Emirati women turn out for first day of Federal National Council registration
Women outnumbered men as the doors at an Abu Dhabi centre opened yesterday for candidates to sign up for the Federal National Council’s elections.
By 9.45am, eight women and five men were the first enthusiastic members to show up at the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry – where candidates from Abu Dhabi city can register their nominations this week.
Several women said the directive by President Sheikh Khalifa, that women should occupy 50 per cent of the council’s seats in the upcoming term, pushed them to show up yesterday morning – whether they stand a chance to win or not.
Buthaina Al Qubaisi, 40, was the first candidate and woman to step out of the registration room.
“I was keen on registering early to encourage other women and give them enough time until the end of the week to sign up,” said the environmental activist and history writer.
“This is my second time to run, but in 2015 I was among the last ladies to nominate themselves.
“I want all women who have the opportunity to register to do so, whether we win or not, it is important to take part in the experience.”
She said registration was smooth and easy, especially now that she has more experience of the electoral process.
Ameena Al Mazrouei, who also visited the Abu Dhabi centre to register, called for women candidates to “step out of their bubble and present themselves in front of everybody – men and women, and not just focus on women’s organisations and gatherings”.
Ms Al Mazrouei, 36, said she got the idea to nominate herself after hearing that 50 per cent of the council’s seats would be filled by women.
“Previously women thought twice before running for elections,” Ms Al Mazrouei said.
“It is a big challenge for Emirati women to nominate themselves. Men usually prefer to vote for other men, and women are sometimes reluctant to give other women responsibility.”
She said she was encouraged to register after learning that women had been guaranteed an equal presence in the council even if they do not win in the elections.
She admitted it was also difficult for her family to accept that she will be “stepping out in public and appearing across media platforms” to nominate herself.
“My family is no different from any other Emirati family, and my husband is like any traditional local man.”
While her husband had some concerns regarding the public appearances she will be making during the elections, she said he decided to be supportive “to an extent”.
“He told me I can do whatever I see suitable, but that he won’t be pushing his friends to vote for me.”
Ms Al Mazrouei said she would like to see more social issues raised at the council, especially by female members.
“[That’s] because women understand and advocate their issues better than anybody else; a woman understands the challenges other women go through in everyday life.”
Latifa bin Suwaidan, 30, a law student and a mother of five, was the first to arrive at the Dubai registration centre.
She entered the halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre at 7.30am, half an hour before registration began.
Ms bin Suwaidan came on behalf of her father, prominent criminal lawyer Abdul Moneim bin Suwaidan, who is on holiday in Kiev but entrusted his registration to his daughter.
“You know, we’ve told him for many years, you should go ahead and enter,” she said.
“We don’t know what his campaign will be yet because he decided to run just a few days ago and then he left.”
She expects family issues, such as housing and divorce, to be central to her father’s campaign.
Applicants can register for the Federal National Council elections from August 18 until Thursday, August 22, at centres across the country.
Candidates must be 25 years old before election day on October 5 and be a “knowledgeable and literary person of sound reputation”, according to the National Election Committee.
They must also be on the list of 330,000 citizens eligible to vote.
Nearly 200 people registered across the Emirates on the day that nominations opened.
The largest turnouts were in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, with 52 and 47 candidates respectively. Dubai had 21 registrations.
The Northern Emirates had 74 candidates, with 28 from Ras Al Khaimah, 26 from Fujairah, 13 from Umm Al Quwain and seven from Ajman.
A third of the 194 candidates were women.
Abu Dhabi led in terms of gender parity, with women representing 48 per cent of its nominees, followed by Umm Al Quwain (46 per cent), Dubai (43 per cent), Ras Al Khaimah (35 per cent), Sharjah (31 per cent), and Fujairah (27 per cent).
No female candidates registered in Ajman.
During the 2015 elections, there were 330 candidates competing for 20 seats.
One fifth were women. Only one woman was elected.
Tariq Lootah, undersecretary of the Ministry of State for FNC Affairs, visited centres in Ajman, Sharjah and Dubai yesterday.
“Participating in this endeavour is a privilege for every national,” he said.
“We encourage all eligible UAE nationals to nominate themselves as candidates for this important national duty or [to] motivate capable candidates to apply, or [to] come out and vote for their chosen candidate on election day.”
Yesterday, most prospective candidates in Dubai were men.
Shaikha Khalfan, 30, who works in the planning and development department at Emirates airline, was the first woman in Dubai to put her name forward, arriving just after 8am.
Her campaign will focus on private sector health, quality education and job satisfaction.
“I’m an employee, I’m a student and I’m a wife, so I know what people are going through,” said Ms Khalfan.
“I’m living between all of this and I can take a clear message to the council.”
She plans to court support through Instagram and Twitter. If selected, she has a new Twitter account ready to go when the list of approved candidates is announced on September 3.
Equally important to electoral success will be the majlis campaign circuit, where candidates meet prospective voters for discussion in people’s homes.
“A few days ago, I heard doubt,” Ms Khalfan said.
“People asking, ‘what will the candidates do for us? How will the FNC help?’ But if you can sit with people and talk with them, they understand.”
Abu Dhabi led in terms of gender parity, with women representing 48 per cent of its nominees