IFES Election Guide - Country Profile: United Arab Emirates

Country Profile:

Overview

Elections

News

Links

Region

Upcoming Elections

Legislative
2015

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.
The Prime Minister is appointed head of government.
In the Federal National Council (Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani), 20 members are appointed to serve 2-year terms and 20 members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve 2-year terms.***

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