ABU DHABI // While on holiday in Scotland, Ahmed Ahli received a surprise phone call from a childhood friend in Dubai.
His message was short: “Butti Saeed Al Kindi wanted Mr Ahli to run for a seat on the Federal National Council,” it read.
“The thought of running had never crossed my mind,” Mr Ahli says. “I was surprised by his call.”
When the list of citizens eligible to vote or run in the elections was released in July 2011, Mr Al Kindi quickly went through the thousands of names listed for Dubai to find Mr Ahli’s name. Mr Ahli, however, did no such thing.
“I did not know the list was out,” he says. “When Mr Al Kindi spoke to me, I was reluctant. He told me to think about it, so I did. He said I would win.”
Once back in Dubai, others approached Mr Ahli to ask him to run.
As a well-known businessman with increasing popularity in the community, he was able to win a seat, finishing third in Dubai votes.
“UAE society is small, everyone knows the other,” he says. “As long as you participate in society and people are fond of you, and you to them, then you can reach the FNC.”
Mr Ahli says winning was proof of a person’s track record in his community.
“I do not think of me reaching the council as an election, rather a referendum,” he says. “I shared people’s joys and people’s sadness. I stood by them.
“My majlis is always open to people, not just during the elections. Elections are a referendum of how much you have given to society.”
Even though becoming a member of the FNC had not crossed his mind, today Mr Ahli has placed his term in the council as his biggest achievement.
“A person’s greatest achievements differ from one stage in their life to another,” he says.
For Mr Ahli, his first achievement was when he was named best sportsman in the UAE as a member of the national volleyball team. He also conquered the business world through several ventures, most importantly his catering and real estate businesses.
“My biggest achievement was finally becoming a member of the FNC and serving the country,” he says.
Although he admits to some shortcomings, he is happy with the progress made by the council the past three years.
Outside the regular public sessions held in the capital, Mr Ahli has joined members in Dubai during majlis sessions and other field visits.
One of many things he has learnt while an FNC member is the importance of its role, which is disregarded by some.
Mr Ahli says that although the FNC’s results were not always immediately tangible, they did affect everyone in the UAE.
“Its results are not a project you can see in front of you, although they may be possibly the most important things,” he says. “It aids in the country’s development and its security.”
He says the council also opens his eyes to the towering efforts made by the Government “to reach where they have reached today”.
While happy to pass on national concerns to the council, Mr Ahli has faced the dilemma of social sensitivity. Many people do not want to be seen as causing problems.
“Someone might bring up an issue, but then tell you not to mention it because it would be an embarrassment for them. As if it would show that they were complaining,” he says.
“The nature of society is that they don’t want to show that they are complaining.”
With no intent to sit on the council for another four-year term, Mr Ahli is sure the experience has changed him – for the better – even with a demanding pool of work.
“FNC members should have two secretaries to help them with work, just like other parliaments,” he says. “This would help members immensely.”
osalem@thenational.ae
