Five FNC members who lived up to their campaign promises

Many of the 450 candidates who ran for 20 open seats in the FNC made campaign promises. These members have lived up to them.

One of the FNC members who has lived up to his election promises, Hamad Al Rahoomi. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National

Hamad Al Rahoomi (Dubai)

Under a portrait of a straight-faced Mr Al Rahoomi photoshopped on to a newspaper advertisement in Al Bayan newspaper, Emiratisation was listed at the top of his agenda if he were to be elected to the council.

After winning election, he made a bold move during his very first session of the council, calling for a temporary Emiratisation committee to be set up to look into Emirati unemployment and possible solutions to it. After a two-year study, Mr Al Rahoomi presented his committee’s findings to the council in the presence of two ministers, calling for Emiratisation quotas, a law requiring companies to employ more Emiratis, and for private-sector salaries for citizens to be subsidised by the Government.

On the many occasions Mr Al Rahoomi brought up the issue of Emiratisation, he stressed that it was key to solving a number of social issues, in the way of a domino effect. With more Emiratis in jobs, more would be able to afford marriage and therefore there would be fewer unmarried women and the population would increase.

Marwan bin Ghalita (Dubai)

Mr Ghalita, who regularly placed advertisements in Emarat Al Youm with a small announcement on the front page showing himself with a big grin, kept his message simple: Emiratis are first. For the past two and half years he has kept to his word by raising queries, asking how different projects and plans would help Emiratis and what was being done to secure a comfortable life for them in all areas.

Quoting the constitution and the Government’s 2021 strategic plan, Mr Ghalita would remind ministers of the pledges the Government made, asking them how they would achieve this.

Some issues Mr Ghalita raised included rights for small and medium-sized enterprises, a lack of Emiratisation in private companies and visa-free travel for Emiratis.

Mosabeh Al Kitbi (Sharjah)

Much like Mr Al Rahoomi, Mr Al Kitbi, who regularly advertised in Al Khaleej newspaper, made Emiratisation his priority.

Once the temporary Emiratisation committee was formed, he worked closely with Mr Al Rahoomi as deputy head.

Other than the report, he raised several questions with ministers on the matter and has criticised career fairs in the country, claiming that some companies have no intention of employing Emiratis.

Also on his agenda was women’s rights, which he attempted to focus on by questioning ministers and calling for early retirement for women and a solution to the problem of abandoned women.

Dr Abdullah Al Shamsi (Ajman)

Dr Al Shamsi, a retired police official, promised he would work to improve the status and pensions of retirees, and since his election he has been doing just that.

On a number of occasions he has called on the head of the pension fund to increase pensions and link pensions to inflation, reminding the Government of all the work the older generation had done to help the country reach the position it was in today.

Salim Al Ameri (Abu Dhabi)

Salim Al Ameri, who advertised regularly in Al Ittihad newspaper with a straight-faced portrait of himself followed by a list of promises, has been heading one of the more active committees in the council since 2011: the Labour, Health, and Social Affairs committee.

While reviewing those sectors, Mr Al Ameri can be found regularly talking to officials and seeing how services can be better improved for Emiratis. His committee has also amended a number of laws to give employment priority to Emiratis and other Government support.