News

ABU DHABI // Dr Amal Al Qubaisi was on Wednesday appointed President of the Federal National Council, making her the region’s first female leader of a national assembly.

“I am proud to take this seat for the first time as a woman in the Arab world,” she said, after winning the role of President and Speaker unopposed.

“I dedicate this achievement to the great women of the UAE, and to the Mother of the Nation, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.”

ABU DHABI // Eight women are among the 20 Federal National Council members appointed by the emirates’ Rulers.

Noura Al Kaabi, chief executive of the media zone twofour54, and Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Education Council, were reappointed for Abu Dhabi.

It will be Dr Al Qubaisi’s third term and the second for Ms Al Kaabi, who said she was “very honoured and humbled, and at the same time it is a huge responsibility.

ABU DHABI // A good turnout and smooth voting process for this year’s Federal National Council elections has earned the National Elections Committee praise from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

Sheikh Mohammed thanked the NEC during a meeting in the capital with members of the Abu Dhabi FNC Elections Committee.

Naser Al Remeithi.-

ABU DHABI // The 20 candidates who won election to the Federal National Council have been cleared to take their seats on the new consultative body.

And Yemeni pupils are also winners, after the National Elections Commission decided to donate the many computers, touchscreens, laptops and printers used in the ballot to schools in the country.

The NEC said its appeals committee had found no objections to any of the winners.

Jasmine Al Kuttab.-

Perhaps a strong presence on social media was the reason behind the win for the youngest FNC candidate, Saeed Al Rumaithi who won from Abu Dhabi.

Minutes after the results were announced, Saeed Al Rumaithi, one of the winning candidates who will be representing Abu Dhabi, told Khaleej Times that although his win is certainly a great and exciting achievement for him, he nonetheless still has a lot of responsibility to carry on his shoulder.

Ahmed Shaaban

Although only a few democracies give voters the right to reject all the election candidates and opt for a 'None of the above / blank vote' option, the UAE is one of the few select countries that allows its voters to indicate disapproval of all the candidates. Other countries that give their citizens this liberty include France, Brazil, India, US, Spain, Belgium and Finland.

ABU DHABI // Emirati women have expressed their disappointment that only one female candidate was elected to the Federal National Council.

Naama Al Sharhan, from Ras Al Khaimah, was the only women out of 78 candidates to succeed by picking up 1,004 votes.

Asma Al Ali, 26, from Ajman, said she hoped many more women would make it on to the council.

“I was shocked, I expected at least one woman from each emirate,” she said. “Every emirate should have one woman so they will follow-up on issues relating to mothers and children.”

After visiting the polling centre for the Federal National Council (FNC) elections at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Saturday, he said democracy has been part of the UAE's heritage "since the time of our fathers and forefathers and we inherited that value with pride and belief in our social, cultural and religious legacy without compromising the rich Arab-Islamic culture".

Thirty-six polling stations have been prepped across the country to receive voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) elections that will take place tomorrow from 8am until 8pm.

Voters can pick candidates through the electronic voting system which can be accessed by entering the National ID and is the only certified document which authorises its holder to practise his/her electoral right.

The National Elections Committee (NEC) said on Thursday that it has completed all arrangements and procedures.