Tomorrow - Saturday, September 24 - is election day here in the United Arab Emirates. There are 469 candidates (including 85 women) who are vying for spots on the Federal National Council (FNC), the highest elected body in the UAE.
There are 40 representatives on the FNC. Representatives serve 2-year terms. Each of the seven emirates that compose the UAE are represented on the FNC according to their population (similar to the way that the number of representatives a state has in the US House of Representatives is determined by that state's population). Here, the FNC has the following number of representatives from each of the 7 emirates.
8 are from the emirate of Abu Dhabi,
8 are from Dubai,
6 are from Sharjah,
6 are from Ras al Khaimah, and
4 from Ajman,
4 from Umm Al Quwain, and
4 from Fujairah.
Not all of the 40 seats on the FNC are elected, however. Each emirate elects exactly half of its representatives, while the remainder are appointed by the ruling sheikh. Currently, of the 40 seats, there are 8 women (20% of the FNC, with 3 women from Dubai, and 1 woman from each emirate except Umm al Quwain).
As far as voting rights go, the UAE does not yet have universal suffrage. This year does, however, represent a significant expansion in voting rights from the previous elections. Furthermore, the UAE has a far larger percentage of its citizens eligible to vote than many of the countries in the region. In this election, 129,247 individuals (out of approximately 978,000 Emirati citizens) will vote. These individuals are chosen by the rulers of the emirates in which they live.
The FNC is not a legislature that develops and votes on laws. Rather, it functions in an advisory role to the rulers of the country. Drafts of laws and the nation's budget are discussed, with recommendations passed on to the rulers. Additionally, the FNC provides oversight of the various Ministries of the country (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Trade, etc.).
Here are a few campaign posters. I have no idea about the platforms of the candidates. Since all off the voters are Emirati, all of the campaigning and materials are in Arabic.
There are 40 representatives on the FNC. Representatives serve 2-year terms. Each of the seven emirates that compose the UAE are represented on the FNC according to their population (similar to the way that the number of representatives a state has in the US House of Representatives is determined by that state's population). Here, the FNC has the following number of representatives from each of the 7 emirates.
8 are from the emirate of Abu Dhabi,
8 are from Dubai,
6 are from Sharjah,
6 are from Ras al Khaimah, and
4 from Ajman,
4 from Umm Al Quwain, and
4 from Fujairah.
Not all of the 40 seats on the FNC are elected, however. Each emirate elects exactly half of its representatives, while the remainder are appointed by the ruling sheikh. Currently, of the 40 seats, there are 8 women (20% of the FNC, with 3 women from Dubai, and 1 woman from each emirate except Umm al Quwain).
As far as voting rights go, the UAE does not yet have universal suffrage. This year does, however, represent a significant expansion in voting rights from the previous elections. Furthermore, the UAE has a far larger percentage of its citizens eligible to vote than many of the countries in the region. In this election, 129,247 individuals (out of approximately 978,000 Emirati citizens) will vote. These individuals are chosen by the rulers of the emirates in which they live.
The FNC is not a legislature that develops and votes on laws. Rather, it functions in an advisory role to the rulers of the country. Drafts of laws and the nation's budget are discussed, with recommendations passed on to the rulers. Additionally, the FNC provides oversight of the various Ministries of the country (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Trade, etc.).
Here are a few campaign posters. I have no idea about the platforms of the candidates. Since all off the voters are Emirati, all of the campaigning and materials are in Arabic.
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| This guy has prime advertising space in front of a mosque. |
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| A better angle of the advertisement near the mosque. |
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| Signboards on the median. |
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| One of the female candidates. Notice here that all candidates have a number (visible in the other candidates' ads, too). At the voting booth, candidates are either selected by entering the number or selecting the photo of the candidate. |
Wow. That is SOOOOO interesting. It baffles me when I think of the peaceful union of the Emirates as compared to other middle eastern countries. What's up with all that good will? Seems like every now and then a sheik would get his nose out of joint and throw down a little jihad.
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