The UAE's Federal National Council has 40 members and examines the federation's annual general budget

Background

The federal budget plan of AED 292.5 billion reported in this section today is the work of the Cabinet, but the body that examines the federation's annual general budget draft law is the Federal National Council. Under Article 68 of the UAE Constitution the Federal National Council, or FNC - called the National Assembly of the Union in the Constitution's English text - has 40 members, and the seats are distributed to the member emirates as follows: Abu Dhabi eight, Dubai eight, Sharjah six, Ras Al Khaimah six, Ajman four, Umm Al Quwain four and Fujairah four. The FNC is one of the five federal authorities that the Constitution establishes. Its main functions under Articles 89 to 92 are passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws including financial bills, examining the annual general budget draft law and the draft law of the final accounts, being informed of and discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on federal affairs. The term of membership is four years with effect from the Council's first session, and since 2006 one half of the members have been elected by the electoral colleges while the other half are appointed by the Ruler's Court of each of the seven emirates. The FNC is a member of the International Parliamentary Union and the Arab Parliamentary Union.