Nisrine Abiad
Although only a young federation, the United Arab Emirates is prosperous and well-functioning, and its success set it apart from numerous unaccomplished federal experiments in the region. On the occasion of the golden jubilee of the UAE’s 1971 establishment, this article aims to understand what model of distribution of powers is designed in the UAE and to what extent it is possible to classify it through the lens of comparative federalism. It is notable that flexibility in the provisions of the constitutions and in the jurisprudence of the UAE Supreme Federal Court shapes the division of powers between the federal government and the emirates. The analysis clarifies that despite evidence of dual and administrative federalism features, the UAE federalism model is still in the making. Nevertheless, it finds its relevance in a strong principle of supremacy of federal laws and the recent emergence of a direct relationship between the citizens and the federation.
