Abu Dhabi: A woman from Sharjah was the first to sign up for the Federal National Council’s candidacy as registration opened yesterday, said Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and FNC Affairs.
On the first day, as many as 102 potential candidates — 14 women and 88 men — registered at the nine centres across the country to run for the Federal National Council’s polls.
“In a civilised, honourable way, an Emirati woman was the first to sign up for the Federal National Council’s candidacy at 8am,” Dr Gargash tweeted after a visit to the Dubai registration centre.
Nominations for FNC candidates will last until Thursday.
Dr Gargash, also chairman of the National Election Committee, said the response was good at FNC registration centres across the country, expressing hope that the list of candidates will abound with various expertise and professions as well as young men and women. “We look forward to a rich election campaign,” Dr Gargash said.
Ecstatic Emiratis thronged registration centres across the country from early morning.
Maitha Al Rumaithi, an entrepreneur, said it was a proud moment for her to nominate herself to stand for the Federal National Council’s elections. “Women’s rights in the UAE have always been fulfilled. I want to serve my country and lift up citizens’ standards as much as I can. I feel like my duty as a citizen is to give back to my country as I owe them so much for all that I am today. As part of my loyalty to my beloved UAE, I want to be hand in hand with my country’s government to make a positive impact together,” Maitha said.
A total of 24 potential candidates signed up at Abu Dhabi’s three centres at the end of the first day of registration.
In Sharjah, 22 potential candidates, including three women, registered to run for the FNC elections.
Dr Obaid Khalifa Al Zaabi, former UAE Ambassador to Kuwait, told Gulf News the registration process was very simple and only took five minutes. “I was very impressed by how efficient and well-organised everything was.
“I take pride in the fact that I am running for the FNC elections this year and I also feel optimistic about the elections. I want to make a change, one that will positively impact the UAE community. This country’s public is one of the most well-educated worldwide and I believe that people will be able to make the right decision and choose the appropriate candidate who can represent them and fulfil their desire of building a better tomorrow,” Al Zaabi said.
Moza Al Radha, Geographic Information System Manager, said the experience of registering felt “very surreal”, but she was pleased that she made that decision.
“I am about to finish my PhD and the appetite I developed over the years for learning and pushing my boundaries of knowledge encouraged me to register and I would love to one day share that with my country,” Moza said.
Dr Gargash has called for broad and active participation in the Federal National Council (FNC) elections scheduled to be held on October 3.
He also called on members of the electoral rolls, eligible to run for the FNC elections, to come forward and register at the registration centres across the UAE.
Nearly 224,000 Emiratis are eligible to vote or stand as candidates, compared with nearly 135,000 at the last election in 2011. More than two-thirds of the voters are under the age of 40, and nearly half are women.
The preliminary list of candidates will be announced on August 23. Three days — August 24 to 26 — have been set aside for submission of objections on candidate nominations.
The NEC will respond to objections on August 27, while the final list of candidates will be announced on August 31.
