The UAE has known since ancient times different forms of working with the principle of shura and exchange of opinion
"Memory of the nation" ... the Federal National Council is the voice of the nation and the citizen
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum during the opening of the first session of the Federal National Council - February 13, 1972. (National Archives)
Sheikh Zayed inaugurating the first session of the Federal National Council - February 13, 1972. (The National Archives)
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«Memory of the Nation»
A weekly page provided by "Emirates Today", in cooperation with the "National Archives", affiliated with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, with the aim of introducing the way life in the Emirates before the federation, and during its early beginnings, and the great effort made by the founding fathers of the state for its establishment, and linking it to what the UAE leaders achieve, Today, her children are among the achievements the world has witnessed.
For many years, the UAE has known various forms of working with the principle of shura and the exchange of opinion and advice in the conduct of affairs, starting with consultations between the tribal chief and his advisors, to the establishment of the Federal National Council, which this February celebrated the 49th anniversary of its establishment, in accordance with the provisions of the interim constitution that It was initially adopted by the government of the United Arab Emirates after the declaration of the federation and the establishment of the state in 1971, as it held its first session on February 12, 1972, which represents a consecration of the approach adopted by the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, in managing The affairs of the country, and he applied it throughout his life, whether in his relations with the tribes and consulting with them, or during his rule of Al-Ain, or after the establishment of the state.
Values and principles
The late Sheikh Zayed was raised on the righteous Islamic values and principles, and he was brought up on wisdom in his father’s council, the late Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed, may God have mercy on him, and his exceptional personality crystallized while he was the representative of the ruler in the city of Al Ain, so he quickly assumed a place in the hearts of his people, who were gone They carry him on the shoulders of their love, according to what writer Hamdi Tamam mentions in his book "The Leader and the March", citing what the British author Captain Anthony Sheard said in his book "An Adventure in the Arabian Peninsula", when he said: "Zayed is a man who has the admiration and loyalty of the Bedouins who live In the desert, he is undoubtedly the most powerful figure in the Emirates. He was one of the few greats I met.
This coincides with British author Colonel Boustead's description of Sheikh Zayed in his book "The Morning Wind", saying: "Zayed is an eminent man, surrounded by the Bedouins with respect and attention. He is always pleasant to talk to everyone, very generous with his money."
On the approach of Zayed
The late Sheikh Zayed, may God have mercy on him, was always keen to emphasize the importance of the Council’s role as it is the fourth authority in the state, and it includes an elite group of Emirati people whom he considers the hope to continue the march, as he said about them: “The members of the Federal National Council are sons and brothers. Relying on them, and taking their opinion, and they have a great responsibility towards the Ummah and towards this country, and they have to follow every big and small, and cooperate on what they see right, so that they become watchful eyes on everything that affects their brothers and children from harm, and they are the first guard and the protective force before the harm comes », According to what the book“ Zayed and the Federal National Council ”states, pointing out that the aspects of the late Sheikh Zayed’s interest in the Federal National Council are numerous, such as his eagerness, may God rest his soul, to attend the opening sessions of the council’s first regular sessions, and to participate in the discussion with members in some sessions The council, meeting with the members of the council after each session he attends, talking to them, and listening to their issues in a transparent spirit, enveloped in the warmth of feelings and the fatherhood of the leader.
He was also keen to receive parliamentary delegations that were coming to the country, and to follow up on the activities of Arab parliaments, as he gave his observations and directions.
Regarding the aspirations of the people of the nation for the role that they expect from the members of the Federal National Council, the late Sheikh Zayed said in his speech at the opening of the first ordinary session: “The masses of people in every location participate in making life on the soil of this good land, and look forward to your esteemed council to achieve what they aspire to. To him from your participation in building a future in the name, honorable and prosperous for us and for the generations, provided that it plays an important role in achieving the people's great hopes towards building a society of dignity and prosperity.
Advancing the nation
As for his speech before the parliament at the opening of the third session of the third legislative term, he emphasized the importance of popular participation in the responsibility for the advancement of the homeland, saying, may God have mercy on him: “The responsibility for building renaissance in this country does not lie with the government alone, but the people you represent participate In this responsibility, he participates in opinion, thought, advice, hard work, creative effort, and sincere cooperation.
The session of the 29th of April 1975 is a historic session, which witnessed the first real participation of the late Sheikh Zayed on the role and duties of members in dealing with citizens' issues. This session bears the number 13 of the second ordinary session of the second legislative session, and it says: «My pleasure To be among you, and to speak with you frankly, and I appeal to you also with complete frankness, just as one of us declares himself in his privacy, every one of us in the UAE must be frank without hesitation with his brothers from the president to the members of the National Council to the people.
Sincerity cannot be achieved without frankness, how does a person say I am sincere, and on the other hand it is courteous, this is something that is not possible, frankness is required between parents, brothers and children, because frankness is sincerity, and because the frankness of each of you and of the people is a duty, And it comes before every duty, because we, as a whole in this country, are considered passengers of a single ship. If the ship escaped, we would be saved, but if it sank, who would guarantee our safety. ”
Since the inception of the Federal National Council in the country in 1972 and up to the present time, the Council has formed one of the political institutions that established and embodied the most important principles of political practice of the thought of the late Sheikh Zayed and his brothers, the Rulers of the Emirates, as well as the Council lived and actively participated in all the historical stages that the federal state lived through From the founding period in the seventies and eighties, and up to the nineties and the beginning of the 21st century, which is a period of development and prosperity in all areas of life in the country.
Development that keeps pace with the renaissance of the state
The Federal National Council went through two important phases, the establishment phase (from 1971 to 2004), and the phase of development, improvement, and reform (since 2006), where His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, adopted Resolution of the Federal Supreme Council No. 4 of 2006, which He reconsidered the method of selecting the representatives of the Emirates members in the Federal National Council, to be by means of a combination of election and appointment. The decision stipulated that half of the members (20) are appointed only by the rulers of the Emirates, and the other half (20) are elected by the people, according to a popular system called Electoral bodies, and the motive for this decision was to give the citizens of the state an opportunity to choose their representatives in the Federal National Council, in order to enhance national belonging, give priority to the public interests of the people, and provide an opportunity for local participation by young and educated groups, in addition to empowering women, as the year 2006 also witnessed The first Emirati woman entered the Federal National Council through legislative elections.
From the sayings of Sheikh Zayed:
"The members of the Federal National Council are sons and brothers. Their opinion must be taken into account, and they have a great responsibility towards the nation and the homeland."
- The historic 1975 session, which witnessed the first real participation of Sheikh Zayed on the role and duties of the members.
The Council has actively participated in all the historical stages that the federal state has experienced since the founding period in the seventies.
Anthony Sheard:
- "Zayed is without a doubt the most powerful character in the Emirates. He is one of the few greats I have met."
Colonel Boustead:
- "Zayed is an eminent man. Bedouins surround him with respect and attention. He is always pleasant to talk to everyone. He is very generous with his money."
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