Abu Dhabi: Members of the Federal National Council yesterday opened debate on a draft law on obligatory military service in a private session, from which the media and members of the public were excluded.
The House opened discussions and reached article three of the 45-article bill before the session was ordered secret on request from the government.
The representatives will complete review of the bill on Wednesday behind closed doors.
In a report read before the closed-door session was ordered, a committee of the House suggested achievers who have finished secondary school and scored 80 per cent be allowed to complete their studies before joining the national service.
The draft law as proposed by the government set 90 per cent marks as a condition for delaying the duty until a student gets a higher degree.
Citizens who complete the mandatory military service will enjoy a range of benefits including priority for taking up jobs at government institutions and private businesses, marriage grants, housing plots and scholarships, according to a draft law. Citizens who joins illegal organisations will be disqualified from the service, suggests the bill.
The bill would require all men who have finished secondary school or aged between 18-30 to undergo military service. The service will be optional for women.
Emirati men, aged 17 and who have finished secondary school, may join national service after approval is obtained from their parents.
Working Emiratis will not be exempt and while serving in the military, time will be added to their end of service and pension benefits.
However, citizens who fail to join the military and reserve service will face up to 10 years in prison, according to a draft law, passed by the Cabinet in January.
The council suggested that a tougher penalty of up to 15 years in prison be imposed on offenders found guilty of attempting to avoid military and reserve duty.
The toughest penalty would be handed down to citizens who fail to join the reserve troops once mobilised at war or martial law times or at any total or partial mobilisation for any threat against the UAE.
The bill would also penalise those who attempt to avoid national service with a minimum jail term of a year, a fine of between Dh50,000 and Dh100,000 or both penalties, according to the draft law.
Once passed by the FNC the bill needs to be signed into law by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It will be enforced six months from the date of publishing in the official gazette.
Once the law is enforced, Emiratis who have finished secondary school will have to serve nine months, while those who have not will serve two years.
Citizens who fail to enlist for military service without valid reason until they reach 29 years of age will face a jail term of between one month and a year, or a fine ranging between Dh10,000 and Dh50,000 or both. They will have to undergo the military service even if they exceed the age limit of 30.
The reserves will consist of those who have completed their national service, military personnel who have finished their time in the Armed Forces and volunteers.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said the national service would include military exercises, and those enlisted in the Armed Forces would receive additional security training, stressing that protecting the nation and preserving its independence and sovereignty is a sacred national duty.
Once the law is passed, those eligible will have to report to authorities to determine their service status. The sole son of a family and medically unfit citizens would benefit from an exemption to military service. Those who sustain their parents or disabled siblings and those serving jail terms would benefit from a temporary exemption. Once the reason for temporary exemption is over, those people have to report to the authorities to undergo the military service.
Military service may be completed at the UAE Armed Force, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior, the State Security Service and other institutions identified by the deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Executive rules will spell out alternative services, where these services can be offered and terms for exemption from the military service for medical or other reasons. Members of the House suggested six months be given as a deadline for these rules to be issued.
