The National Electoral Commission announces seats reserved for women in the Federal National Council

The National Election Commission (NEC) announced in accordance with the mechanisms set forth in Resolution No. (1) of 2019 issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to increase the proportion of women representation in the Federal National Council to 50%, so that the next Council of 20 men and 20 women .

According to the optional mechanism set out in the decision of His Highness the President, the National Election Commission announces the position of His Highness the Rulers of the UAE in determining the seats, where the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have designated two seats for women from each of the emirate's seats.

The emirate of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah did not specify any seats for women through the election mechanism, while Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain set one seat for women from each of the emirate's seats.

According to the President's decision, the Emirate of Sharjah and the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah will use the method of appointment to complete the 50% of the membership of the FNC, while the rest of the UAE will use the combination of election and appointment to complete the 50% of the seats reserved for women in the composition of the Council. The Federal National.

The Minister of Health and Community Protection and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Chairman of the National Election Commission, Abdulrahman Al Owais, praised the efforts exerted by the rulers' offices in issuing decisions that contribute to the implementation of His Highness the President's decision, and to find mechanisms that contribute to increasing the representation of women. At least 50% for each Emirate.

Al Owais said: “The UAE continues, under the guidance of the leadership, to exert its efforts to empower women. The achievements of the UAE in order to enhance its leading position globally in all fields. ”

He added that «the participation of women in the parliamentary work in the UAE is an important milestone in the process of political development, which has had a clear imprint since the establishment of the Federal National Council, through the discussion of decisions that serve the community and upgrading its sectors, to take over the presidency of the Federal National Council, To become the experience of empowering women in the field of political work the focus of regional and international attention, and experience of the most important experiences globally ».

The decision of His Highness the President to raise the percentage of women representation in the National Assembly to 50% came in the framework of preparations for the elections of the Federal National Council to be held in October, and included amendments to some provisions of the Supreme Council Resolution No. (4) for the year 2006 Determining the method of selecting UAE representatives in the Federal National Council (and its amendments), which increased the percentage of women representation in the Federal National Council to 50%.

• The emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah will use the recruitment method to complete the 50% female membership.