ABU DHABI // The diversity in the Federal National Council is one of its strongest assets, Ahmed Al Mansoori believes.
As a result of the varied ages and backgrounds of members, the pool of issues raised has been continuously growing, with the greatest number of questions ever raised to the Government taking place this chapter.
But this reality is not well-reflected outside the council.
“People outside do not realise the very healthy and dynamic conversation between Government and the FNC,” he said. “If people could, they would appreciate its work. The FNC works on the strategic level, not micro level. That’s why the outcomes come in the long term.”
Mr Al Mansoori, a former head of the Dubai hub for scientific innovation, Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) which is tasked with launching the first all-Emirati satellite to space by 2017, is one of the council’s strongest political players. He has more than a decade of experience as an analyst at B’huth, the country’s first think tank.
“If you want to summarise the UAE in one word, it would be development,” he said, adding that it was a notion some countries in the Middle East have disregarded due to different sects putting their own ideology above national interest.
Development in the FNC has not been as fast as in local government, “but because we are responsible, there is bureaucracy”, he said.
During his reign as director general of EIAST, Mr Al Mansoori ran the show, but in the FNC, he has one vote, just like any other member.
“It is slow, but that’s the nature of it,” he said. Conversations with members of other parliaments showed a similar predicament in other countries.
A way to bring the FNC up to speed, Mr Al Mansoori said, would be by getting a wider selection of nationals from all emirates involved through teleconferences as well as social media, and “all other channels to bring people together”.
Spending three years on the council has confirmed his belief that it is a solid platform to debut people’s needs and suggestions.
Not expected, however, was the mounting work, which was one of the reasons he left EIAST in 2012 – to dedicate more time to the council.
“It is a huge responsibility, it requires dedication,” he said.
Even when members clash, he said different perspectives were respected.
“The FNC has been an excellent experience,” he said. “I have learnt how to work with people and how to compromise. Arabs unfortunately lack the art of compromise. This art can be learnt through the FNC.”
Speaking highly of fellow members on the council, Mr Al Mansoori noted that a number had talents of bringing up topics of local concern as federal ones, to make them applicable to the council.
“The diversity in the FNC is wonderful,” he said.
While Mr Al Mansoori is an expert in politics, economy and technology due to his background, he has also had a lifelong passion for the history of the UAE.
After collecting a number of artefacts, Mr Al Mansoori set up a museum with the help of Dubai Government, which was impressed by his collection, demonstrating how art and history can promote respect.
“The museum shows the crossroads of civilisations - this museum is about how to see positives and beauties of other cultures,” he said. “Looking at Dubai as an area on the sea, it was the crossroads for many civilisations. It brought together different ethnicities who saw beauty in each other.”
“Today, unfortunately, people look for differences in each other.”
osalem@thenational.ae
