The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federal semi-constitutional monarchy and a sovereign country in West Asia, formed by a union of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah. The federation was formally proclaimed on December 2, 1971, following the British government's announcement in 1968 of its withdrawal from the Trucial States, which were British protectorates. The primary problem solved was the need for a unified, independent state to replace the British influence and ensure stability in the region.
The UAE's governance is structured by its Constitution, which came into effect on December 2, 1971, and was permanently accepted in July 1996. The Constitution, which has 152 Articles in 10 parts, establishes a federal structure where the emirates retain partial self-governance while uniting under a central government. The highest authority is the Federal Supreme Council, composed of the rulers of the seven emirates, which jointly appoints the President and Prime Minister. The federal legislature is the unicameral Federal National Council (FNC), a 40-member body with an advisory role, half of whose members are appointed and half are elected. Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees that all persons are equal before the law without discrimination based on race, nationality, religious belief, or social status.
The UAE is a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), established in May 1981, and its economy is the most diversified in the GCC region, with non-oil sectors like finance, tourism, and real estate contributing significantly to its GDP. A recent significant change is the replacement of the Civil Code in force since 1985 by Federal Law No. 25 of 2025 on the Civil Transactions Law, which, among other reforms, lowers the legal age of adulthood from 21 to 18 years, effective June 1.