Noticias

Voting for Federal National Council concludes in 36 poll stations across the UAE. Follow our live coverage from our reporters across the UAE.

FNC elections saw a total of 79,175 votes with a turnout of 35.29% of the electoral roll across the UAE, said Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Federal National Council Affairs.

"This election process is considered a successful one by all standards," Dr Anwar Gargash.

Over 37,660 people cast their votes in the three days of early voting for the Federal National Council elections 2015. Early polls were held at nine polling stations from September 28 to 30.

Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister for FNC Affairs and Head of the National Election Committee (NEC), said an electoral silence will follow for 48 hours, starting from October 1 until the election day on October 3.

Jasmine Al Kuttab.-

Candidates at the FNC polling station at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre urged voters to pick those who have the best interest of families.

Shamma Khamis Al Hameli told Khaleej Times that her focus will be on Emirati families. She believes that a solid family is the core foundation of the future. "Family is most important," she said, adding that, "if the family is strong, the country will be strong."

Dozens of Emiratis headed to the Dubai World Trade Centre to cast their ballots on the first morning of early voting for Federal National Council Elections 2015. Many of Dubai's 60 candidates were on hand to vote, meet with supporters and inspect the voting booths.

Among the candidates present on Monday was Ismael Albanna Al Bastaki, Director of International Organisation and Bodies at the Dubai Municipality.

In an interview with Khaleej Times, Albanna said he was impressed with how smooth the voting process was in comparison to the last round of FNC elections.

Abu Dhabi: Exercising the right to political participation, witnessing a turning point in the country or merely supporting a colleague were among the reasons that drove crowds of eager Emiratis to cast their ballots for their desired Federal National Council (FNC) candidate.

Despite the diversity of goals, each of the voters and candidates who queued up at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) shared one common objective — to build an even greater UAE.

Abu Dhabi: Emiratis eligible to vote will cast their ballots from Monday through Wednesday at nine voting stations across the country in the first early voting since the election experience started in 2006, officials said on Saturday.

More than 1,000 voters took part in overseas elections for the Federal National Council, which ended on Monday.

The National Election Commission said polling centres in Germany, the US and the UK had the greatest number of overseas voters, out of the 1,389 who took part. Germany had 280 voters, while the US had 255 and the UK had 95.

Ninety-four polling stations were set up at UAE embassies and diplomatic missions worldwide for the polls, which marked the first time eligible Emiratis could vote overseas.

Abu Dhabi: Strong competition, financial capacity and the time-consuming process were among the reasons behind some of the applicants stepping down from contesting for a seat at the Federal National Council (FNC).

The National Election Committee (NEC) announced this week that 12 candidates stepped down from the FNC race, of whom seven are from the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Gulf News spoke to two Emiratis who are no longer making their case to UAE citizens on their eligibility to become a FNC member.