For many Emiratis, this week was the first time they could vote in the Federal National Council election. With hundreds of thousands more set to cast their ballots on Saturday, the main election day, scores of volunteers have been trained to help ease the process across the country.
The National Elections Committee trained 1,107 volunteers – representing a 12 per cent increase on the number needed in 2016’s elections – in preparation for the country’s largest election to date.
Thirty-nine polling stations will open between 8am and 8pm on Saturday to cater for the 337,738 Emiratis included in the Electoral College List.
"Political participation is rooted in the UAE youth, and here we are today receiving more than double the number of volunteers we needed," said Tarek Lootah, undersecretary at the Ministry of State for FNC Affairs.
Forty-five of them helped to organise the voting process on the final day of early elections in Ras Al Khaimah on Thursday, while 20 were on hand to help at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in the capital.
One of the volunteers in RAK said it was her duty to take care of the people who were exercising their right to vote.
“I’m here to thank people for voting and offer them something to drink on their way out,” said Nadia Al Nuaimi, who works at the Ministry of Education. “I’m very happy that I got this opportunity to be part of this important event and to help organise the election process.”
It is Ms Al Nuaimi’s first year volunteering with the NEC.
“When I heard they needed volunteers, I signed up right away without hesitation and got the approval to join.
“We received training on how to deal with people with different needs, how the voting process works and how to keep the station organised,” she said.
On Thursday, she stood by the exit door thanking voters as they left the polling station. She will have a similar duty on Saturday.
“I look forward to the final day and see who will win the elections,” she said.
Nine polling centres opened from Tuesday to allow early voters time to cast their ballots. Many elderly Emiratis and people with disabilities took the opportunity to vote before the rush expected on Saturday.
The NEC said 70 per cent of the voters who visited the RAK Exhibition Centre to vote were women.
“We received large numbers of voters on the second day of the early voting,” said Mohammed Al Kait, a committee member.
Meanwhile candidates were warned not to send their friends or relatives to the polling stations to try sway voters.
“No offences were recorded so far, we only gave a verbal warning to the candidates about family members standing outside the polling station trying to influence other voters and that was solved,” said Mr Al Kait.
Club cars were provided at the RAK centre to ferry elderly Emiratis and people with disabilities.
One voter in Abu Dhabi said he studied every candidate's CV closely and opted for the one whose objectives seemed the most realistic.
"This is my second time to vote, and the person I voted for last time won," said Ahmad Al Qubaisi, an accountant.
In the last election, he voted for Saeed Al Remeithi, who went on to become the youngest member of the FNC and was quite vocal in the chambers.
He notably called for an end to the ban on free online calls in the UAE.
"I am happy with my choice and I am satisfied that he represented us in the past four years," said Mr Al Qubaisi, 27.
This year, he voted for someone who is also focused on youth issues "and the future".
"I know him and I know how influential he is; his voice is heard and he has a history.
"He is not related to me at all. I made my choice after I read his CV and he was the only whose objectives made sense to me.
"I believe he is capable of making a difference compared to the other candidates, if he wins."
