DUBAI // Emiratis will have greater access to members of the FNC so they can air their concerns directly.
Six members at a majlis on Sunday listened to nationals' concerns including fuel prices, pensions and security checks, in the first of what will be twice-monthly meetings.
The call for regular sessions was led by Abu Juma, who said he was tired of having to air his grievances on talk radio.
"Many Emiratis believe you do nothing for them," he said at the Culture and Science Association. "You must embrace these people so no Emirati needs to resort to tell their problems to that radio station on air."
The FNC's Hamad Al Rahoumi said: "We know the leadership is in continuous direct communication with Emiratis. It should be a priority for the council to do the same."
Rulers, particularly Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi of Sharjah, have gone on talk radio to answer Emiratis' concerns directly.
The President, Sheikh Khalifa, reopened the FNC for its new session two weeks ago and stressed the importance of council members interacting with nationals.
Abu Juma said everyone knew the Rulers would not refuse them any request but the problem was getting their message through to them. That, he said, was where the FNC came in.
"Why did people give you their vote?" he said. "To sit in an office? No, to connect with us. Why don't you have an office in every emirate, to connect between the Emirati and the emirate? You must connect [us] with the Ruler."
But Mr Al Rahoumi said it was not FNC members' role to provide that kind of connection.
"We are federal, our work is on the federal Government," he said.
Another member of the audience argued that even local authorities were all under the federal umbrella, "therefore the council should be able to help".
"We do not want an Emirati to feel they need to reach out to [the radio talk show] Khat Al Mubasher," he said. "It is faster, yes, but if there was an office as a local I would know where to go. I would not go to Khat Al Mubasher. You are our voice."
Abdullah Al Qassimi, from RAK, agreed. He said such gatherings broke many boundaries and would reduce the need to air problems on the radio.
Mr Al Rahoumi insisted the council had no power over local authorities, but it had already lodged a request for an office to be opened in every emirate.
Dr Tariq Lootah, assistant under secretary of the Ministry of FNC Affairs, suggested the Rulers of each emirate should set up offices for their FNC members.
"The emirates should give them some resources because they represent the emirates," Dr Lootah said. "They must help the members get people's needs to the council. I don't think its hard to find a place to meet Emiratis in one of courts."
A member of the audience asked whether the council had had any success with its attempt to cut petrol prices.
Mr Al Rahoumi said the council had called on the Cabinet to bring petrol prices into line with those in its Gulf neighbours.
"So far we have had no answer," he said.
Yunis Mohammed, a retired Emirati, complained that he and others had been left behind by increases in pensions for the recently retired.
"If you were a diplomat, you cannot go below that status," Mr Mohammed said. "A dirham has now become 25 fils because of inflation and salaries staying the same. How do we solve this problem?"
Mr Al Rahoumi said the FNC was well aware of the problem. He said it had discussed it many times and would do so again.
"And we know for sure, a person could retire and get Dh20,000 and another retire after them by one month and get Dh50,000, we know there is a [problem]," he said.
Some audience members complained about the need to go through security checks for jobs and promotions. One called it a "punishment", but the FNC members said the law must be followed.
The next Dubai majlis will be held on December 9, and thereafter on the first and third Sunday of each month. Similar meetings will be held in other emirates with other members.
osalem@thenational.ae
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
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Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
MATCH INFO
Newcastle 2-2 Manchester City
Burnley 0-2 Crystal Palace
Chelsea 0-1 West Ham
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Tottenham 3-2 Bournemouth
Southampton v Watford (late)
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Leganes v Getafe (12am)
Levante v Alaves (4pm)
Real Madrid v Sevilla (7pm)
Osasuna v Valladolid (9.30pm)
Sunday
Eibar v Atletico Madrid (12am)
Mallorca v Valencia (3pm)
Real Betis v Real Sociedad (5pm)
Villarreal v Espanyol (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)
Monday
Barcelona v Granada (12am)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
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The specs: 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 60kWh battery
Transmission: Single-speed Electronic Precision Shift
Power: 204hp
Torque: 360Nm
Range: 520km (claimed)
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
