UAE inching towards more representative government

Members of the Federal National Council are seeking legislative powers for the council.

The National:

The 40-member FNC currently has the authority to debate and amend laws, question ministers and discuss the annual federal budget, but not to initiate legislation. Half of the FNC’s members are appointed by the rulers of the seven emirates, while the other half are chosen by an electoral college of nearly 6,700 Emiratis, who are chosen by the rulers.

Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for FNC Affairs, highlighted the fact that this FNC was a historic one, being the first to experience elections and to have its term extended to four years.
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Some FNC members have a broad range of proposals for reform of the council. These include an expansion of the electoral base that elects half the members in order to enfranchise more Emiratis, and having more representatives.

Other proposals include granting the council broader oversight powers in order to hold government bodies accountable and, somewhere down the line, the power to initiate legislation.

Gulf News:

Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, a member from Dubai, said the House must have more powers to scrutinise the Government and take part in the decision making process and not just submit recommendations, which may or may not be implemented. "It is high time to move on to a full-fledged legislature and take proper decisions to boost political participation and help the FNC to play its role in supporting social, economic and political development," Al Suwaidi said.

He added political participation is a popular demand and the ceiling [of political life] has to be raised.
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Political liberalisation in the UAE received a boost with the first elections to the country's legislature in December 2006. The elections, however, presented only a small step in terms of political development as only about 6,600 Emiratis were able to cast their vote.

Going all the way to "full legislative powers and universal suffrage", Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shahin, a Ras Al Khaimah representative told Gulf News he aspires for full legislative powers for the House and universal sufferage for Emiratis to help the House meet expectations heaped upon it. "It is not logical to allow hand-picked group of citizens to vote and deprive others from their rights," he said.

Note that the rulers of Abu Dhabi have ownership in The National, and the rulers of Dubai have ownership in The Gulf News.

There's no mention of popular election of rulers.

Do the citizenry want a more representative government? There is great income inequality in the UAE, but the economic well-being UAE citizens is much better than those in Saudi Arabia, and certainly Egypt. The country's wealth is shared with the citizenry. I'm not sure the attitude isn't leave well enough alone. That's not a recommendation wrapped in a conjecture. I'd like to see the UAE become a democracy.