Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, opened the first session of the new Federal National Council term in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Twenty members of the 40-member Emirati parliamentary group were elected last month, with the other 20 appointed by the rulers of each emirate.
The members, half of whom are women, represent the UAE population. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each while Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah both have six. Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
"Today we inaugurated the convening of the new Federal National Council," Sheikh Mohammed said, writing on social media following the start of the 18th term of the council.
"We had a successful electoral experience and we established a new milestone in the journey of empowerment.
"Today, the council launches as a supporting, guiding and assisting authority for the government, conveying the aspirations of the people of the union. May God guide everyone for the good of the country and its people."
The new council's legislative term was inaugurated in the presence of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, alongside Crown Princes, Deputy Rulers, ministers and senior civil and military officials.
Its first task was to elect its speaker. Saqr Ghobash was re-elected to the position, and spoke about the established principles set forth by the UAE’s leadership, which he said have "guided the development of a strong nation that enjoys high levels of security and safety, and provides an exceptional quality of life for its people and residents".
He reiterated the importance of drawing inspiration from the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to work diligently for the development of the UAE.
Mr Ghobash stressed the council's keenness to deepen co-operation with UAE government entities to support efforts to advance the country’s development.
The council plays an important role in providing a platform for discussion, debate and decision-making on matters of national importance and conveying the concerns of citizens on issues from roads to jobs.
Increased awareness
Remote voting was introduced for the first time this year, from inside and outside the Emirates. A hybrid system was created, which combines remote and in-person voting to maximise convenience. The new system allowed voters to cast their ballots through approved digital applications.
In 2018, the late President Sheikh Khalifa directed that women occupy half of the seats of the council. The ruling came into effect for the FNC's 17th legislative chapter, which began in November 2019.
The 20 successful candidates, announced last month, were chosen from 298 candidates.
The largest number of candidates of 118 were in Abu Dhabi, while Dubai had 57, Sharjah 50, and Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah had 21, 34, 14 and 15, respectively.
Candidates launched their election campaigns on September 11 for 23 days. Their campaigns proved to be successful as early voters told The National how they were more aware of candidates this year.
“Usually, Emiratis used to vote for their friends and relatives. This year I noticed people searching for the candidates’ agenda and what they will offer,” Khalifa Al Felasi, 48, told The National.
A total of 398,879 people were eligible to vote but only 175,487 did so, including 5,042 from outside the country.
The highest number of voters came from Abu Dhabi with 56,471, followed by Ras Al Khaimah with 35,357, and Sharjah with 29,996.
Dr Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of State for FNC Affairs and chairman of the NEC, said: “Early voting witnessed a good turnout, with a 44 per cent increase in the number of voters from 2019, which stood at 117,592.”
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)