Government and power in the United Arab Emirates

Who leads the United Arab Emirates, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Federal monarchy of seven hereditary emirates.

Who leads the United Arab Emirates?

• Head of state: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (President of the United Arab Emirates)
• Head of government: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Dubai)
• Foreign minister: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates)

Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.

Governance scores

The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.

Voice and accountability

Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.

Political stability and absence of violence

Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.

Government effectiveness

Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.

Regulatory quality

Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.

Rule of law

Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.

Control of corruption

Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.

Official bodies that hold power in the United Arab Emirates

Government

• The UAE Government portal
  Publishes government services, federal policies and information on ministries.
• UAE Cabinet
  Publishes cabinet decisions, government strategies and official announcements.

Parliament

• Federal National Council
  Publishes sessions, draft federal laws reviewed and the list of members.

Elections

• National Election Committee
  Publishes electoral college lists, candidate information and Federal National Council election results.

Courts

• Ministry of Justice (federal courts)
  Publishes federal court services, legal information and judicial announcements.

Public audit

• UAE Accountability Authority
  Publishes information on the audit of federal entities and public funds.

Laws and the official gazette

• UAE Legislation
  Publishes federal laws, decrees and the Official Gazette of the UAE.

Government below the national level

• Emirates (7): Hereditary ruler; executive council appointed by the ruler
• Municipalities and regions within emirates: Directors and municipal councils (where they exist, e.g. in Sharjah) appointed by the ruler or executive council
• Outlying towns: Ruler's representatives or deputy chairs appointed (e.g. Sharjah's offices in Kalba and Khor Fakkan)

How local power works in the United Arab Emirates

Places in the United Arab Emirates

• Official statistics for the United Arab Emirates

Sources

• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Central government spending (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 808094019f50…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Tax revenue (GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08c94b750f31…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Armed forces personnel (MS.MIL.TOTL.P1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa4663c743ba…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Births registered (SP.REG.BRTH.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f8d443034ba7…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.