'I did not vote for candidates from my own tribe, but for the best'

Abu Dhabi/Fujairah: A festive spirit enveloped the capital yesterday as the first elections for the Federal National Council (FNC) got underway.

Hundreds of voters, candidates and supporters participated in what has been described as an historical event in the UAE. The entrance to the polling station was decorated with huge portraits and election-related statements of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

UAE flags and election banners dotted the routes leading to the polling station at Al Jazira Sports Club and surrounding areas. Elections in Abu Dhabi were held to elect four FNC members. As many as 99 candidates from an electoral college of 1,741 members were in the race.

From 6.45am candidates and voters started streaming into the club where voting started at 8am and ended at 7pm.

The indoor hall of the club was filled with hundreds of people who gathered from the early morning. Abdullah Saif Al Qubaisi, a 37-year-old candidate, described the elections as a first step towards building an electoral culture.

"It is an excellent step I have been here since 6am," he told Gulf News.

Maitha Ahmad Rahma Al Muhairi, the first woman candidate to show up at around 7.15am, said she was nervous on Friday, "but today I'm assured of the success of the process. For me success does not mean that I win, but the right people are sent to the council to truly represent the masses."

Omran Mohammad Saleh Al Khouri, a 26-year-old businessman, said: "My motive is love of the nation and patriotism, as I did not vote for candidates from my own tribe, but for the best."

Among the people present at the polling station was Hamad Ahmad Al Za'abi. He said although he was not an electoral college member, he was determined to witness what he called a crowning ceremony for the first four elected members from Abu Dhabi emirate.

The drive leading to the entrance of the Institute of Applied Technology in Fujairah, the venue for the election, was draped with UAE flags. Voters were ushered in by helpful staff to the designated voting area where their passports were scanned to confirm voter ID.

As they left Khalid Al Asum, a member of Fujairah's election organising committee thanked them for their vote whilst handing out election pins and hats.