Constitution of the United Arab Emirates/Amendments

There is hereby put into operation the provisions of the UAE temporary constitution referred to above as of the date this Announcement is issued.

Issued at Dubai on the 15th day of Shawal 1391 (I.C.) corresponding to the 2nd day of December 1971.

There is hereby added a paragraph at the end of Article (1) of the UAE Temporary Constitution providing as follows: “Where a new member accedes to the UAE, the Federal Supreme Council determines the number of the seats allocated to that member in the Federal National Council in excess of the seats specified in Article (68) of this Constitution.”

This constitutional amendment shall be put into operation from the date it is issued and shall be published in the Official Gazette.

According to Article (1) of the UAE Temporary Constitution, any other independent Arab state may, subject to the unanimous approval of the Federal Supreme Council, accede to the UAE. As admitting the accession of a new member to the UAE requires the allocation of a number of seats to that member in the Federal National Council whose organizational structure is provided in Article (68) of the Temporary Constitution, the provision of Article (1) must be amended to meet the case where a new state accedes to the UAE. Therefore, Article (1) is amended by adding a paragraph at its end providing as follows: “When admitting a new member to the UAE, the Federal Supreme Council determines the number of seats to be allocated to that member in the Federal National Council (FNC) in excess of the number provided in Article 68 of the Constitution.” This amendment is introduced by virtue of paragraph (2) of Article (144) of the Constitution on the grounds that it is required by the high interests of the UAE.

We, Saqr Bin Mohamed Al-Qassemi, the Ruler of Ras Al-Khaimah and its appurtenances, perused the UAEcTemporary Constitution and examined the provisions,objectives and goals of the UAE. Establishing the unity of the Arab emirates has been onecof our great desires and we have been strongly determinedcto achieve this objective to advance our country andcpeople. Though, for certain circumstances, we could notcparticipate in signing the temporary constitution and the announcement putting its provisions into operation, our will has met with that of our people to accede to the UAE State because we believe in its objectives and goals. Therefore, we, witnessed by Allah the most supreme and the almighty, announce to all the people that our emirate accepts to accede to the UAE, consents to its temporary constitution signed by the rulers of the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharja, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah on the 25th day of Jumadi Al-Awal of the year 1391 (Islamic Calendar) corresponding to the 18th day of July 1971, and shall apply the provisions of that constitution. May Allah, the best Protector and Defender, grant us success.

The Federal Supreme Council unanimously agrees to the accession of Ras Al-Khaimah Emirate and its appurtenances to the UAE State.

The President of the UAE shall notify this decision to His Highness the Ruler of Ras Al-Khaimah Emirate and its appurtenances.

​ The Foreign Minister shall take the necessary procedures to notify the Arab and international states and organizations of this Decision.

The number of seats of the Federal National Council, specified in Article (68) of the Temporary Constitution, is hereby increased by six seats allocated to Ras Al-Khaimah Emirate and its appurtenances.

His Highness, the President of the UAE, shall notify this Decision to His Highness the Ruler of Ras Al-Khaimah and its appurtenances to select the citizens representing the Emirate in the Federal National Council.

This Decision shall take effect from the date it is issued and shall be published in the Official Gazette.

There is hereby repealed the provision of Article (142) of the UAE Temporary Constitution and, instead, the State alone shall have the right to establish land, sea and air forces.

This constitutional amendment shall take effect from the date it is issued and shall be published in the Official Gazette.

There is hereby extended the transitional period specified in the first paragraph of Article (144) of the Temporary Constitution for an additional term of five years commencing on the second day of December 1976.

This constitutional amendment shall take effect from the date it is issued and shall be published in the Official Gazette.

DECISION OF THE FEDERAL SUPREME COUNCIL 2/1981
PROMULGATING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1/1981
EXTENDING THE TERM OF APPLYING THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEMPORARY CONSTITUTION

There is hereby extended the transitional period provided in Article (144) of the Temporary Constitution for an additional term of five years commencing on the second day of December 1981.

DECISION OF THE FEDERAL SUPREME COUNCIL 1/1986
RELATING TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT EXTENDING THE TERM OF APPLYING THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEMPORARY CONSTITUTION

There is hereby extended the transitional period provided in Article (144) of the Temporary Constitution for an additional term of five years commencing on the second day of December 1986.

DECISION OF THE FEDERAL SUPREME COUNCIL 1/1991
RELATING TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1/1991
EXTENDING THE TERM OF APPLYING THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEMPORARY CONSTITUTION

There is hereby extended the transitional period provided in Article (144) of the Temporary Constitution for an additional term of five years commencing on the second day of December 1991.

DECISION OF THE FEDERAL SUPREME COUNCIL 3/1991
FORMING A COMMITTEE FOR EXAMINING THE UAE TEMPORARY CONSTITUTION

There is hereby assigned His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktum, the Minister of Finance and Industry, to chair a committee comprising representatives of all the emirates member of the UAE. Each emirate shall nominate its representative in that committee.