Dubai votes in FNC polls

Dubai: Polling in Dubai's first ever electoral process continued at the World Trade Centre on Monday, with several hundred votes cast so far.

Seventy-seven candidates will contest four seats in Dubai, where 1,520 voters are to cast their ballots at the World Trade Centre between 8am and 7pm.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, described the process so far as "enthusiastic and very encouraging."

Voting began briskly with Khaled bin Zayed Al Falasi the first voter to cast the ubiquitous red ballot. The second to vote, and first female was candidate for Dubai Huda Al Mutawa.

Hanif Hassan, Minister for Education, was the first minister and fifth voter to cast his ballot, standing in line along with other members of the Electoral College.

The morning saw a flood of voters, which forced organizers to cordon off areas of the polling station to those who had already cast their ballots, following an intervention by the election observers.

By the early afternoon, voting had slowed somewhat, but members of the Electoral College continued to arrive to make their voices heard, with many remaining at the venue for hours after voting to witness the day's events.

On a tour of the polling station in Dubai, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that he was most encouraged by the participation of women in the electoral process.

Shaikh Mohammad arrived at the polling station in Dubai at 11.45am and toured the polling station for fifteen minutes with Minister of State for FNC Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash, as well as other dignitaries, including Ebrahim Bu Melha.

“The huge participation is a positive thing and what pleases me most is the participation of women,'' Shaikh Mohammad said, after being taken through the voting process.

“Where there are no women, there is no spirit…we want to support the first step and build on this in the future.''

Voting is taking place at the Rashid Hall in the World Trade Centre, where large screens have been erected to explain the procedure.

Election officials are assisting voters in the process, where their votes are cast electronically and then ballots are placed in the ballot box, which was half full by 8.30am.

Members of the Electoral College as well as candidates are convening outside Rashid Hall with many confirming that they will remain at the polling station until the results are announced this evening.

After casting her vote, candidate for Dubai Rehab Lootah said, "The FNC previously did not have any open communication channels between the institution and the people. Hopefully these elections will change that."