The UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa, issued a decree on Monday to form the Federal National Council after all 40 members were confirmed.
Sheikh Khalifa called for the council to convene on Thursday for the start of its new term.
The consultative body is made up of 20 representatives elected by the public and 20 appointed by UAE rulers.
The 20 members who secured seats during the October 5 elections were finalised last month. Now the 20 appointed members have been announced.
Sheikh Khalifa ordered that the council be evenly represented by men and women to ensure gender equality in the country's democratic process.
The FNC advises the Government on matters of national importance. It can pass, amend and reject federal laws and discuss international treaties, and is also a forum for members to raise the concerns of Emiratis.
It was established in 1971 and voting was introduced in 2006. Members hold office for four years.
Council members across the country are looking forward to getting to work this week.
Naema Al Sharhan, was proud to be appointed to represent Ras Al Khaimah this year after winning her seat by way of the public vote in 2015.
“It is a great honour to be part of the council for the second time and to be chosen by the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah,” said Ms Al Sharhan.
She plans to focus on issues related to education, the negative impact of online games and social media on children and empowering women and the young generations.
“I will be working on finding solutions to the negative effects of online games and social media on young generations and ways to stop cyber bullying,” she said.
“I also want to continue discussing issues related to education and curriculum adjustments, invest in the younger generation and provide support to women, people with disabilities and the elderly.”
Dr Nidal Al Tunaiji , the general director of Zayed House for Islamic Culture, is looking forward to helping shape the country's vision after being appointed to her third term as a council member for Ras Al Khaimah.
‘I am grateful for the government and the leadership’s trust in me and for renewing my membership. I and all the members hope to meet their ambitions and work hand in hand to implement their vision for development and a comfortable life for its citizens,” said the 41-year- old mother-of-two.
Over the years she said she had witnessed a growing interest in the work of the council.
“There is more awareness, which was necessary and was instigated by the President’s decision to have elections. I do believe that today we are reaping the fruits of 2006.”
A record number of Emiratis cast their votes on FNC election day last month.
Calls for greater equality, better health care in remote parts of the country and an acceleration of the Emiratisation drive were just a few of the issues.
While numbers of people who voted were up greatly on the 2015 election, from 79,157 to 117,592, the percentage turnout was slightly down, from 35.29 per cent to 34.81 per cent.
This was due to the substantial increase in the number of registered voters for the 2019 elections, up from 224,279 to 337,738 this year.
The FNC representatives
Abu Dhabi
Saqr Ghubash Saeed Al Marri, Dr Ali Rashid Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Hawwa' Saeed Salim Al Dhahaak Al Mansouri, Khalfan Rashid Al Nayli Al Shamsi, Suhail Nukhairah Suhail Al Affari; Moaza Mohammed Saeed Al Amri, Mira Sultan Nasser Mohammed Al Suwaidi and Naema Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Mansouri.
Dubai
Osama Ahmad Abdullah Al Sha'far, Hamad Ahmad Sultan Al Rahoumi, Jameela Ahmed Mohammed bin Omair Al Muhairi; Sarah Mohammed Amin Filknaz, Dr Tariq Humaid Mohammed Mattar Al Tayer; Dirar Humaid Abdullah Humaid Belhoul, Aysha Mohammed Saeed Al Mulla and Mariam Majed Khalfan bin Thania.
Sharjah
Humaid Ali Al Abbar Al Shamsi, Shaza Saeed Ali Al Naqbi, Aysha Reda Hussain Al Bayraq, Obaid Khalfan Obaid Al Ghoul, Adnan Hamad Mohammed Al Hammadi and Kifah Mohammed Nasser Al Shahsi Al Zaabi.
Ras Al Khaimah
Ahmed Abdullah Mohammed Al Shihhi, Saeed Rashid Abdullah Al Abdi, Sumaiya Abdullah Salim bin Hareb Al Suwaidi, Naema Abdullah Saeed Al Sharhan, Dr Nidal Mohammed bin Shirbak Al Tunaiji and Yousef Abdullah Batran Al Shihhi.
Ajman
Ahmad Hamad Abu Shihab Al Suwaidi; Afra'a Bakhit Saif bin Hindi Al Olayli; Marwan Obaid Ali Muhairi and Hind Humaid bin Hindi Al Olayli.
Umm Al Quwain
Aysha Rahid Sultan Leteem Al Ali, Athra Hassan Humaid bin Rakkad, Ali Jassim Ahmed Jassim Al Ali, and Mohammed Issa Obaid Al Kashef.
Fujairah
Dr Sheikha Obaid Khaleef Al Tunaiji, Sabreen Hasan Saeed Al Yamahi; Mohammed Ahmad Mohammed Ahmed Al Yamahi, and Nasser Mohammed Humaid Khamis Al Yamahi.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%202%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Soudal%E2%80%93Quick-Step%20-%2018%E2%80%9911%E2%80%9D%3Cbr%3E2.%20EF%20Education%20%E2%80%93%20EasyPost%20-%201%22%3Cbr%3E3.%20Ineos%20Grenadiers%20-%203%22%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20classification%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Lucas%20Plapp%20(AUS)%20Ineos%20Grenadiers%3Cbr%3E2.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%E2%80%93Quick-Step%20-%20ST%3Cbr%3E3.%20Nikias%20Arndt%20(GER)%20Bahrain%20Victorious%20-%203%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
RACECARD
%3Cp%3E5pm%3A%20Al%20Shamkha%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E5.30pm%3A%20Khalifa%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E6pm%3A%20Masdar%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E6.30pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E7pm%3A%20Emirates%20Championship%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(PA)%20Dh1%2C000%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%3A%20Shakbout%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%202%2C400m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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DUNGEONS%20%26%20DRAGONS%3A%20HONOR%20AMONG%20THIEVES
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
