Government: Federation of seven amirates, as defined in 1971 provisional constitution. Powers divided between federal and amirate governments. Head of state is UAE president, Shaykh Zayid ibn Sultan Al Nuhayyan, chosen by Supreme Council of the Union composed of rulers of seven amirates. Federal National Council has consultative function.

Politics: No political parties. Amirs and their families, particularly those of Abu Dhabi and Dubayy, most important political actors; technocrats and commercial interests play lesser role.

Foreign Relations: Member of United Nations, League of Arab States, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Gulf Cooperation Council, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Data as of January 1993

NOTE: The information regarding United Arab Emirates on this page is re-published from The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of United Arab Emirates Government and Politics information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about United Arab Emirates Government and Politics should be addressed to the Library of Congress and the CIA.