The United Arab Emirates is a Federal Sovereign State which consists of seven Emirates namely: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.

This Federation of six Emirates was established on 2nd December 1971. The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah joined the Federation on the 10th of February 1972. According to the constitution, the Supreme Council of the Federation is the highest political authority in the country. It consists of all the Rulers of the seven Emirates.

The President and the Vice President of the state are elected by the Supreme Council and from its members. The President appoints the Prime Minister with the consent of the members of the Supreme Council. The Federal Ministers are appointed by a decree by the President upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

The Federal National Council (FNC), which consists of representatives of each Emirate, is the legislative council (Parliament). It exercises the authority to discuss and draft all Federal laws and then refer them to the Supreme Council for enactment. This is in addition to its role in discussing issues of public interest and monitoring the conduct of the Federal Government.

On the international level, the United Arab Emirates is a member of the Arab League, the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council, the United Nations, the World Bank for Reconstruction & Development, the International Monetary Fund and many other international organizations such as the International Labor Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Organization for Industrial Development, the World Health Organization and others. Being an important oil producing country, it is also a member in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC).