural resources |
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Petroleum and natural gas. |
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Climate |
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Summer temperatures range between 35 and 40 C, up to 48 C along the Gulf Coast, Humidity is very high and might get to 100% in some areas, while in winter, temperatures are moderate around 20 C. |
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Geography |
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The UAE is comprised mostly of desert areas with a multitude of oases, the most known of which is Al Ain. Mount Hafeet looks at Buraimi Oasisfrom the south and its height is about 1220 meters. While Mount Hajar is comprised of a string of hills that divides the Musandam peninsula and extends on 80 km to the north and south with width up to 32 km penetrating the Sultanate of Oman, to reach the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. In the foothills of the northern regions of this range is Ras Al Khaimah. Most costs are sandy except the Musandam Peninsula which is rough area extending to Hajar Mountains.
There are hundreds of islands scattered in the waters of the Gulf of which about 200 islands in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the most important one is Sir Bani Yas, Dalma, Umm Al Nar, Das, Abu El Abuad, islands of Abu Musa and Sir Bu Nair in Sharjah, Tunb al-kubar and Tunb al-sughra islands, Al hamra in Ras Al Khaimah and Al Seania Island of Umm Al Quwain. |
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Historical Background: |
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The first people who lived in this region worked in trade and fishing. In the seventh century, they were blessed with Islam which became the religion of the state. In the early nineteenth century, Britain signed treaties with the local rulers to put themselves under its protection. In 1952, Britain created the so-called seven Trucial Emirates in order to establish a union between them later, and in the second day of December 1971, the United Arab Emirates was formally announced as an independent Federation while maintaining some form of autonomy for each Emirate.
Since then, the process of unity started with enormous momentum, since the leadership and people worked together for integration, in a spirit of modernity and ambition to bring comprehensive development and create a state unparalleled in the region. |
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Source: http://www.uaepresident.ae | |
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