Assessing UAE Governance Through a Tawḥīdic Covenantal Lens
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the governance of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through an Islamic ethical framework grounded in the covenantal concepts of ʿahd (commitment) and mīthāq (solemn covenant). These foundational values provide the normative basis for justice, trust, protection, accountability, and peaceful coexistence in Islamic governance. Although the UAE has achieved remarkable progress in economic development and administrative modernization, ongoing scholarly debate persists regarding the extent to which its governance practices embody these Islamic ethical principles, particularly in the areas of justice, accountability, and social welfare. Existing studies have examined governance, labour migration, and human rights in the UAE; however, there remains a significant gap in research adopting a Tawḥīdic covenantal framework based on the values of ʿahd and mīthāq. This study employs a textual and ethical case study approach to assess UAE governance across four principal dimensions: economic justice, social welfare, political transparency, and peace-oriented diplomacy. The findings indicate both substantial convergence and notable divergence between covenantal Islamic principles and contemporary governance practices. While the literature identifies persistent challenges relating to migrant workers’ rights, public accountability, the welfare of vulnerable groups, and ethical concerns surrounding regional policies, the analysis also acknowledges important reforms undertaken by the UAE, including strengthened labour protections, digital government initiatives, and expanded humanitarian engagement. Overall, the study offers an evaluative rather than prescriptive assessment and proposes an Islamic ethical framework for understanding contemporary governance in the UAE through the principles of ʿadl (justice), amānah (trust), amān (protection), and peaceful coexistence. It further identifies areas requiring continued policy attention and future academic inquiry.
Keywords: Covenantal ethics; ʿahd; mīthāq; Islamic governance.
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References
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