Government
The emirate of Dubai is one of the seven Emirates that form the United Arab Emirates. Members of the UAE are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. Before joining together, these states were called the Trucial States. The UAE is a federal state with its capital as Abu Dhabi whose ruler is also the president of the UAE. The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum, is also the countries vice president.

Each of the seven emirates of the UAE has its own ruler which governs over the local government. Since the inception of the 1971 constitution, vast powers reside in the individual emirates over control of mineral rights and revenues. Because of this the federal government has little power or control over its member states.

The highest power of the land is the Supreme Council of the Union which composes the hereditary rulers of the seven member states. The council then votes among themselves who would serve as their president and vice president for the 5 year period although generally, the ruler of Abu Dhabi has served to be the ruler of the UAE for the more than 3 decades of its existence. The members of the council are in charge of establishing federal policies, because the seven rulers meet only four times a year the UAE cabinet is in charge of the affairs of the federation on a day to day basis.

The constitution mandates that each individual emirate should contribute half of its revenues to the federal government. Abu Dhabi and Dubai however are contributing the bulk of the funds needed for the UAE federal government with contributions comprising at most 90% of the federal budget. Although the UAE has already a US$8 billion deficit, this is negligible compared to the revenues generated by Dubai and Abu Dhabi combined.