Abu Dhabi, UAE – 28 September 2022 – The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs (MFNCA) has collaborated with Majalis Abu Dhabi at the Citizens and Community Affairs Office of the Presidential Court to organise a lecture titled ‘Political Participation’ at the Majlis Muhammad Belajer Al Rumaithi in Al Samha, Abu Dhabi.
The session shed light on the empowerment process pursued by the UAE’s wise leadership, and the distinguished role that Emirati citizens play in national decision-making, which enables members of the Emirati community to actively contribute to the development process transforming the UAE in all sectors, as well as to make notable achievements at all levels.
Speaking at the lecture to great interaction from the audience, Dr Mohammed Butti Thani Al Shamsi, Associate Professor of Administrative Law at the Dubai Police Academy, focused on the key pillars underpinning the UAE’s constitution, which acts as a national document that sets the rules for organising all aspects of life, while asserting the freedoms, rights, and obligations for all citizens to drive progress for the country and its people.
“Since the establishment of our Union and to this day, our wise leadership has been committed to promoting the values and pillars of political development, striving to employ and provide the necessary requirements to advance the capabilities of all members of the community and enable them to actively participate in building an advanced country that can keep pace with all developments and adapting to local, regional, and international challenges,” H.E. added.
Dr Al Shamsi went on to note that one of the most important achievements in the process of individual participation in the national decision-making process is the political Empowerment Programme, announced by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2005, which served to enhance the participation of individual citizens in national efforts by holding the first elections to select half of FNC members in 2006, followed by subsequent elections in 2011, 2015, and 2019.
“Political participation is a value inherent to Emirati society, and has deep roots in our Arab and Islamic cultures. The Shura concept on which the UAE was founded is a core component of the unique and distinguished relationship between our leadership and its citizens,” H.E. asserted.
“With the tasks and roles it performs, along with its commitment to communicating issues of concern to the people to be discussed at the Council, the Federal National Council constitutes an effective communication tool that brings the needs and aspirations of citizens to the attention of the government. The FNC also offers recommendations for the development and advancement of various sectors, which enable them to serve people and improve their wellbeing. To that end, the Council works to set national policies that are based on partnership between the government and the Federal National Council to maintain the UAE’s achievements.”
The lecture was organised as part of the fifth session of the ‘Neighbourhood Councils’ initiative, launched by the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs to help foster a culture of political participation among UAE citizens.
Source: Ministry of State for Federal National Affairs, UAE