ABU DHABI // To mark World Democracy Day, the Federal National Council celebrates more than four decades of democracy today.
In a statement, the FNC expressed its pride with the gradual political empowerment and participation outlined by the leadership of the President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed.
It also added that Sheikh Khalifa’s approach aims to boost the democratic course of the FNC.
This year’s theme for the United Nations International Day of Democracy is “strengthening voices for democracy”, focusing on the voice of the people and helping them reach leaders, whether directly or through elected representatives.
The FNC speaker, Mohammed Al Murr (Dubai), said leadership was close to the people even before the formation of the FNC when shura was an important aspect in society. Emiratis throughout time have been able to approach UAE Rulers directly at their majilis and have their issues addressed.
Mr Al Murr said parliamentary life in the UAE moved forward with the strengthening of the democratic approach and increasing the FNC’s powers to serve the country and Emiratis.
A pivotal moment for the FNC was 2005 when constitutional amendments made by the President, Sheikh Khalifa, introduced elections for the first time. Half the council was to be chosen by an electoral college, and terms were extended from two to four years.
Since Emiratis started campaigning and running for council office, interaction with the public has increased.
Now the majority of members are available through popular social media sites Twitter and Facebook. A list of all of the members’ email addresses are listed online at the council’s official website.
In this year’s “Global Competitiveness Report”, the World Economic Forum’s annual survey of the most efficient and dynamic economies, the UAE was ranked in third place globally for strong public trust in its politicians.
osalem@thenational.ae
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Director: Shazia Iqbal
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
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Opening Rugby Championship fixtures: Games can be watched on OSN Sports
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Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
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Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
