Constitution of the United Arab Emirates/Part 9
PART IX
THE ARMED AND SECURITY FORCES
Article (137)
An assault against an Emirate is deemed an assault against all the Emirates and the existence of the UAE itself, which all federal and local forces shall cooperate together to repel by all possible means.
Article (138)
The UAE shall have an army, navy and air forces with unified training and command. The Commander in Chief of these forces and the Chief of the General Staff are appointed and dismissed by a federal decree.
The UAE may have federal security forces.
The Federal Council of Ministers is accountable directly to the President of the UAE and the Federal Supreme Council for the affairs of all these forces.
Article (139)
The law regulates the military service, general or partial mobilization, the rights and duties of the armed forces’ personnel, rules of discipline, and the special regulations of the federal security forces.
Article (140)
Defensive war is declared by a federal decree issued by the President of the UAE subject to the approval of the Supreme Council. Offensive war is prohibited in accordance with the provisions of international charters.
Article (141)
There is hereby established a Supreme Council of Defense headed by the President of the UAE. The Supreme Council of Defense comprises among its members the Vice President of the UAE; the Prime Minister of the UAE; the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Finance, and Interior; the Commander in Chief, and the Chief of the General Staff. The Supreme Council of Defense gives advice and opinion on all the matters related to defense; keep the peace and security of the UAE; prepares, equips, and develops the armed forces; and determines their places and camps.
The Supreme Council of Defense may invite any military adviser or expert or any other person to attend its meetings but their vote will not be counted in the Council’s deliberations.
All matters pertaining to the Supreme Council of Defense is regulated by an Act.
Article (142)
The State only has the right to form land, sea, and air forces[1].
Article (143)
An Emirate has the right to request the assistance of the armed or security forces of the UAE to keep security and order within its territories if the Emirate is exposed to danger. Such request is submitted immediately to the Federal Supreme Council to take any decision it may think suitable.
The Supreme Council may get the assistance of the local armed forces of any Emirate for this purpose subject to the approval of the Emirate requesting assistance and the Emirate to which the forces belong.
In case of the absence of the Supreme Council, the President of the UAE and the Federal Council of Ministers together may take any immediate necessary action which cannot be delayed and may call on the Supreme Council to meet immediately.
- ↑ Article (142) was amended by Constitutional Amendment1/1976. The previous text reads as follows: «A member Emirate has the right to establish local armed forces ready and equipped to join the defensive forces of the UAE to defend, when necessary, the UAE against any external aggression.