| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES United Arab Emirates Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah Joined United Nations: 9 December 1971 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Updated 01 November 2012 |
PART TWO THE FUNDAMENTAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BASIS OF THE UNION
Article 13
The Union and the member Emirates shall co-operate, within the limits of their jurisdiction and abilities, in executing the provisions of
this Part.
Article 14
Equality, social justice, ensuring safety and security and equality of opportunity for all citizens shall be the pillars of the Society .
Co-operation and mutual mercy shall be a firm bond between them.
Article 15
The family is the basis of society. It is founded on morality, religion, ethics and patriotism. The law shall guarantee its existence,
safeguard and protect it from corruption.
Article 16
Society shall be responsible for protecting childhood and motherhood and shall protect minors and others unable to look after
themselves for any reason, such as illness or incapacity or old age or forced unemployment. It shall be responsible for assisting them
and enabling them to help themselves for their own benefit and that of the community.
Such matters shall be regulated by welfare and social security legislations.
Article 17
Education shall be a fundamental factor for the progress of society. It shall be compulsory in its primary stage and free of charge at all
stages, within the Union. The law shall prescribe the necessary plans for the propagation and spread of education at various levels and
for the eradication of illiteracy.
Article 18
Private schools may be established by individuals and organisations in accordance with the provisions of the law, provided that such
schools shall be subject to the supervision of the competent public authorities and to their directives.
Article 19
Medical care and means of prevention and treatment of diseases and epidemics shall be ensured by the community for all citizens.
The community shall promote the establishment of public and private hospitals, dispensaries and cure - houses.
Article 20
Society shall esteem work as a cornerstone of its development. It shall endeavour to ensure that employment is available for citizens
and to train them so that they are prepared for it. It shall furnish the appropriate facilities for that by providing legislations protecting
the rights of the employees and the interests of the employers in the light of developing international labour legislations.
Article 21
Private property shall be protected. Conditions relating thereto shall be laid down by Law. No one shall be deprived of his private
property except in circumstances dictated by the public benefit in accordance with the provisions of the Law and on payment of a just
compensation.
Article 22
Public property shall be inviolable. The protection of public property shall be the duty of every citizen. The Law shall define the cases
in which penalties shall be imposed for the contravention of that duty. Article 23 The natural resources and wealth in each Emirate
shall be considered to be the public property of that Emirate. Society shall be responsible for the protection and proper exploitation of
such natural resources and wealth for the benefit of the national economy. Article 24 The basis of the national economy shall be social
justice. It is founded on sincere co-operation between public and private activities. Its aim shall be the achievement of economic
development, increase of productivity, raising the standards of living and the achievement of prosperity for citizens, all within the limits
of Law.
PART THREE FREEDOM, RIGHTS AND PUBLIC DUTIES
Article 25
All persons are equal before the law, without distinction between citizens of the Union in regard to race, nationality, religious belief or
social status.
Article 26
Personal liberty is guaranteed to all citizens. No person may be arrested, searched, detained or imprisoned except in accordance with
the provisions of law.
No person shall be subjected to torture or to degrading treatment.
Article 27
Crimes and punishments shall be defined by the law. No penalty shall be imposed for any act of commission or omission committed
before the relevant law has been promulgated.
Article 28
Penalty is personal. An accused shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty in a legal and fair trial. The accused shall have the right
to appoint the person who is capable to conduct his defence during the trial. The law shall prescribe the cases in which the presence
of a counsel for defence shall be assigned.
Physical and moral abuse of an accused person is prohibited.
Article 29
Freedom of movement and residence shall be guaranteed to citizens within the limits of law.
Article 30
Freedom of opinion and expressing it verbally, in writing or by other means of expression shall be guaranteed within the limits of law.
Article 31
Freedom of communication by post, telegraph or other means of communication and the secrecy thereof shall be guaranteed in
accordance with law.
Article 32
Freedom to exercise religious worship shall be guaranteed in accordance with established customs, provided that it does not conflict
with public policy or violate public morals.
Article 33
Freedom of assembly and establishing associations shall be guaranteed within the limits of law.
Article 34
Every citizen shall be free to choose his occupation, trade or profession within the limits of law. Due consideration being given to
regulations organising some of such professions and trades. No person may be subjected to forced labour except in exceptional
circumstances provided for by the law and in return for compensation.
No person may be enslaved.
11 All rights are reserved for the Federal National Council 2003.
Article 41
Every person shall have the right to submit complaints to the competent authorities, including the judicial authorities, concerning the
abuse or infringement of the rights and freedom stipulated in this Part.
Article 42
Payment of taxes and public charges determined by law is a duty of every citizen.
Article 43
Defence of the Union is a sacred duty of every citizen and military service is an honour for citizens which shall be regulated by law.
Article 44
Respect of the Constitution, laws and orders issued by public authorities in execution thereof, observance of public order and respect
of public morality are duties incumbent upon all inhabitants of the Union.
Article 13
The Union and the member Emirates shall co-operate, within the limits of their jurisdiction and abilities, in executing the provisions of
this Part.
Article 14
Equality, social justice, ensuring safety and security and equality of opportunity for all citizens shall be the pillars of the Society .
Co-operation and mutual mercy shall be a firm bond between them.
Article 15
The family is the basis of society. It is founded on morality, religion, ethics and patriotism. The law shall guarantee its existence,
safeguard and protect it from corruption.
Article 16
Society shall be responsible for protecting childhood and motherhood and shall protect minors and others unable to look after
themselves for any reason, such as illness or incapacity or old age or forced unemployment. It shall be responsible for assisting them
and enabling them to help themselves for their own benefit and that of the community.
Such matters shall be regulated by welfare and social security legislations.
Article 17
Education shall be a fundamental factor for the progress of society. It shall be compulsory in its primary stage and free of charge at all
stages, within the Union. The law shall prescribe the necessary plans for the propagation and spread of education at various levels and
for the eradication of illiteracy.
Article 18
Private schools may be established by individuals and organisations in accordance with the provisions of the law, provided that such
schools shall be subject to the supervision of the competent public authorities and to their directives.
Article 19
Medical care and means of prevention and treatment of diseases and epidemics shall be ensured by the community for all citizens.
The community shall promote the establishment of public and private hospitals, dispensaries and cure - houses.
Article 20
Society shall esteem work as a cornerstone of its development. It shall endeavour to ensure that employment is available for citizens
and to train them so that they are prepared for it. It shall furnish the appropriate facilities for that by providing legislations protecting
the rights of the employees and the interests of the employers in the light of developing international labour legislations.
Article 21
Private property shall be protected. Conditions relating thereto shall be laid down by Law. No one shall be deprived of his private
property except in circumstances dictated by the public benefit in accordance with the provisions of the Law and on payment of a just
compensation.
Article 22
Public property shall be inviolable. The protection of public property shall be the duty of every citizen. The Law shall define the cases
in which penalties shall be imposed for the contravention of that duty. Article 23 The natural resources and wealth in each Emirate
shall be considered to be the public property of that Emirate. Society shall be responsible for the protection and proper exploitation of
such natural resources and wealth for the benefit of the national economy. Article 24 The basis of the national economy shall be social
justice. It is founded on sincere co-operation between public and private activities. Its aim shall be the achievement of economic
development, increase of productivity, raising the standards of living and the achievement of prosperity for citizens, all within the limits
of Law.
PART THREE FREEDOM, RIGHTS AND PUBLIC DUTIES
Article 25
All persons are equal before the law, without distinction between citizens of the Union in regard to race, nationality, religious belief or
social status.
Article 26
Personal liberty is guaranteed to all citizens. No person may be arrested, searched, detained or imprisoned except in accordance with
the provisions of law.
No person shall be subjected to torture or to degrading treatment.
Article 27
Crimes and punishments shall be defined by the law. No penalty shall be imposed for any act of commission or omission committed
before the relevant law has been promulgated.
Article 28
Penalty is personal. An accused shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty in a legal and fair trial. The accused shall have the right
to appoint the person who is capable to conduct his defence during the trial. The law shall prescribe the cases in which the presence
of a counsel for defence shall be assigned.
Physical and moral abuse of an accused person is prohibited.
Article 29
Freedom of movement and residence shall be guaranteed to citizens within the limits of law.
Article 30
Freedom of opinion and expressing it verbally, in writing or by other means of expression shall be guaranteed within the limits of law.
Article 31
Freedom of communication by post, telegraph or other means of communication and the secrecy thereof shall be guaranteed in
accordance with law.
Article 32
Freedom to exercise religious worship shall be guaranteed in accordance with established customs, provided that it does not conflict
with public policy or violate public morals.
Article 33
Freedom of assembly and establishing associations shall be guaranteed within the limits of law.
Article 34
Every citizen shall be free to choose his occupation, trade or profession within the limits of law. Due consideration being given to
regulations organising some of such professions and trades. No person may be subjected to forced labour except in exceptional
circumstances provided for by the law and in return for compensation.
No person may be enslaved.
11 All rights are reserved for the Federal National Council 2003.
Article 41
Every person shall have the right to submit complaints to the competent authorities, including the judicial authorities, concerning the
abuse or infringement of the rights and freedom stipulated in this Part.
Article 42
Payment of taxes and public charges determined by law is a duty of every citizen.
Article 43
Defence of the Union is a sacred duty of every citizen and military service is an honour for citizens which shall be regulated by law.
Article 44
Respect of the Constitution, laws and orders issued by public authorities in execution thereof, observance of public order and respect
of public morality are duties incumbent upon all inhabitants of the Union.
After converting to Islam in the 7th Century, Arabian Peninsula sheikhdoms along the
southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman were
embroiled in centuries of dynastic dispute. European shipping through the gulf was
impeded by pirates encamped, and in 1853 they signed a treaty with the United Kingdom,
under which the sheikhs (the "Trucial Sheikhdoms") agreed to a "perpetual maritime truce."
In March 1971, the United Kingdom agreed to dissolve its treaty with the seven Trucial
Kingdoms, which include Qatar and Bahrain. Qatar and Bahrain opted out of a Union but, on
December 2, 1971, six of them entered into a union called the United Arab Emirates with the
adoption of a Constitution. The seventh, Ras al-Khaimah, joined in early 1972 . While initially
established as interim, their constitution was made permanent in 1996 with amendments that
conform to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which the United Arab
Emirates is a signatory. The Fundamental Social and Economic Basis of the Union and
Freedom, Rights and Public Duties are detailed below. For a full English translation of
United Arab Emirates' Constitution, click here.
southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman were
embroiled in centuries of dynastic dispute. European shipping through the gulf was
impeded by pirates encamped, and in 1853 they signed a treaty with the United Kingdom,
under which the sheikhs (the "Trucial Sheikhdoms") agreed to a "perpetual maritime truce."
In March 1971, the United Kingdom agreed to dissolve its treaty with the seven Trucial
Kingdoms, which include Qatar and Bahrain. Qatar and Bahrain opted out of a Union but, on
December 2, 1971, six of them entered into a union called the United Arab Emirates with the
adoption of a Constitution. The seventh, Ras al-Khaimah, joined in early 1972 . While initially
established as interim, their constitution was made permanent in 1996 with amendments that
conform to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which the United Arab
Emirates is a signatory. The Fundamental Social and Economic Basis of the Union and
Freedom, Rights and Public Duties are detailed below. For a full English translation of
United Arab Emirates' Constitution, click here.