Functions of the Cabinet
The Council of Ministers, being the executive body of the UAE, shall undertake, under the high oversight of the President of the UAE and the Supreme Council all the federal internal and foreign affairs as provided in the Constitution and the federal laws. The Council of Ministers, in particular, shall exercise the following responsibilities:
- Follow up the execution of the general policy of the UAE Government inside and outside the country.
- Propose federal draft laws and submit them to the Federal National Council before submitting them to the President of the UAE for forwarding them to the Supreme Council for ratification.
- Prepare the draft federal annual general budget and final account.
- Prepare draft decrees and different resolutions.
- Issue such regulations as may be necessary for executing the federal laws insomuch as such regulations do not amend, put on hold, or except certain persons from the execution of these laws; and issue control regulations and other regulations regulating the public departments and administrations as provided in the provisions of the Constitution and the federal laws. A competent federal minister or any other administrative authority may be assigned, by special provision of the Law or by the Council of Ministers, to issue some of these regulations.
- Supervise, through all the concerned authorities in the UAE or in the Emirates, the execution of the federal laws, decrees, resolutions and regulations.
- Supervise the execution of judgments rendered by the federal courts and the execution of international treaties and conventions concluded by the UAE.
- Appoint and dismiss federal employees in accordance with the provisions of the law provided that such appointment and dismissal does not need to be made by a decree.
- Oversee the performance of activities in the federal public departments and administrations and the conduct and discipline of the federal employees in general.
- Any other responsibilities vested in the Cabinet by law or determined by the Supreme Council within the limits of the Constitution.
Joint Responsibility of the Government
The Prime Minister and the Ministers collectively are politically responsible before the President of the Federation and the Supreme Council for the execution of the general policy of the Union both in domestic and foreign areas. Each of them is personally responsible to the President of the Federation and the Supreme Council for the activities of his or her Ministry or entity.
Sessions Regulation
The Cabinet meetings are held regularly once a week. However, the Prime Minister may call for an exceptional meeting to convene whenever it deems necessary or upon the request of any minister to present a certain issue for discussion. The regular meeting of the Cabinet is held at its headquarters unless otherwise decided by the Council. Such an exceptional meeting can be held at the place where set by the Prime Minister.
The Cabinet sessions are confidential. Attendance to the meetings of the Cabinet is solely restricted to the members of the Cabinet and Secretary General. However, the Cabinet may invite any person whom it deems appropriate to provide it with a clarification. Subject to approval of the Cabinet, the Secretary General may seek the assistance of one or more of his aides in the session functions. The attendance of majority of the members is required for a valid Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet resolutions are passed based on majority decision. In the event that voting is evenly divided, the side on which the Prime Minister has voted shall prevail. Each minister has only one vote, even if he or she is responsible for more than one ministry.
The minority shall abide by the opinion of the majority. Considering the confidential nature of Cabinet deliberations, they may not be disclosed, and no recording of the discussions can be carried out. Only the resolution issued by the Cabinet shall be recorded, unless the council decides otherwise in confidential cases.