United Arab Emirates

Economy• GDP: $57.7 billion• 2.2 Million Barrels of oil per day (2nd in production for OPEC)• Exports: crude oil, natural gas • Imports: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals,

food • Currency: United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) $1.00 USD = 3.67 AED • At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves are

expected to last for no more than 100 years• Emphasis on Trade and Tourism

The source of Government’s power and authority

• Federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member Emirates

• Autocratic- there is a ruler and a non-democratic government

• Royal Families in every Emirate (7 of them)

• Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Al Fujayrah,Sharjah, Dubai, Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

Primary Leader• The Late President, His Highness Shaikh Zayed

bin Sultan Al Nahyan General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

• Every Emirate has own Ruler and Crown Prince

• Abu Dhabi Royal Family has most power

Position on civil rights

• Civil Rights are not practiced due to an autocratic government.

• Not everyone is given humane treatment.• Social Class and nationality decides the

people that receive civil rights• Rights are for the minority locals than the

majority expatriates• Since there lacks democracy, it is hard to

fight for civil rights.

Position On Civil Liberties

• Due to autocracy, along with civil rights, the liberties of the majority population lack the liberty and freewill of democratic government

Social Welfare Programs & Political Parties

• There is somewhat social welfare in terms of medical and health care systems

• Free healthcare for many low income people shows great social welfare

• Absolutely no political parties or interest groups exist

Institutions of government• System of checks and balances doesn’t exist• Federal National Council members make

decisions• Abu Dhabi 8 members• · Dubai 8 members• · Sharjah 6 members• · Ras al Khaimah 6 members• · Umm al Qawain 4 members• · Ajman 4 members• · Fujairah 4 members• There exist bureaucracy with body of non

elective members, adherence to fixed rules, and hierarchy of power

Voting and Election Process

• No public voting

• All internal voting is done by Supreme Council of Rulers who usually reelects the same person

• The head of the most powerful emirate gains the leadership

The Media and Censorship

• Government sectors and agencies control the media.

• Being an autocracy UAE is against negative publicity

• International establishments such as ABC, CNN, Al-Jeezera are present for the purpose of connecting the region through Dubai

Differences to USA• Democracy vs. Autocracy• President vs. Ruler• Christianity vs. Islam • UAE founded in 1971, USA founded in 1776 • Rich, Sheikhs distribute $, Income per capita

(one of highest in the world)• Rapid progress from nomadic to modern in less

than 30 years• Education level among natives low in UAE

where USA is high• USA is first world, UAE third world• UAE’s industries are limited where as USA has

vast industries and a very large GDP

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