Less than 10 per cent of votes cast in this year’s FNC elections went to female candidates.
Of the 79,157 Emiratis who voted, only 8.3 per cent – 6,589 – chose a woman as the person they wanted to represent them on the council.
On Saturday evening, it was announced that Naama Al Sharhan, from Ras Al Khaimah, was the only women out of 78 female candidates to succeed, after picking up 1,004 votes.
This is the third election in a row where only one woman has been elected by the community.
For Seham Al Falahi, a defeated candidate who stood in Dubai, the lack of voting was a surprise.
All four available spots from Dubai were filled by men, two of whom had been on the council during the previous term.
“I expected the male winners because they are former members,” Ms Al Falahi said.
“The shock was in the low number of votes. I thought the numbers would be higher than that.
“I went to the voting centres and the turnout was low – even though all citizens [were aware] about the importance of voting.”
With only 35 per cent of the eligible electorate casting their vote in Saturday’s election, Ms Al Falahi said questions had to be asked on how to improve participation.
“Thousands of Emiratis did not come to vote. Why? We are still unaware of the answer and we are looking for it.”
While the Government was a great supporter of women, especially concerning them being involved in all industries, Ms Al Falahi said juggling work and family may have prevented eligible female voters from making it to a polling centre.
Another theory for the lack of female winners, Ms Al Falahi said, was perhaps down to a lack of support from men.
“In my opinion, female candidates get less votes because a woman supports a woman, and the number of voters are low, so the candidates get low numbers of voices,” she said.
Yet despite her loss, Ms Al Falahi said she was happy to have participated in what she said was her duty to her country.
For the Dubai local, she said she hoped the newly elected winners would strengthen their bonds with their respective communities.
“The most important factor for winning in elections is not only the academic qualifications and job experience, it is the network between a candidate and citizens.
“Seventy per cent on network, and 30 per cent on CV.”
In Ras Al Khaimah 1,759 votes – out of a total of 11,444 votes registered in the emirate – were cast for the five female candidates.
roueiti@thenational.ae
