When election fever finally abates this Saturday, and Emiratis from across the UAE cast their ballots for the Federal National Council, some will breathe a sigh of relief.
"My wife can't wait for the election to end so that I stop getting proposals from female voters," one candidate told me recently. His wife, on hearing this, could not resist adding: "Well, it is the fault of Photoshop that has made all our husbands look younger and handsomer this month."
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For this very reason, many female candidates have avoided listing their mobile numbers on posters, limiting their public contact to emails, Facebook and Twitter.
"While this could be the best way to meet my future husband, to have that chance to sit and have a nice political discussion with a respectful man, I am not sure what to do with male voters who will keep calling after the elections are over," said one female candidate who decided not to post her number.
"Already men are stopping me in public and saying: 'Oh, you are that candidate,' and then they want to strike up a conversation that has nothing to do with the elections," she laughed.
Having covered elections in other Arab countries, including Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia, there is a refreshing sense of dedication here. Candidates and voters who I have met believe that it could be one of the most important experiences of their lives.
After meeting so many jaded voters in the Arab world over the past decade, I was happy to see some Emirati voters look past the slogans and ask candidates difficult questions about their campaigns and what they would really do if elected.
But it wasn't the case with every voter. I have heard voters asking a candidate "what is in it for me?" with a few going as far as to ask for money or a gift for their vote. Some candidates seem to only make a hazy distinction between the "goody bags" that they give to voters after a meeting and an outright bribe. One candidate was giving out luxury purses to female voters, and expensive wallets and key chains to the men.
Certain candidates with tribal alliances have admitted that some voters have asked them if they could get a "camel or horse" if they cast a vote in their favour.
Of course, National Election Committee rules state that "a candidate is banned from giving in-kind or cash gifts to voters". Candidates are also banned from using UAE official emblems or symbols. Yet the national flag is often posted on home pages and posters.
When I pointed out to a candidate that having a UAE flag on her campaign website was a violation of the rules, she said: "We are still learning. Be patient with us, the flag is part of our identity and we can't imagine campaigning without it."
Candidates' business cards have also been distributed in bulk across neighbourhoods, many thrown at the front doors of non-Emiratis who are not eligible to vote.
"It would be great if expats were involved," said one of those expatriates. "It would be one of the best and only chances to meet and get to know Emiratis and what is important to them."
During the campaign, I particularly enjoyed going to villages and talking to the older generation. Many older people didn't even know elections were taking place, and those who did, found it amusing.
"We always had elections, but only among ourselves," said a 70-year-old tribesman. He told me how annoyed he had become when one of his grandchildren tried to explain what an election was. It was always common within tribes for members to elect their chiefs, and if they were not happy with a chief, he would be replaced by a new one more worthy of that position.
As we await this historic election, I can't help but think that maybe I should commission one of those posters for myself. I'm not running for anything, but a little Photoshop never hurt anyone.
rghazal@thenational.ae
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Brief scores:
Manchester City 2
Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'
Crystal Palace 3
Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)
Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
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Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
SPECS
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What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
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