Timeline for UAE's largest election to date set out

A new Federal National Council will be announced on October 13, unless there are any appeals

A Federal National Council meeting is held in May. New members will be voted in this year. Antonie Robertson / The National

Voters will head to the polls over four days when the UAE holds its largest election to date.

Early polling booths will be open on October 1 to 3 for those who cannot make the main election day on October 5, when results of the preliminary count will be announced.

More than 330,000 Emiratis are eligible to vote for the semi-elected Federal National Council.

Any of those voters can put themselves forward as candidates by August 18, the National Elections Committee said, outlining the election timeline on Monday.

A preliminary list of eligible candidates will be released to the public a week later to allow any objections to be filed by September 1.

The final list of potential candidates for the FNC will be announced on September 3. Candidates can begin their campaigns from September 8 and any withdrawals must be submitted by September 15.

This year, for the first time, the NEC have removed the 48-hour period of “election silence” prior to the main election day. This two-day silence previously prevented candidates from campaigning just before election day.

Of the 337,738 Emiratis included on the Electoral College List, identified as eligible to vote, those overseas can cast their ballots from September 22-23. Early voting runs from October 1-3 and aims to encourage greater political participation by giving the Electoral College more time to submit their vote.

The final elected council members will be revealed on October 13, unless any objections or appeals lead to supplementary elections.

“This step will go a long way in ensuring the success of the fourth elections cycle that witnesses significant interest and growth in the number of electoral bodies," said Minister of State for FNC Affairs and chairman of the NEC, Abdulrahman Al Owais.

Voters will be able to find information about the next elections on the NEC App, on social media and on the Committee's website: www.uaenec.ae