The current President and his deputy

H. H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the current President of the UAE. He is also the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. In the UAE, the post of the President is a constitutional one. The Constitution lays down the provisions relating to this post.

H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the current Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE. He is also the Ruler of Dubai.

Provisions for the President as per the UAE's Constitution

Article 45 of the UAE's Constitution provides that the President is the second of the five federal authorities.

Articles 51 to 54 of the UAE's Constitution demonstrate the election, term and powers of the UAE's President.

The Federal Supreme Council elects from among its members a President for a five-year term according to the Gregorian calendar, and may be re-elected for the same office.

Powers of the President

The President of the UAE has the following powers:

• Head the Supreme Council and manage its discussions
• Call upon the Supreme Council for meetings and adjourn them as per the procedural rules approved by the Council in its internal decree
• Call for a joint meeting with the Supreme Council and Federal Cabinet, whenever necessary
• Sign and issue federal laws, decrees, and decisions endorsed by the Supreme Council
• Appoint the Prime Minister, accept his resignation, and let him resign from his position with the approval of the Supreme Council
• Appoint the Deputy Prime Minister and the ministers, accept their resignation and ask them to resign from their positions upon the suggestion of the Prime Minister
• Appoint the diplomatic representatives to foreign countries and other senior federal officials - civil and military (except the President and the judges of the Supreme Court), accept their resignations and dismiss them upon the approval of the Cabinet. Such appointment, acceptance of resignation or dismissal shall be carried out according to decrees and in compliance with federal laws
• Sign letters of credence of diplomatic representatives to foreign states and organisations, accept the credentials of diplomatic and consular representatives of foreign states to the UAE and receive their letters of credence
• Supervise the execution of federal laws, decrees and decisions through the Cabinet and competent ministers
• Represent the Federation inside the country and abroad and in all international relations
• Exercise the right of amnesty or reduction of penalty and approve the capital sentences in accordance with provisions of the Constitution and federal laws
• Confer decorations and medals of honour, both civil and military, in accordance with the laws relating to them
• Any other power vested in him by the Supreme Council or vested in him in conformity with this Constitution or the federal laws.