UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the first session of the 17th legislative term of the Federal National Council (FNC) on behalf of President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Jassem Ali Al Jassem, chairman of the inaugural session of the council, as the oldest member, delivered a speech in which he thanked the leadership for its unending support of the FNC.

After the Al-Jassem speech, the session was adjourned to bid farewell to His Highness the Vice President, Crown Prince, Deputy Rulers and Sheikhs, and take memorial photos with His Highness by members of the Council.

The opening ceremony was attended by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, HH Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah.

HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, Ministers and Senior Officials in the UAE were also present. And heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the State.

The Council reconvened its first procedural session under the chairmanship of Ali Jassim Al Ali.

Ghobash affirmed that the Council will work in accordance with the approach, values ​​and principles established by the founder of the state, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, within the framework of a single national team, which puts the name of the UAE and the achievement of the interests of the nation and the citizen an indispensable goal, adhering to the pillars of the Shura approach instilled Our wise leadership, which we turn around, believing in its wisdom and the right strategic vision, which we all reap the good fruits.

Ghabbash said at the beginning of the first session of the first session of the 17th legislative term: “It is fortunate that the opening of the 17th legislative term comes a few days after His Highness the members of the Supreme Council renewed confidence in His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, to continue the march. The achievements of our blessed union, which has become a model and a bright page in the book of the builders of states and the makers of history of great leaders, who distinguished among them the founding leader of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, with his conscious vision, insightful wisdom and values ​​and principles, and He instilled and founded and gave priority Absolute happiness UAE people and good and well-being ».

Ghobash pledged to take responsibility from his deep understanding of the size, status and role of this national edifice within the constitutional structure of the state, as well as the aspirations of the leadership and hopes to keep pace with its rapid development and effectiveness in our development process, and to keep pace with the aspirations of the people of the UAE to be close to the pulse of all citizens The UAE is an oasis of coexistence, happiness, tolerance, security, safety and stability, and has so far embraced its minds that embraced space.

Ghobash said that the country's fourth electoral experience reflected the leadership's adherence to the Shura approach as a way to empower citizens and involve them in taking responsibility for national action according to the gradual approach, which embodies the wisdom and awareness of the leadership, and its keenness to refine the experience and fortify it, and provide all the elements of prevention, success and sustainability.

He pointed out that the implementation of the leadership decision to raise the percentage of women representation in the Council to 50%, to include the Council for the first time in its history half of the members of women, achieve the full empowerment of Emirati women, thus confirming the UAE's position in the forefront of countries in terms of representation of women in parliament, which holds all members It is a great national responsibility, stressing the confidence of all that the UAE girl will prove, as always, its worth with the confidence of the leadership and the confidence of the people of the Union.

Ghobash opened the door for candidates for the post of First Vice-President of the Council, only submitted by member Hamad Ahmed Al-Rahoumi, who was nominated by acclamation as First Vice-President of the Council, while three members competed for the post of second Vice-President of the Council, in an electoral process that resulted in the victory of Naameh Abdullah Al-Sharhan Mohamed Ahmed Al Yamahi and Osama Ahmed Abdullah Al Shafar won the positions of Council observers, completing the formation of the FNC Bureau.

The Council moved to the item of international agreements and treaties, and reviewed eight agreements concluded by the government with a number of countries, and reviewed nine letters issued to the government, which included recommendations adopted by the Council on the question «the role of the Central Bank in controlling the interest of personal loans», and «the role of the Zakat Fund »,« Monitoring of clinics and beauty centers and beauty products »,« Evaluation of administrative procedures for the collection of VAT »,« Imposing fines for non-renewal of identity card for the category of children », and on the follow-up of the general topics of the 16th legislative chapter, and follow-up of the recommendations of the Council General topics, and on follow-up The recommendations of the Council regarding the fourth round of the 16th legislative chapter, and the follow-up of the Council's recommendations on general issues.

The Cabinet also reviewed six letters from the Minister of Health and Community Protection, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Owais, on the Cabinet's decision on the recommendations of the Federal National Council on the subject of the Ministry of Health and Community Protection policy and a letter on the Cabinet's decision on the approval of the Council of Ministers. Discussing the theme of “Emirates General Transport and Services Corporation Policy (Emirates Transport)”, a letter on the Cabinet's decision on the recommendations of the Federal National Council on the subject of “The Ministry of Community Development Policy in Family Building” and a message on the Cabinet's decision on the recommendations of the Federal National Council in The subject of «the policy of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments regarding guidance and guidance», and a message on the follow-up to the recommendations of the Federal National Council in general topics, and a message on the decision of the Council of Ministers on the recommendations of the Federal National Council on the subject of «Policy of the Ministry of Energy and Industry».

6 draft laws

The Federal National Council reviewed six draft laws received from the government for referral to the concerned committees, namely: a federal law regarding the adoption of the Union's final consolidated account and the final accounts of the independent entities for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, for reference to the Committee on Financial, Economic and Industrial Affairs; Law on the Regulation of the Strategic Stock of Food Commodities in the State, for Referral to the Committee on Financial, Economic and Industrial Affairs; Wen regulation and the protection of industrial property rights, referral to the Committee on Finance and Economic and Industrial Affairs, and a draft law concerning the regulation of cemeteries and procedures for burial, referral to the Committee on Health and Environmental Affairs, and the Public Health Act, for referral to the Committee on Health and Environmental Affairs.

Board Committees

The FNC formed its nine main committees: Constitutional, Legislative, Appeals, Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs, Finance, Economic and Industrial, Technology, Energy, Mineral Resources, Education, Culture, Youth, Sports and Media, Health and Environmental, Social, Labor, Population, Human Resources, Islamic, Endowments and Public Utilities, and Complaints Committee.

Support and guidance authority

The Minister of Health and Community Protection, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, thanked His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and His Highness the Rulers of the UAE, on their high decisions in the selection and appointment of members of the Federal National Council, stressing that it will contribute to the activation of the Council, and strengthen its position as a supporting authority and guide the Executive Authority.

In his address to the Majlis, Al Owais congratulated the members of the Majlis for the great confidence that the leadership gave them, and thanked the former President of the Majlis, Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, and the former members of the Majlis, for their great efforts during the 16th legislative term.

He said that the 17th legislative term of the Federal National Council witnesses an important milestone in the parliamentary process in the UAE, where women occupy half the number of its members. The State, with its long-term outlook, believed that the participation of women is a key ingredient in reaching the desired future and achieving achievements.

NBK Bureau

■ Saqr Ghobash, President of the Federal National Council.

■ Hamad Ahmad Al-Rahoumi, First Vice-President of the Federal National Council.

■ Naameh Abdullah Al Sharhan, Second Vice President of the Federal National Council.

■ Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yamahi, Council Observer.

■ Osama Ahmed Abdullah Al-Shafar, Council Observer.

8 General Topics

The Federal National Council reviewed yesterday eight topics: the Ministry of Interior policy on civil defense, the services provided by telecommunications companies, the policy of the General Pension and Social Security Authority, the policy of the Ministry of Economy in support of the tourism sector, and the policy of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment 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.