Sharjah

Khawla Abdul Rahman Al Mulla has been appointed Chairperson of the Sharjah Consultative Council, marking the first time a woman has held the post.

A first in the history of Sharjah’s highest advisory body since its inception in 1999, Al Mulla expressed her pride at being the first woman to be elected to chair the council.

She applauded the vision of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who opened the first ordinary session of the Sharjah Consultative Council’s 9th Legislative Chapter on Thursday morning at the council’s headquarters.

She applauded the Ruler’s vision, noting that women remain represented by seven seats in the council to enable the daughters of Sharjah to participate in decision-making and assume their share of national responsibility.

Al Mulla told Gulf News she was very happy and proud to be in this post and thanked Dr Shaikh Sultan and his wife Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, for their trust. “This is my first parliament experience,“ she said.

Al Mulla graduated from UAE University and holds a Bachelors in Management Administration and a Master’s Degree in Sociology.

A former teacher, she is now director at Family Development and Family Affairs.

Ahmad Al Jarah, Council member, said: “Al Mulla deserved this post and she is the best for it. All of us knew her career and her keenness to help people from different segments. She is ambitious. We wish her the best,” he said.

The first session was presided by Dr Khalifa Obaid Bin Dalmooj, being the oldest member, before Khawla Abdul Rahman Al Mulla was elected uncontested Chairperson of the Sharjah Consultative Council and Hamad Salem Ali Ejtebi was elected Deputy Chairperson with 26 votes.

Dr Shaikh Sultan, accompanied by other attendees, then headed to the Sharjah Consultative Council Hall to open the first ordinary session of the 9th Legislative Chapter, and in his opening remarks expressed his wishes for success for the council.

“The Sharjah Consultative Council is a true partner to the Government of Sharjah in making decisions and issuing regulations. It builds on the success of the national experience of the Federal National Council in the light of the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to elect half of its members,” said Al Mulla.

— Aghaddir Ali, Staff Reporter