As the UAE celebrates its National Day anniversary, it is not enough to count the massive achievements and the visible successes of the past 38 years. The country's accomplishments are tangible and in no doubt and do not need further affirmation.
Instead, today should serve as an occasion to reflect on the challenges ahead, national goals yet to be delivered, pending issues yet to be addressed and the steps needed to move the UAE forward and beyond what has been achieved so far.
The UAE is a federal state and the starting point for any successful and sustainable federal entity in the world is the uncontested adherence to the Constitution. The current Constitution was initially written as a temporary document, valid for five years. But in 1996 the Supreme Council of the UAE, an exclusive body comprising the seven rulers who elect the president of the country every five years, decided to make the Constitution permanent.
The UAE has one of the best written federal Constitutions, but lately some federal and local practices have not been in full conformity with the articles of the Constitution. Needless to say, the Constitution is a document binding on both the government and citizens, and respect for the Constitution should be a top priority for both groups.
In addition to full adherence to the federal Constitution, it is time to write a document of basic laws for each of the seven emirates to spell out clearly and unambiguously the duties and responsibilities of local governments.
Politically, the UAE must work hard to strengthen the federation and move to a high level of federal integration. Commitment to the federation is not at its best as the country celebrates its 38th anniversary. Federal institutions are being stripped of their constitutional powers and federal services have been severely weakened. In many cases, local prerogatives override federal ones. This is definitely not in keeping with the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
Political division
It is worth remembering that, prior to 1971, political division was the prevailing order, a situation maintained by the British for over 150 years. There was no such thing as the UAE as a political entity 38 years ago. The federation was the immediate response to the political division. The people of the UAE are certainly proud of the fact that their federation is the only successful federation in the Arab world. But the founding fathers of the UAE were adamant that the federal setup was simply the necessary first step towards full political integration of the seven emirates. Building a unitary political state remains an unfulfilled political goal for the country.
The founding fathers of the UAE were ambitious and forward-looking leaders. They have unequivocally committed themselves to building a democratic state. The 1971 Constitution promises that the federal government will eventually prepare the citizens of the UAE for full-fledged parliamentary life. Thirty-eight years later, this constitutional promise is yet to be delivered.
The UAE is at its best when it comes to social and economic advancements. It is well ahead of all the other countries in the region in human development and economic competitiveness reports. But the UAE is not considered a democracy and it is not at its best when it comes to political reform and good governance indicators. The Federal National Council has no legislative power and the citizens of the UAE are yet to practice their inalienable right to vote and elect their own representatives to the 40-member council. There is not one good reason why the fully literate, open-minded, patriotic and moderately disposed citizens of the UAE should not go to the polls sooner rather than later.
Social justice
The Constitution also makes social justice a fundamentally binding feature of life in the UAE. But 38 years later, income disparities at the individual and emirates levels have been perpetuated. Indeed, in many aspects the income gap has widened dangerously among the citizens of the country.
International publications indicate that there are 60,000 citizens of the UAE easily identified as millionaires. But official statistics reveal that there are nearly 60,000 citizens who live below the poverty line in the UAE. It seems that the income trend is moving in an unintended direction, whereby the rich are getting richer and the poor are becoming poorer. This is, to say the least, disheartening and disappointing for an oil-rich country like the UAE. As it stands now, the UAE is just as much a rich country as it is a poor country.
The UAE has been recognised as one of the best welfare states in the world. Admittedly, it is a very generous country towards its minority citizens. But the country can't afford to tamper with the social justice principle affirmed in the Constitution. Neglecting social justice invites all sorts of unwanted social and political instability.
The challenges facing the country as it celebrates its National Day are real and numerous. The UAE is in good hands and will continue its regional pioneering role. But the future depends largely on keeping true to the Constitution, strengthening the federation, observing social justice and delivering political reform and democratisation as was promised by the founding fathers 38 years ago. These pending national issues need to be discussed frankly and addressed immediately.
Dr Abdulkhaleq Abdullah is a professor of political science at Emirates University.
