Democracy: A Model of Steady Progress
The example of the United Arab Emirates
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Though recent news focuses on its extravagance and cutting edge pushes in engineering and architecture, the United Arab Emirates showcases a fascinating example of engineering an indigenous Arab government that synthesizes traditional Arab culture with modern Western ideas.
The UAE is comprised of seven semi-autonomous emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ra’s al-Khaimah, and Fujairah. It was founded on December 2nd, 1971. The emirates came together under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi to make a constitutional federation. The timing of this was particularly interesting, because the early seventies were an uncertain period between the rejection of Nasserite Pan-Arabism and the rise of Khomeini Islamism. UAE is among Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Jordan that have maintained their traditional monarchy, in contrast to countries like Egypt, Syria, and Iraq that all had coups against their initial monarchies. When totalitarian dictatorship was the most common government, the UAE developed its own unique mix of Arab tradition and Western innovation.
The constitution outlines five federal authorities. The executive side includes a president and vice president. The president also has a cabinet. They are elected by the highest legislature, the Federal Supreme Council, made up of one ruler from each of the seven emirates. The less powerful Federal National Council is a forty member council that provides greater representation to the emirates based on relative population. The judiciary branch includes both secular and religious courts in an autonomous judiciary branch. The constitution of the UAE also delegates all powers not covered in it to each individual emirate. The individual emirates have exercised a lot of autonomy sometimes even opposing the federal government’s stance.
In the United Arab Emirates women have equal rights. They may own property, work, and receive an education. Also, the UAE is one of the few Arab countries to allow freedom of religion. Many religions have mosques, churches, and temples in UAE.
The government, however, reflects the tribal Arab society from which it came. The Presidency is a de facto monarchy from the most powerful tribe of Abu Dhabi, Al-Nahyan, and the vice president comes from the most powerful tribe of Dubai, Al-Maktoum. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan served as President from the creation of the federation until his death in late 2004. He was reelected every five years by the Supreme Council. When he died his son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was elected to replace him. There is no popular suffrage; instead, tribal leaders and sheiks from each emirate represent their tribe within the government.
Historically, the Emirates’ economy was based on the pearl trade, but in the 1930’s Japan surpassed the emirates as the primary pearl producer in the market. The discovery of oil in the 60’s once again brought wealth to the emirates, particularly Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Shrinking oil reserves led Dubai, the second largest but most populous emirate, to invest in non oil industries. Over the past twenty years Dubai has blossomed into a popular tourist destination. This is one of the most diversified economies in the Middle East with rising tourist, service, and financial industries. Dubai is most known for its six-star hotel, Burj Al Arab, and the man-made Jumeirah Palm island. However it constantly makes headlines for its indoor ski slope, world’s tallest skyscraper, and its planned addition of more man-made islands.
Although it is not completely democratic in the Western sense the United Arab Emirates has created a fusion government that does not require the brutality and secret police networks of some of its neighbors in order to maintain stability and prosperity of its citizens.
