2nd December 1971 was a turning point in the history of the Emirates. On this date a declaration was issued renewing enforcement of the provisional constitution of the UAE and the United Arab Emirates was declared a sovereign Federal State comprising Aim Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and later Ras Al Khaimah. The UAE is governed by five constitutional and legislative bodies which include the following:

The Supreme Council of the Federation, the President and the. Vice-President, the Council of Ministers, the Federal . National Council (FNC) and the Federal Judiciary.

The Supreme Council of the Federation is the highest political authority in the country. It consists of all the Rulers of the Emirates comprising the Federation and represents collective leadership. The President and the Vice-President of the State are elected by the Supreme Council from its members.
The, jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of the Federation is confined to major political, legislative and administrative issues of the state.

The President appoints the Prime Minister with the consent of the Supreme Council. Deputy Premiers and Federal Ministers are appointed as per decree by the President upon a recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Cabinet is the executive body running domestic and foreign affairs concerning the state as per the Federal Constitution, laws and under the supervision of the President and the Supreme Council of the Federation.

The Federal National Council (FNC) is set up with 40 members representing the Emirates forming the Federation. The FNC is the legislative assembly (Parliament) which is as4gned the authority of discussing and approving all federal draft laws and then referring them to the Supreme Council for enactment, The FNC also exercises the power of raising issues concerning. performance of the government, discussing matters of interest to the public and monitoring the conduct of the federal government.

The judicial authority is assumed by the Federal Court which consists of the Federal High Court, the Appeal Court and the Federal Courts of First Instance. As per the constitution, the judicial authority of each Emirate may handle the judicial matters not assigned to the Federal Court. However, it is possible as per a federal decree issued upon the request of the respective Emirate, to transfer whole or part of the judicial authorities exercised by the respective Emirate's judiciary to the Federal Court of First Instance.

On the Arab and international levels, the UAE is a member of the Arab Gulf Co-operation Council (AGCC) which comprises in addition to the IJAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Bahrain, The Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait. The AGCC was formed in 1981. The United Arab Emirates is also a member of the Arab League, the United Nations and other international organizations and agencies.