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United Arab Emirates

Federation in southwest Asia, on the Gulf, bounded northwest by Qatar, southwest by Saudi Arabia, and southeast by Oman.

Government

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven absolute monarchies, the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. A provisional constitution has been in effect since December 1971. The drawing-up of a permanent constitution has been deferred four times, the last occasion being in 1991. The highest authority is the Supreme Council of Rulers, which includes all seven sheikhs. Each is a hereditary emir and an absolute monarch in his own country. The council elects two of its members to be president and vice-president of the federal state for a five-year term. The president then appoints a prime minister and council of ministers. By tradition, the president has been hereditary to the Al-Nahyan clan of Abu Dhabi, which is the UAE's major oil producer, and the prime minister to the Al-Maktoom clan of Dubai, which is the main commercial centre. There is a federal national council of 40 members, half appointed by the emirates and the other half elected, for a two-year term. The first elections were in December 2006. The council operates as a consultative assembly. There are no political parties.

Each emirate has control over its mineral rights (such as oil) and revenues.

History

For early history, see Arabia. The area embraced Islam from the 7th century and came under the influence of the Ottoman empire in the 16th century. It later became known as the Pirate Coast, with raiders based there launching attacks on shipping. In 1853 the sheikhs, local rulers, signed a treaty with the United Kingdom under which they agreed to a perpetual maritime truce and became known as the Trucial Sheikhdoms. In 1892, Britain agreed to protect the Trucial Coast from military attack and, in return, the sheikhs agreed not to enter into relationships with any other foreign government.

In 1952 the seven sheikhdoms of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al Qaiwain set up, on British advice, the Trucial Council, consisting of all seven rulers, with a view to eventually establishing a federation. In the 1960s the Trucial States, as they were known, became extremely wealthy through the exploitation of oil deposits.

End of British protection

The whole area was under British protection, but in 1968 the British government announced that it was withdrawing its forces within three years. The seven Trucial States, with Bahrain and Qatar, formed the Federation of Arab Emirates, which was intended to become a federal state, but in 1971 Bahrain and Qatar seceded to become independent nations. Six of the Trucial States then combined to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, became the first president. The remaining sheikhdom, Ras al Khaimah, joined the UAE in February 1972.

In 1976 Sheikh Zayed, disappointed with the slow progress towards centralization, was persuaded to accept another term as president only with assurances that the federal government would be given more control over such activities as defence and internal security. In recent years the UAE has played an increasingly prominent role in Middle East affairs, and in 1985 it established diplomatic and economic links with the USSR and China. Diplomatic relations were restored with Egypt in 1987.

Participation in 1990–91 Gulf War

In 1990–91, the UAE opposed Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and contributed troops and economic support to the UN coalition that defeated Iraq in the Gulf War. The international financial scandal surrounding the 1991 collapse of the Bank of Commerce and Credit International (BCCI) had serious implications for the UAE because Abu Dhabi's ruler held a controlling interest in the bank. In 1994 the Abu Dhabi government agreed to pay a sum amounting to $1.8 billion to creditors and depositors of the former BCCI.

In November 2004, Sheikh Zayed died and was succeeded as president by his eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan. In December 2005, as the first step towards a more democratic government, Sheikh Khalifa announced that there would be elections for the first time, in 2006, to half of the places in the advisory federal national council.