The legal system of the UAE is based on its constitution that was approved by the Federal National Council in 1996. This replaced the provisional documents which had been renewed every five years since the country’s creation in 1971. The Constitution establishes the principal instruments of Federal authority as follows:
-The Supreme Council of the Federation – composed of the seven sheikhs of the seven Emirates – has the power to enact legislation, establish policy, appoint persons to office and to assume supreme supervision of the Federation's affairs. Decisions should be approved by a majority of five, which must include the votes of the sheikhs of Abu-Dhabi and Dubai.
-The President and Vice President of the Federation are elected by the Supreme Council from among its members and have overall responsibility for the administration of federal laws and affairs.
-The Council of Ministers performs the function of a cabinet.
-The Federal National Council has advisory authority.
-The Federal judiciary.
The constitution provides a rather detailed list of citizen rights and liberties and lays down the rules of priority between federal and Emirate legislation. Under Article 151 of the constitution, federal law has precedence over legislation of the Emirates.
Judiciary
The Federal judicial system in the UAE consists of Federal Courts of First Instance, two Federal Courts of Appeal in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi and a Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi, the latter composed of five judges including a President of the Court. The Supreme Court has both appellate and original jurisdiction. The individual Emirates retained their own Islamic Shari’a courts which exist parallel to the Federal Courts. Dubai, however, has not merged its courts with the federal judiciary and the rules for admission to the Dubai bar are different than those for admission to the federal bar.Most advocates in the UAE were, and primarily still are, expatriates. But the government has begun to enforce Law No. 21 of 1991 under which only UAE nationals can represent clients in local courts. Expatriate lawyers may only serve as legal consultants.
Alternative Dispute Resolution and Arbitration
UAE courts usually enforce the intention of the parties to arbitrate disputes as expressed in a contractual arbitration clause. The courts, however, sometimes substitute clauses providing for arbitration outside of the UAE for local venue. UAE courts will often not enforce foreign judgments or honor contractual choice of law provisions.Arbitration proceedings are usually carried out by the individual Emirates though their respective Chambers of Commerce and Industry which are quasi-state organizations. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce has published Rules of Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration which are used by its Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Center.
In this context, it should also be noted that according to Dubai Law No.4 of 1997 (amending and clarifying a 1996 law), the government of Dubai must consent to being sued. According to a July 1992 Directive, however, no such consent is required if an arbitration clause in any contract to which the government is a party is invoked.
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
