UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will inaugurate the first regular session of the 17th legislative term of the Federal National Council in Abu Dhabi in the second half of November. .
According to an official source at the General Secretariat of the Federal National Council, the Council will be invited to convene the new composition, after 18 November, as a complement to the four-year term of the deputies of the Council (expired) in accordance with the Constitution of the State, while raising the offices of His Highness the rulers of the UAE, during The next few days, the names of the nominated members of the Council, which will include 20 members, including 13 women and seven men, in preparation for the issuance of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, a decree forming the National Council, and another decree inviting the Council to convene. An official source at the General Secretariat of the Federal National Council expected that the date of the inaugural session of the Council will be held during the second half of next month, pointing out that according to the Constitution of the State, the membership of the Council (expired) will be officially completed on 18 November. “Article 72 of the UAE Constitution stipulates that the term of membership of the Council shall be four Gregorian years, starting from the date of the first meeting of the Council, which means that the members of the Council in its 16th legislative term, officially ending on 18 November, as a complement,” he told Emirates Today. For the four years of their membership, the inaugural session of the previous legislative term was held on 18 November 2015. ” He added that «the bylaws of the Council, provides for the continuation of the work of the Presidency of the Council and members of the Bureau and the Parliamentary Division, and continue their tasks until the beginning of the new legislative term».
According to the protocol adopted at the opening sessions, the opening ceremony of the new legislative term, which will be held in the Zayed Hall of the Council, will be read by verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the inauguration of His Highness the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the first session of the 17th legislative term. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, read the decree to convene the Council. Following the reading of the presidential decree, the eldest members of the Council preside over the opening session and deliver a speech to the Federal National Council, on the occasion, followed by adjournment of the session to bid farewell to His Highness the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and members of the Supreme Council of the UAE Rulers and take memorial photos with them . The Council reconvenes in the second part of the opening session, under the honorary chairmanship of the oldest members. This part is the procedural aspect, where the members of the Council take the legal oath of membership of the Council, followed by opening the candidacy for the post of President of the Council.
Announcing the appointed members soon
In the next few days, His Highness the Rulers of the UAE will submit the names of 20 members to the Federal National Assembly for the 17th legislative term, completing the quorum of the 40-member Council (20 elected and 20 appointed), before His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issues a decree. Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, decreed the formation of the National Council, and another decree calling for the National Council to convene.
The list of appointments (according to the seats available after the announcement of the final results of the elections of the Council last month), will include 20 appointed members, including 13 women against seven males, including four members from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (two women and two men), and four from Dubai (two women) In addition to three women members in the emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, and two members (man and woman) for Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.
Continued work of the presidency «NBK» and members of the Bureau and the Parliamentary Division until the beginning of the new legislative term.