Long-form name: United Arab Emirates (no short-form name); abbreviated UAE

Type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central government and other powers reserved to member shaykhdoms

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular--imarah); Abu Zaby, Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, Ras al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

Independence: 2 December 1971 (from UK; formerly Trucial States)

Constitution: 2 December 1971 (provisional)

Legal system: secular codes are being introduced by the UAE Government and in several member shaykhdoms; Islamic law remains influential

National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1971)

Branches: executive--Supreme Council of Rulers (seven members), from which a president and vice president are elected; prime minister and Council of Ministers; unicameral legislature--Federal National Council; judicial--Union Supreme Court

Leaders: Shaykh Zayid bin Sultan Al NUHAYYAN of Abu Dhabi, President (since December 1971); Shaykh Rashid ibn Said Al MAKTUM of Dubayy, Vice President (since 1971) and Prime Minister (since April 1979)

Suffrage: none

Elections: none

Political or pressure groups: none; a few small clandestine groups are active

Member of: Arab League, CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ahmed S. AL-MOKARRAB; Chancery at Suite 740, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037; telephone (202) 338-6500; US--Ambassador David L. MACK; Embassy at Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi (mailing address is P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi); telephone �971� (2) 336691; there is a US Consulate General in Dubai

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side

NOTE: The information regarding United Arab Emirates on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of United Arab Emirates Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about United Arab Emirates Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.