The UAE today begins its 48th parliamentary year

The UAE is entering its 48th year of parliamentary action (which began on February 12, 1972), with the inauguration of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the 17th legislative term of the Federal National Council, by reciting His decree His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to convene the Council.

The inaugural session, which will be chaired by Ali Jassim Al Jassim, as the oldest member of the council, will witness the election of a president and two vice-presidents for a four-year term, as well as the presidents and members of the executive bureau and the main committees of the council.

On behalf of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 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 HH The Heir Apparent, Deputy Rulers, and HH Sheiks.

Following the reading of the presidential decree, Council member Jassem Ali Al Jasim will preside over the inaugural session as the oldest member, followed by adjournment of the session to bid farewell to His Highness the Vice President, HH The Heir Apparent, Deputy Rulers and HH Sheikhs.

The Council reconvenes in the second part of the opening session, under the chairmanship of Al-Jassem, where the members of the Council take the legal oath of membership of the Council, followed by opening the door for candidacy for the post of President of the Council, and a process of voting for his election from among the members who nominate themselves for this position, In the event that only one member applies for this position, it shall be followed by the election of two Vice-Presidents of the Council (first and second), and then elections for the positions of Council Observers, Chairmen, Rapporteurs and Members of Council Committees.

Over the past 47 years, the Council has witnessed 16 legislative chapters, nine of which were inaugurated by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, starting from the opening session of the first legislative term on February 12, 1972, followed by the opening of the third legislative term on the first of March 1977, then the legislative chapters: the fifth on December 28, 1981, the sixth on January 14, 1984, the seventh on January 5, 1988, the eighth on the fourth of March 1990, the ninth on the sixth of February 1993, and the 10th on the second of December 1995, December 1, 1997.

The opening of the second legislative chapters (February 12, 1974) and the fourth (March 1, 1979) did not witness the official presence of the President of the State or his representative at the time, as the opening of these two chapters, in accordance with the Federal Decrees issued by His Highness the President of the State (then), The Council shall convene.

The late Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on behalf of the President, opened the 12th legislative term on January 30, 2000 and the 13th on February 18, 2003.

The 14th legislative term of the Council witnessed the first official presence of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, under the dome of the Council, which opened the first session of the Council on 12 February 2007, after His Highness made a comprehensive change in the structure, number and mechanism of the selection of Council members and the time of its meeting In implementation of the political empowerment program launched by His Highness in 2005.

His Highness the President also inaugurated the 15th legislative term of the Council on 15 November 2011.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum opened the 16th Legislative Council on November 18, 2015, when he opened the 16th legislative term on behalf of the UAE President.

6 draft laws

In accordance with the agenda of the meeting, the Council will review six draft laws for referral to the concerned committees, namely: Federal draft law on the adoption of the Union's consolidated final account and the final accounts of the independent entities for the financial year ended 31/12/2018, for reference to the Finance Committee Federal Law on Regulation of the Strategic Stock of Foodstuffs in the State, for Reference to the Committee on Financial, Economic and Industrial Affairs, and Federal Law on Biosafety of GMOs and Their Products, for referral to the Committee on Health and Environmental Affairs Federal draft law on the regulation and protection of industrial property rights, for reference to the Committee on Financial, Economic and Industrial Affairs, draft federal law on the regulation of cemeteries and burial procedures, for reference to the Committee on Health and Environmental Affairs, and a draft federal law on public health, for reference to the Committee on Health and Environmental Affairs .

The Council examines eight general issues of the Council from the 16th legislative term: the Ministry of Interior's policy on civil defense, the services provided by telecommunications companies, the General Pension and Social Security Authority policy, the Ministry of Economy policy in support of the tourism sector, and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment policy. Achieving sustainable development of fisheries, animal and agricultural resources, the policy of the Federal Council for Population Structure, the policy of the Ministry of Education regarding the supervision of schools, and the policy of the Emirates General Organization for Transport and Services (Emirates Transport).

Board Committees

The Council shall form its committees in accordance with Article 45 of the Council's Bylaws, which states that: “During the first week of its annual session, the Council shall form the committees necessary for its work. These committees may exercise their powers among the sessions, in preparation for submission to the Council at its meeting. The Council, at the first of each role, may decide on the proposal of the Bureau, the survival of the committees intact, or make any amendments it deems ».

The committees of the Council are: the Committee on Constitutional, Legislative and Appeals, the Committee on Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Finance, Economic and Industrial Affairs, the Committee on Technology, Energy and Mineral Resources, the Committee on Education, Culture, Youth, Sports and Information, the Committee on Health and Environmental Affairs, the Committee on Social Affairs, Labor, Population and Human Resources, Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Public Utilities Committee, Complaints Committee and Future Committee.

According to Article (47) of the Council's Bylaws, the committees shall study, express opinions and prepare reports in what the Council or its Chairman refers to it.

• The meeting will witness the opening of the candidacy for the post of President of the Council, and the conduct of a ballot for his election.

• Jassem Ali Al Jassim will preside over the opening session as the oldest member of the Council.