Reflecting our will and the will of the people of our emirates to form themselves into a Federation to provide a better life and more enduring stability, and enjoy a higher international standing for the Emirates and all their people;
Regional group(s) , International organizationsDesiring to create closer links among themselves in the form of an independent sovereign federal state capable of protecting its existence and the existence of its members and cooperating with the sister Arab states and with all other friendly member states of the United Nations Organization and of the community of nations, in general, on the basis of mutual respect and exchange of interests and benefits;
Desiring also to lay the foundation for federal rule in the coming years on a sound basis that reflects the reality and the capacity of the Emirates at the present time, enables the Federation to achieve its objectives, safeguards the identity of its members in a way consistent with these objectives and, at the same time, prepares the people of the Federation for a dignified and free constitutional life while going ahead towards a full-fledged representative democratic regime in an Islamic and Arab community free of fear and anxiety; and
Realizing that it is our dearest desire and strongest determination to achieve all the above-mentioned in order to push ahead our country and our people up to take an appropriate place among the civilized states and nations,
Announce to Allah, the Supreme and Almighty, and to all the people our approval of the Constitution undersigned by us.
May Allah, the best Protector and Defender, grant us success.
The United Arab Emirates is an independent, sovereign, and federal state hereinafter referred to as (“the UAE”). The UAE consists of the following Emirates:
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah.
Any other independent Arab state may, subject to the unanimous approval of the Federal Supreme Council, join the UAE. When admitting a new member to the UAE, the Federal Supreme Council determines the number of seats to be allocated to that member in the Federal National Council (FNC) in excess of the number provided in Article 68 of the Constitution.
In assuming its responsibilities under the provisions of the Constitution, the UAE has sovereignty over all territory and territorial waters lying within the international boundaries of the member Emirates.
A member Emirate shall exercise sovereignty over its own territories and territorial waters in all matters which are not within the jurisdiction of the UAE under the Constitution.
The UAE may not cede its sovereignty or relinquish any part of its territories or waters.
National flag , National anthemThe UAE shall have a flag, an emblem and a national anthem. The flag and the emblem shall be specified by an Act. An emirate shall have its own flag to use it within its territories.
Regional group(s)The UAE is a part of the greater Arab nation to which the UAE is linked by the ties of religion, language, history and common destiny.
The people of the UAE are one people, and a part of the Arab nation.
Status of religious law , Official religion , Official or national languagesIslam is the official religion of the UAE. The Islamic Shari’a is a main source of legislation in the UAE. The official language of the UAE is Arabic.
The citizens of the UAE shall have a single nationality specified by law and shall enjoy abroad the protection of the Federal Government in accordance with the generally-accepted international principles.
Conditions for revoking citizenshipA citizen’s nationality may not be divested or withdrawn except as may be provided in law.
National capitalAbu Dhabi City shall be the capital city of the UAE.
The objectives of the UAE are as follows:
Establish close co-operation among the emirates for their common interest to achieve these objectives.
Promote the prosperity and progress of the emirates in all fields. Provide a better life for all the citizens.Each member Emirate shall respect the independence and sovereignty of the other Emirates in their internal affairs as provided in the Constitution.
The foreign policy of the UAE shall be directed towards supporting the Arab and Islamic causes and interests and towards establishing closer friendship and co-operation with all the nations and peoples on the basis of the principles of the charter of the United Nations Organization and international ideals.
The UAE and the member Emirates shall co-operate, each within the limits of its responsibilities and abilities, in executing the provisions of this Part.
Reference to fraternity/solidarityEquality, social justice, and providing safety, security, and equal opportunities to all the citizens are pillars on which the community is grounded. Solidarity and shared sympathies are close links that tie the Emirates together.
Right to found a familyThe family is the cornerstone of the community. The fundamental principles on which the family is based are, religion, ethics and patriotism. The law safeguards the family’s existence and maintains and protects it from corruption.
State support for children , State support for the unemployed , State support for the elderly , State support for the disabled
The community shall care for children and mothers, and protect minors and others who are unable to look after themselves for any reason, such as illness or incapacity or old age or forced unemployment, assist and rehabilitate them for their own interest and for the interest of the community. Welfare and social security laws regulate these matters.
Compulsory education , Free educationEducation is a fundamental factor for the progress of the society. Education is mandatory in its primary stage and is free of charge at all stages in the UAE. The law lays down the necessary plans for disseminating and spreading everywhere all levels of education and for eradicating illiteracy.
An individual or organization may establish a private school in accordance with the provisions of the law provided that the school must be subordinated to the supervision, and comply with the instructions, of the competent public authorities.
Right to health careThe community shall provide all the citizens with medical care and means of prevention and treatment from diseases and epidemics and shall promote the establishment of public and private hospitals, clinics, and treatment houses.
Right to work , International lawThe community shall esteem work as a cornerstone of its development. The community shall provide jobs to the citizens, qualify them for those jobs, and create the suitable conditions for service by enacting legislation protecting the rights of the employees and the interests of the employers in the light of the advanced international labor legislation.
Protection from expropriation , Right to own propertyPrivate property is protected and the restrictions against it shall be specified by law. A person may not be deprived of his/her private property except in such circumstances as may be dictated by the public interest, in accordance with the provisions of law, and for equitable consideration.
Public property is inviolable. Every citizen has the duty of protecting public property. The law specifies the cases in which violating that duty is punishable.
Ownership of natural resources , Protection of environmentThe natural resources and wealth in each Emirate are deemed the public property of that Emirate. The community shall preserve and utilize in a good way those resources and wealth for the interest of the national economy.
The national economy shall be grounded on social justice, shall mainly depend on faithful cooperation between the public and private activities, and shall seek to achieve economic development, increase productivity, raise the standards of living, and achieve prosperity for citizens as provided in law.
The U.A.E. shall encourage co-operation and savings .
Equality regardless of race , Equality regardless of social status , Equality regardless of religion , Equality regardless of nationality , General guarantee of equality
All persons are equal in law. There shall be no distinction among the citizens of the UAE on the basis of race, nationality, faith or social status.
Personal liberty is guaranteed to all citizens. A person may not be arrested, searched, detained or imprisoned except in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Prohibition of cruel treatment , Prohibition of tortureA person may not be subjected to torture or to degrading treatment.
Principle of no punishment without law , Protection from ex post facto lawsCrimes and punishments shall be defined by the law. A person may not be punished for an act or omission committed before the relevant law is promulgated.
Right to fair trialPenalty is personal. An accused is presumed innocent until proved guilty in a legal and fair trial.
Right to counselAn accused person has the right to appoint as his/her attorney at law anyone who is capable to defend him/her in trial.
The law specifies the cases where a counsel for defense must represent an accused person.
An accused person may not be physically or morally harmed.
Freedom of movementFreedom of movement and residence is guaranteed to the citizens as provided in law.
Freedom of opinion/thought/conscience , Freedom of expressionFreedom of opinion and of expressing that opinion verbally, in writing, or by any other medium of expression is guaranteed as provided in law.
Telecommunications , Right to privacyFreedom of communication by post, telegraph and other means of communication and the secrecy thereof are guaranteed in accordance with the law.
Freedom of religionFreedom to exercise religious worship is guaranteed in accordance with the generally-accepted traditions provided that such freedom is consistent with the public policy or does not violate the public morals.
Freedom of association , Freedom of assemblyFreedom of assembly and establishing associations is guaranteed as provided in law.
A citizen is free to choose his work, profession or trade as provided in law and subject to the governing legislation.
Prohibition of slaveryA person may not be subjected to forced labor except in such cases as may be provided in law and provided that such person is compensated for such labor.
Prohibition of slaveryA person may not be enslaved.
The door for holding a public office is open to all citizens on the basis of equal conditions and in accordance with the provisions of the law.
A public office is a national service entrusted to the person who holds that office. A public servant shall, while performing his/her duties, seek to achieve only the public interest.
Right to privacyA man’s housing is inviolable. A person may not enter another person’s house without the permission of those living in that house except in such cases and conditions as may be provided in the law.
A citizen may not be deported or exiled from the UAE.
Protection of stateless persons , Extradition procedureA citizen or a political refugee may not be extradited.
Public confiscation of property is prohibited. A person’s private property may not be confiscated except by court judgment and in such cases as may be provided in law.
International lawForeigners in the UAE enjoy the rights and freedoms stipulated in the applicable international instruments or in the treaties and conventions to which the UAE is a party and have to perform the duties which correspond to those rights and freedoms.
Right of petitionA person has the right to file a complaint with a competent authority, including a judicial entity, against the violation of the rights and freedoms stated in this Part.
Duty to pay taxesA person has the duty to pay such taxes and public levies as may be provided in law.
Duty to serve in the militaryDefending the UAE is a sacred duty of every citizen and performing military service is an honor which is regulated by law.
Duty to obey the constitutionRespect of the Constitution and the laws and of the orders issued by the public authorities in execution thereof, compliance with the public order, and respect of public morality are duties incumbent upon all the people living in the UAE.
The federal authorities consist of the following:
The Federal Supreme Council is the highest authority in the UAE. The Federal Supreme Council consists of the Rulers of all the member Emirates of the UAE; In case of a Ruler’s absence or when it is not possible for a Ruler to attend, the acting Ruler in the Emirate substitutes the Ruler in the Federal Supreme Council.
An Emirate has a single vote in the deliberations of the Council.
Head of state powersThe Federal Supreme Council has the following powers:
The decisions of the Supreme Council on substantive matters are taken by majority of five of its members provided that Abu Dhabi and Dubai Emirates must be among the five members. The minority shall abide by the opinion of the majority.
The decisions of the Council on procedural matters are taken by majority vote. The Council’s by-law specifies these matters.
The sessions of the Supreme Council are held in the UAE’s capital city and may be held in such other place as may be agreed upon in advance.
The Federal Supreme Council elects from among its members a President and a Vice President. The Vice President exercises all the powers of the President in the event of the President’s absence for any reason.
The term of office of the President and the Vice President is five years according to the Gregorian calendar and may be re-elected for the same office.
Oaths to abide by constitution , God or other deitiesThe President and the Vice President takes, on assuming office, the following oath before the Supreme Council
God or other deities , Oaths to abide by constitution“I swear by Allah, the Great, that I shall be faithful to the United Arab Emirates; respect its Constitution and laws; protect the interests of the people of the UAE; discharge my duties honestly and faithfully, and safeguard the independence of the UAE and its territorial integrity.”
Head of state replacementWhere the office of the President or the Vice President falls vacant for death or resignation, or because any one of them ceases to be the Ruler in his Emirate for any reason, the Supreme Council is called into session within a month from that date to elect a successor to the vacant office for the period mentioned in Article 52 hereof. In the event that the two offices of the President and the Vice President of the Supreme Council become vacant at the same time, the Council is immediately called into session by any one of its members or by the Prime Minister of the UAE to elect a new President and Vice President to fill the two vacant offices.
Head of state powers , Deputy executiveThe President of the UAE has the following powers: