Politics of the United Arab Emirates
- The United Arab Emirates is a federation of absolute hereditary monarchies.
- It is governed by a Federal Supreme Council made up of the seven emirs of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain.
- A percentage of revenues from each emirate are allocated to the UAE’s central budget.
- Elected by the Supreme Council, the president and prime minister are essentially hereditary.
- The emir of Abu Dhabi holds the presidency, and the emir of Dubai is prime minister.
- All but one prime minister served concurrently as vice president. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the UAE's president from the nation's founding until his death on November 2, 2004.
- On the following day the Federal Supreme Council elected his son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to the post. Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is the heir apparent.
- The UAE convened a half-elected Federal National Council in 2006.
- The FNC consists of 40 members drawn from all the emirates.
- Half are appointed by the rulers of the constituent emirates, and the other half are indirectly elected to serve two-year terms.
- In December 2008, the Supreme Council approved constitutional amendments both to empower the FNC and to improve government transparency and accountability.
- he United Arab Emirates (UAE) eGovernment is the extension of the UAE Federal Government in its electronic form.