Country Profile:

United Arab Emirates
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Region: Middle East

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: President KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan *
  • Head of Government: Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum
  • Assembly: United Arab Emirates has a unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani) with 40 seats.

* The president is elected by indirect vote by and from the Federal Supreme Council (FSC), which is composed of the seven emirate rulers, to serve 5-year terms. There are no term limits for the president.

Description of electoral system:

  • The President is appointed by hereditary state rulers.
  • In the Federal National Council (Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani), 20 members are appointed to serve 2-year terms and 20 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 2-year terms.***

*** 20 members will be appointed by the rulers of the constituent emirates and 20 members will be elected by indirect vote through local councils. All members serve 2-year terms.

Population:

  • Population: 4,798,491 (July 2009 est)

Past elections

Last Updated on 02/04/2010