Politics
Chief of State: President Khalifa bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan
Head of Government: Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktum
Symbolism of the Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification
National Symbols: Golden Falcon National Anthem: Nashid al-watani al-imarati
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Conventional Long Form Name of Country: United Arab Emirates Capital Cities: Abu Dhabi Type Of Government: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates Date of Independence: 2 December 1971 National Holidays: Independence Day - December 2, 1971 Executive Description: elected seats for the nine emirates - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; note - number of appointed seats for each emirate are same as elected seats Legislative: 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) from among the seven FSC members; election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next election NA); 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 Judicial System: Judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, which includes the rulers of the 7 emirates; judge term NA subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and local (emirate) levels; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts; each emirate has its own court system Sufferage: limited; note - rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens Ambassador To United States: Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA Ambassador From United States: Ambassador Michael H. CORBIN Location of their Embassy: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008 Location of Our Embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi Location of Consulate: Dubai their rep to the UN Disputes: boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies Refugees and Country of Origin: N/A Internally Displaced Persons: N/A Stateless persons: N/A human Trafficking: N/A illicit Drug trade: the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated |