Three Emiratis withdraw from Federal National Council membership race

The National Election Committee says it did not receive any appeals against candidates but three withdrew their submissions

FNC elections are scheduled for October 5, 2019. Pawan Singh / The National

Three potential candidates for the Federal National Council have withdrawn their applications.

The deadline for receiving appeals ended on Wednesday with three candidates, one from Abu Dhabi and two in Dubai, choosing to stand down from the elections.

The National Election Committee said it did not receive any appeals against candidates over the two-day period.

More than 550 Emiratis registered as potential candidates for this year's FNC election over the course of last week.

The final list of candidates will be released on September 3, while the names of the candidate representatives will be presented the following day.

Candidates will launch their election campaigns on September 8, with a deadline for candidate withdrawal set for September 15. Election campaigns will run for 27 days until October 4.

Emiratis living overseas can vote between September 22-2 and early polling booths will open from October 1-3.

The majority of the 330,000 members of the Electoral College will cast their ballots on October 5, the main Election Day. Results of the preliminary count will be announced the same day while the new Federal National Council will be revealed on October 13, unless appeals are filed.