A symbiotic relationship between formal and traditional government exists in UAE. The Supreme Council is the country’s top policy making body comprising hereditary rulers from each of the seven emirates. It is responsible for developing and approving federal policies and laws that relate to education, foreign affairs and defence, amongst others. The Council holds a quarterly meeting to tackle federal government issues, in which the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have a power of veto over decisions. The Council also meets every five years to reaffirm the existing president or elect a new one.
Other branches of the federal government include the Federal Council of Ministers (executive), the Federal Judiciary and the 40-member Federal National Council (legislative). The introduction of indirect elections in December 2006 to select half of the members of the FNC, including the participation of nine women in the parliament, is seen as a commendable move designed to increase public participation in the country’s legislative processes. The age-old institution of open majlis (council) nevertheless ensures that UAE nationals maintain free access to their ruler or sheikh, where they could raise important issues that affect them personally or collectively such as requesting for a piece of land, university scholarship for their children or the potential effects of foreign immigration policies.
Furthermore, each of the seven emirates have their own local government, which coordinates closely with the federal institutions and which follows a general pattern of structure, as outlined in the constitution.
The Supreme Council elected His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as president in November 2004, following the death of his father and first president of UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who ruled the state from 1971 until the time of his death. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is currently the vice president and prime minister of UAE, posts he assumed following the death of his brother and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum, in early 2006. Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed are presently rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively.
In Abu Dhabi the Judiciary Department reports directly to the office of the ruler, so is the office of His Highness Crown Prince General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who chairs the emirate’s central governing body, the Executive Council. Abu Dhabi’s executive council oversees government agencies that administer various services ranging from culture and heritage, commerce, economic development, education, health, food, pensions, information, utilities and finance, amongst others. Diwans or representatives of the ruler are also adjoined to the ruler’s and crown prince’s offices to facilitate community relations.