Local Government |
Parallel to, and, on occasion, interlocking with, the federal institutions, each of the seven emirates also has its own local government. Although all have expanded significantly as a result of the country's growth over the last 34 years, these differ in size and complexity from emirate to emirate, depending on a variety of factors such as population, area, and degree of development.
Thus the largest and most populous emirate, Abu Dhabi, has its own central governing organ, the Executive Council, chaired by the Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the heir apparent. This was restructured in late 2004, following the accession of President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with the amalgamation of several previously-existing departments, while the subsidiary local departments that formerly existed in the emirate's Eastern and Western Regions were also absorbed into the central departments. The two regions continue to have Ruler's Representatives, and there is also a Ruler's Representative on the important oil terminal island of Das. The main cities, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, the latter also the capital of the Eastern Region, are administered by municipalities, each of which has a nominated municipal council, these both coming under the new Department of Municipalities and Agriculture.
Abu Dhabi's National Consultative Council, chaired by a Speaker, and with 60 members selected from among the emirate's main tribes and families, undertakes a role similar to that of the FNC on a country-wide level, questioning officials and examining and endorsing local legislation. It is also a source of vocal suggestion for the introduction or revision of federal legislation. Administration in the emirate is implemented by the local departments coming under the Executive Council, a number of local departments, covering areas such as finance, economy, civil aviation, ports and municipalities and agriculture (incorporating the former department of public works and the former Al Ain forestry department), with the business of the Council being managed by a secretary-general.
A similar pattern of municipalities and departments can be found in each of the other emirates, while Sharjah, which has three enclaves on the country's East Coast, has also adopted the practice of devolving some authority on a local basis, with branches of the Sharjah Emiri Diwan (Court), headed by deputy chairmen, in both Kalba and Khor Fakkan. Sharjah has also created an Executive Council and a Consultative Council to cover the whole emirate.
In smaller or more remote settlements, the ruler and government of each emirate may choose a local representative to act as a conduit through which the concerns of inhabitants may be directed to government. In most cases, these are the leading local tribal figures, whose influence and authority derive both from their fellow tribesmen and from the confidence placed in them by the ruler, an example of the way in which local leaders within the traditional system have become involved with, and lend legitimacy to, the new structures of government.
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Local Government |
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