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UAE vs. USA 2
United states of America (USA) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) are beautiful and highly economically developed countries. They have similarities but also they have substantial differences.
United Arab Emirates, simply called The Emirates or UAE is situated in the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf having borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman and sea borders with Qatar and Iran. It is a Federation which consists of seven emirates Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. Islam is the official religion. Arabic is the official language. Abu Dhabi is the capital and one of the two big cultural and social centres. Dubai is the second. The Emirates have subtropical climate with hot summers and warm winters.
Abu Dhabi was the first of the emirates which started to export oil in 1962 and since then the entire social and economic life underwent huge transformation. All revenues were invested in healthcare, education and infrastructure. Dubai became a global city and the business gateway of the Middle East.
UAE is a Federation of absolute hereditary monarchies. Each Emirate is governed by Emir and the whole country is governed by the Federal Supreme Council which constitutes from the seven Emirs. On their part they elect the President who is the Emir of Abu Dhabi and Prime Minister – the Emir of Dubai. The whole Legislative and executive power belongs to the Federal Supreme Council. Nevertheless the President and the Prime Minister are elected by the Supreme Council they are hereditary.
The supreme law is the Constitution(1) which is based on the principles like equality, liberty, rule of law, innocence in legal procedures, inviolability of home, freedom of opinion and speech, of movement, of communication, of religion, of council and association. The Emirates have civil and Islamic law for civil, criminal and high courts.
The Islamic law is practiced in the Sheriah courts and deals with marriage, divorce, inheritance, child custody, child abuse and guardianship of minors. At federal level they may hear appeals of definite crime cases like rape, robbery, driving under the influence of alcohol and the connected with that crimes. Homosexual relationships are considered illegal and Article 80 of the Abu Dhabi Penal Code announces sodomy punishable.
- Constitution, Freedom, Rights and Public Duties
Moca.gov.ae
UAE vs. USA 3
Article 1 of the Federal Penal Code (1987) announces “provisions of the Islamic Law shall apply to the crimes of doctrinal punishment, punitive punishment and blood money” (2)
United States of America (USA) often called United States, America or simply The States is a federal republic and consists of 50 states, juridical territories and is located in North America. Because of its huge territory the climate includes all types and ranges from humid continental in North and humid subtropical in South. Florida and Hawaii have tropical climate. Christianity is the most common religion practiced in the USA. English is the official language. The capital is Washington which is not the biggest city in USA.
United States of America is the oldest federation in the world and is a constitutional republic and representative democracy “in which majority rule is tempered by minority rights protected by law.”(3) The whole power to rule the country belongs to the people who through elections appoint the people who will govern the country. There are three levels of government: Federal, State and Local.
The federal government has three branches: legislative, executive and juridical.
The legislative branch is the Congress which consists of Senate and House of representatives. The executive branch is the President with all his power, given by the Constitution and the Judical which involves the Supreme Court and the lower federal Courts.
The US legal system follows the system that governs the country. The Constitution is the supreme legal document and the US legal system follows the Common Law legal tradition of .
All members of the Senate and House of representatives are elected. Here is the main difference between UAE and USA.
2 . “Federal Law No (3) of 1987 on Issuance of the Penal Code” United Office on Drugs and
Crimes.
3 . Scheb John M.; Scheb John M. II (2002). An Introduction to the American legal System.
Florence, KY, Delmar, p.6 ISBN 0-7668-2759-3
UAE vs. USA 4
The above written is a short synopsis of the main features which characterize both countries showing the similarities like federal structure of government, flourishing economics etc. and the difference called democracy.
References:
Constitution. Freedom, Rights and Public Duties. Moca.gov.ae
Federal Law No(3) of 1987 on Issuance of the Penal Code. United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime.
Scheb John M.; Scheb John M II (2002). An Introduction to the American Legal System.
Florence, KY, ; Delmar, p.6 ISBN 0-7668-2759-3
.
