Today's Edition
Members of the electorate in Dubai emirate on early Wednesday morning flocked to the headquarters of the Federal National Council elections committee at the Meeting Hall in the Dubai World Trade Center to nominate those they wish to represent them in the upcoming parliamentary session.
The first day of elections in Dubai saw the participation of many people of determination, a total of 53 male and female citizens in Dubai, who were keen to come to the electoral headquarters and select their candidate.
The Dubai Elections Committee provided 33 electronic voting devices, including a special device for people with determination, who received special attention and assistance from the committee’s volunteers.
The committee offered many services and facilities, including directional signs inside and outside the headquarters to ensure the electoral members who wish to vote could easily do so. There was also a qualified executive team ready to receive the electoral members, assist them, and answer all their inquiries.
The Dubai Elections Committee, which is part of the National Elections Committee, aims to contribute to the success of the electoral process by providing a civilised electoral environment that reflects the modern image of the UAE. This includes general supervision of the elections, endorsing the formation of subcommittees, defining their tasks and jurisdictions, contributing to election awareness and education efforts, and setting guidelines for the electoral process.
His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, the Diplomatic Advisor to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, affirmed that the National Council elections are a democratic celebration, distinguished by transparency. Dr. Gargash noted that the hybrid voting system, used for the first time during this election cycle, will have many benefits. Remote voting embodies the superior technological infrastructure that the UAE boasts, he said.
In press remarks after casting his vote in the Dubai Emirate’s election committee at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dr. Gargash highlighted the importance of all members of the electoral body exercising their electoral right in choosing their representatives.
He emphasised the importance of wide-scale participation, and fulfilling their national duty by voting. Dr. Gargash described the voting process as “easy and fast”, noting that the voting process was accomplished in record time, and was highly organised.
On the first day, Issa Mohammed Khalifa Al Muteiwi, Chairman of the Dubai Emirate Committee for the Federal National Council elections, announced that more than 73,000 citizens, representing members of the electoral body in the Dubai emirate, can choose from among 53 candidates across the emirate.
Al Muteiwi, in press statements made on the sidelines of the first day of the elections, pointed out that three polling centres have been set up across the emirate, residential distribution in Dubai. Al Muteiwi praised the growing public awareness of the importance of participating in the electoral process, which is considered a fundamental pillar for the development of UAE society.
Al Muteiwi called on members of the electorate to activate their digital identity accounts and verify their names on the list on the National Election Committee’s official website before heading to committee headquarters or submitting nomination applications online, emphasising the need for full compliance with the executive instructions issued by the National Election Committee.
As the first election day came to a close, Al Muteiwi reported that the turnout was outstanding, noting that the provision of the hybrid voting system (in-person or remote voting) made it easier for voters.
He expected that the hybrid voting system would increase the overall participation rate in the electoral process by the end of the voting days next Saturday. He also pointed out that the attendance ratio of both genders was balanced throughout the first day of voting.
Regarding the use of digital identity in the voting process, Al Muteiwi said: “The voter’s identity is verified through the digital identity, and there is a technical team supervising the electronic voting under the Supreme Election Committee.”
He mentioned that electronic voting is an “outstanding idea” that ensures a smooth voting process. A group of voters confirmed that the voting process was simple, comfortable, and free from complications, and adding that they chose their candidates based on their convictions and the candidates’ platforms.
