UAE Election

Yesterday the UAE held their second election in the country's history. The election was for seats in the Federal National Council. The FNC is considered "a platform on which those elected would convey the "voice" of Emiratis." The FNC has no direct powers to create or change laws. Instead, it acts as an advisory panel to the government on national policies. Women make up about 46% of the voting electorate.

According to one of the local newspapers, "just under 130,000 Emiratis-about 14 per cent of the national population-had been given the power to select half of the seats on the country's Federal National Council." (This is 20 times more than were allowed to vote in the country's first election in 2006.) Among the voters, there were 468 candidates, representing all seven Emirates and vying for 20 seats in the council. The initial results showed that there was only a 28 percent voter turn out on Saturday.

Hot topics among many of the candidates include: Emiratisation (employment of Emiratis in a meaningful and efficient manor in the public and private sector), communication with leaders, the preservation of national identity and women's issues.

In the final tally, one woman won a seat on the council while many others were elected to the council along family lines.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai told reporters; "we are taking steady steps. By God’s will, we will continue progress and (expand) the powers of the Federal National Council."

Photo from "The National" September 24, 2011