The UAE Federal Law No. 26 of 1981 as amended in 1988 (known as the UAE “Maritime Code”) governs and regulates all shipping practices in the UAE. The law has a number of sections, and deals with manyissues of UAE maritime law
The UAE is a federacy of seven states. Each state has its own ruler and the rulers together form the supreme counsel governing body of the UAE, with the ruler of Abu Dhabi as the president of the country and supreme commander of the army.
In February 2016, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Emir of Dubai, announced a major Cabinet change. Amongst the changes, was the announcement that the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water will be reorganised and renamed as the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. In the UAE there will be a greater focus on emissions and pollution and the renamed Ministry of Climate Change and Environment will re-orientate its priorities around climate issues.