UAE | Government

FNC election sees UAE firmly set on the road to democracy

One year after the changes to the Federal National Council, the UAE has resolved to stay on the course of democracy and ensure greater political participation and empowerment.

  • By Marten Youssef, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:28 December 31, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • The participants at the FNC opening ceremony in Abu Dhabi.
  • Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News

One year after the changes to the Federal National Council, the UAE has resolved to stay on the course of democracy and ensure greater political participation and empowerment.

“The last year witnessed a major turning point as the FNC held its first session of the 14th legislative chapter with half of its members elected and women representing 21 per cent of the house,'' said President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In his message on the eve of the 36th anniversary of the UAE national day, Shaikh Khalifa affirmed the nation's pledge to push forward the democratic experiment by widening the scope of democratic participation and enhancing the role of the FNC as a democratic body.

Two years earlier, December 1, 2005, Shaikh Khalifa announced the country would for the first time hold an election to choose half of the FNC.

This was received with a resounding response across the country and abroad as a movement towards greater political participation. Twenty of the 40 FNC seats were open for election.

The excitement over this milestone was reflected in the resounding response of the 450 candidates who nominated themselves for these positions.

With the election being held in December 2006, all eyes were on the UAE as the nation ventured into a new era of political participation. A total of 6,689 people were assigned as eligible voters to participate in the election.

People felt a duty to participate. No group felt this impact more than women. With nine women from across the country joining the Federal National Council, their role among the top decision makers in the land had become a milestone and changed the face of politics in the country.

Dr. Amal Abdullah Juma Al Qubais, from Abu Dhabi, became the only woman who was elected to the FNC. The other eight women were appointed by the Rulers of the Emirates.

“Women have been successful in their first political involvement with the FNC and they were equally involved and active members of the house,'' Dr Amal told Gulf News.

“After all, both men and women are representing citizens and we should all work for the good of the UAE. We took part in committees, discussions and representing the UAE in conferences abroad. Dr. Amal hoped the second term of the 14th legislative chapter of the FNC will see a greater participation of women.

“The victory of a woman in FNC polls reflects their success in all fields and the support of the political leadership,'' said Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs. One of the women appointed to the FNC was Najla Al Awadi from Dubai.

“It was a new experience for women in politics. We haven't got the opportunity to educate ourselves about the political participation. We aspire for a more active role for women,'' Al Awadi said. With women being represented at the FNC, Political Science assistant professor at the UAE University, Maryam Sultan Lootah believes this will empower other women not only in politics but also in society as a whole.

“This has given women a push to participate more in society and has assured women that if they can be at the highest level in the FNC, they can participate in all fields. The presence of women in the FNC really charged women with greater public participation,'' Lootah said.

Within the first few weeks of the FNC in 2007, several committees were created to help facilitate discussion and make recommendations. With eight standing committees, the FNC has sped the process of dialogue and allowed for members to participate in in-depth examinations of certain issues.

The committees have been able to draft laws, which were passed down to the council for recommendations. During the first term of its legislative chapter, the FNC discussed key issues of public concern regarding education, health and other government services.

Speaking on the issue of the FNC at the second term of the 14th legislative chapter of the FNC on November 19, 2007, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, Vice President and Prime Minster of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said in his opening address, “We are heralding an era of greater public involvement in the decision-making process to achieve socio-economic and political development.''

Such progress in the FNC has been expressed as a move towards modernity, which is a part of the UAE pursuing its national action programme.

The main objective of this programme, which was launched two years ago, is to develop human capability and improving services for the welfare of the UAE citizens.

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