The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven absolute monarchies, or emirates, located on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The seven constituent emirates are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah, and Fujairah, with Abu Dhabi serving as the capital. The UAE was formally established on December 2, 1971, when six of the emirates formed a union following the British withdrawal from the region, which had been known as the Trucial States. Ras al-Khaimah joined the federation in 1972. The federation was created to ensure a unified, independent state and to manage the wealth generated by the discovery of oil.
The highest constitutional authority is the Federal Supreme Council, which comprises the rulers of all seven emirates. This Council elects the President, who is traditionally the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and the Vice-President/Prime Minister, who is traditionally the Ruler of Dubai. The federal government's jurisdiction is defined by the UAE Constitution, with Articles 120, 121, and 122 outlining the division of powers between the federal and emirate levels. While the federal government controls foreign affairs and defense, each emirate retains considerable autonomy, particularly over its own oil rights and revenues. The legislative branch is the Federal National Council (FNC), a 40-member consultative body, half of whom are appointed and half indirectly elected. The UAE is a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), an economic and political union established in 1981. A recent change includes the national transformation drive, "UAE Government 4.0," which aims to integrate "Agentic AI" across 50% of government services and operations within two years. Additionally, the FNC elections in October 2023 included a requirement for 50% of its members to be women.