Candidate to focus on basic needs

Fujairah: The emirate certainly seems to have taken to the new political experience like a duck to water with one of the highest Federal National Council nomination rates.

Out of 418 Electoral College members in Fujairah, 37 have filed nominations for two seats in the Federal National Council (FNC).

Observers rate a handful of the 37 nominees as having serious credentials to be FNC members, and of those, only fewer still will have a serious chance of winning.

Dr Fahad Abdullah Al Salami, 27, is a dentist at the Fujairah Dental Centre. He often dons the usual doctor's uniform over a shirt and tie and jokes about not being recognised as an Emirati.

He is clear about what he would like to achieve should he ever manage to win a seat at FNC. His set of proposals focus on facilitating the basic necessities for young UAE nationals like housing and health services so that they can concentrate on education and work. According to him, the productivity of any individual is tied to his ability to fully direct his energy into studying or working.

Important elements

He said: "The basic elements in any person's life are the most important. If we can provide the means to help an individual settle down, by setting up a home ..., then we can almost guarantee he will be a more productive member of society."

Dr Al Salami has also proposed creation of specialist national health centres across all emirates for better health access.