United Arab Emirates
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- Federation with specific powers delegated to the federal government and other powers reserved for the individual emirates - monarchical federation
- CONSTITUTION
- December 2, 1971, made permanent in 1996
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on a dual system of sharia or Islamic law and civil courts
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, Federal National Council (Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Union Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Head of State
RELIGIONS
96% Muslims, 4% Christians and Hindus
From the country
- APRIL 12, 2000United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Deputy Director...
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Deputy Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Court, ordered the release of 24-year-old Khalid Mohammed Ahmed Al Mullah after prominent human rights activist Ansar Burney paid "diya" (blood money) of Dh 170,000
- APRIL 6, 2000United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
A Ras al-Khaimah sharia court ruled that anyone found...
A Ras al-Khaimah sharia court ruled that anyone found guilty of employing a magician to cast a spell on others will be sentenced to death because the practice violates Islamic law and is therefore blasphemous
- APRIL 6, 2000United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
A Ras al-Khaimah sharia court ruled that anyone found...
A Ras al-Khaimah sharia court ruled that anyone found guilty of employing a magician to cast a spell on others will be sentenced to death because the practice violates Islamic law and is therefore blasphemous
- MARCH 3, 2000United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
Ali Mohammed Al Hambousi Al Shehi was sentenced to...
Ali Mohammed Al Hambousi Al Shehi was sentenced to death for the murder of Abdullah Mohammed Hassan in a dispute over land ownership
- JANUARY 13, 2000United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
A new environment law foresees the death penalty for...
A new environment law foresees the death penalty for offences involving nuclear waste
- JANUARY 1, 2000United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
Two people were executed in 1999
Two people were executed in 1999
- JANUARY 1, 2000United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
Seven of the eight people sentenced to death in 1999...
Seven of the eight people sentenced to death in 1999 were foreign nationals, according to Amnesty International
- JANUARY 1, 2000United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, rape, treason, aggravated...
Capital crimes are: murder, rape, treason, aggravated robbery, apostasy and drug offenses
- NOVEMBER 26, 1999United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
On November 26, the Cassation Court upheld a death...
On November 26, the Cassation Court upheld a death sentence handed down to a man convicted of peddling 71
- NOVEMBER 23, 1999United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
On November 23, the Ras Al Khaimah Appeal Court commuted...
On November 23, the Ras Al Khaimah Appeal Court commuted the death sentence handed down to Mohammed Rashid, a national, for raping an 11-year-old Syrian girl, to 10 years in prison
- NOVEMBER 11, 1999United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
On November 11, Wator Abata Asharij Zembini, 29, a...
On November 11, Wator Abata Asharij Zembini, 29, a Sri Lankan bus driver at a private school, was put to death by firing squad for the premeditated murder of an 18-year-old national, Nasser Abdullatif Mohammed Al Obaidli, in October 1998
- OCTOBER 19, 1999United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
On October 19, the United Arab Emirates issued a tough...
On October 19, the United Arab Emirates issued a tough environmental protection law that provides for the death penalty and high fines for violators