Constitution of the United Arab Emirates Union and for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, to be the President of the United Arab Emirates. In 1979, a draft "permanent" constitution was prepared which allowed for the creation of a unified military and judicial system. Initially, the emirate of Dubai was strongly opposed to the unification of the military forces and, along with Ras al Khaimah, refused to attend Supreme Council meetings of the union. Mediations by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as well as by other UAE rulers reduced differences between Shiekh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and Sheikh Zayed
President of the United Arab Emirates President of the United Arab Emirates The President of the United Arab Emirates is the head of state of the United Arab Emirates. Officially, he is elected every five years by the Federal Supreme Council, but because the ruler of Abu Dhabi customarily also holds the presidency of the UAE, the office is "de facto" hereditary. The president is also Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and chairman of the Supreme Council and Supreme Petroleum Council. The current president is Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Khalifa became president on 3 November 2004, following the death of his father,