Definition

The UAE Constitution is the supreme legal document of the United Arab Emirates, originally adopted as a provisional constitution on 2 December 1971 when the federation was established. It was made permanent in 1996 through a constitutional amendment approved by the Federal Supreme Council. The Constitution establishes the federal system of government, delineates the powers of the five federal authorities (Supreme Council, President, Cabinet, Federal National Council, and Federal Judiciary), and defines the relationship between federal and emirate-level governance.

UAE Context

The Constitution comprises 152 articles organised across ten sections. It guarantees fundamental rights including equality before the law, personal liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of opinion and expression within the limits of the law, and the right to education. Islam is designated as the official religion and Arabic as the official language. The Constitution grants each emirate sovereignty over its territory and natural resources in matters not assigned to federal jurisdiction, creating a dual governance structure where federal and local authorities operate in complementary spheres.

Key Data

The Constitution was originally drafted as a provisional document with a planned five-year review period, reflecting the pragmatic approach taken during the federation’s formation. Key amendments have included making the Constitution permanent in 1996, expanding FNC elections from 2006 onward, and mandating 50 percent female representation in the FNC in 2018. The document establishes Abu Dhabi as the federal capital and assigns specific policy domains — defence, foreign affairs, immigration, and currency — exclusively to the federal government.

Vision 2031 Significance

The Constitution provides the legal foundation for all national strategies. Vision 2031 initiatives must operate within the constitutional framework, and any structural governance reforms require constitutional amendment through the Federal Supreme Council. The document’s flexibility has allowed iterative modernisation without abandoning the founding federal compact.

Related Terms

• Federal Supreme Council — The highest constitutional authority established by the Constitution.
• Federal National Council — The parliamentary body whose structure the Constitution defines.
• Federal System — The governance architecture that the Constitution creates.
• Sheikh Zayed — The founding President who led the constitutional negotiations in 1971.