Give women incentives to have bigger families, Government urged

The Emirati birth rate has almost halved in recent years, prompting calls for Emirati women to be given incentives to have larger families. Fertility rates have been falling in the UAE for three decades, as is confirmed by new figures from the World Health Organisation. The latest edition of the WHO's World Health Statistics shows that between 1990 and 2007 the number of children born per woman in the UAE fell from 4.4 to 2.3. Although the figures can be attributed in part to a rise in female expatriate residents of the UAE, one expert said the drop was reflective of wider changes in Emirati society.

Dr Fatma al Sayegh, a professor of UAE and Gulf history at UAE University in Al Ain, said the decline was to be expected, given the improved education, career ambitions and later marriage age of Emirati women. However, she said the country's "demographic problem" meant it was "a national necessity" that birth rates be increased. "The decline in the number of nationals will impact on the whole of society," she said. "We want [women] to work but we want them at the same time to have more children."

Dr al Sayegh praised government efforts to encourage Emiratis to marry other Emiratis, including initiatives such as state-funded mass weddings. But she said maternity leave payments needed to be increased and childcare facilities at work should be improved. The WHO statistics are not the first to show a steep decrease in the birth rate. Figures released by the UN earlier this year indicated that the decline in the Emirates was the sixth-fastest in the world.

Such is the concern over the erosion in national identity, in part as a result of Emiratis becoming a shrinking minority in their own country, that Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE, designated 2008 "the Year of National Identity". According to Dr Rima al Sabban, a sociologist, the drop in the birth rate in the UAE has been "huge". Some of it, she said, could be accounted for by the influx of expatriates. In addition, Dr al Sabban said: "There seems to be a movement, especially among the younger generation, where they believe they don't want to have as many children as their mothers. This change of perception needs to be addressed at a national level."

Among initiatives she suggests are increased financial support for women with children. The dropping birth rate is a symptom of good news; analysts say rapid reductions in fertility rates are indicative of successful social policies. dbardsley@thenational.ae relass@thenational.ae

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What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.

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At a glance

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Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances