ABU DHABI // Nearly three dozen Emirati academics and activists have delivered a letter of protest to the Federal National Council (FNC) after a meeting for citizens to raise their concerns was cancelled without explanation last month.
The National Dialogue Forum scheduled for December 11 in Ras al Khaimah, the third gathering of its kind, was intended to continue a dialogue between council members and citizens. Its agenda was to include topics such as national identity, the role of non-governmental organisations and legislation.
"The FNC is the representative of the citizens in front of the Government, so it's extremely essential that the we transfer our views and concerns to them," said Ahmed Mansoor, an Emirati blogger and activist who organised the petition. "We've not been meeting with them on a regular basis, and isolating citizens from the FNC goes against the instructions of the highest authority in the country, Sheikh Khalifa, the President of the UAE."
The letter, which was delivered on Tuesday, called on the FNC to explain the cancellation.
"What happened was not justified; it does not help bolster the relationship between the people and the FNC members, nor does it enrich dialogue on national issues - the right to dialogue must rather be established as a fundamental citizen's right," it read. "We are hereby expressing our explicit objection to this measure and are looking forward to your support in calling for a stop to restrictions on popular initiatives that aim to start a public dialogue on matters of national interest."
The forum was also scheduled to discuss proposals that would make the FNC a fully elected body. The group began as a 40-member council appointed by leaders of the seven emirates. Half its members became elected representatives in 2006, chosen by 6,600 Emiratis appointed by the rulers. Some members are pushing for further reforms.
Though citizens can contact council members directly to raise concerns, a public gathering is "very important", said Mr Mansoor, because it is the only instance in which people can gather to discuss issues before leaders.
The meeting may have been called off because of the death of Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qassimi, said Ahmad al Dhahiri, an FNC member scheduled to be at the event. Organisers said they were told the forum was cancelled on the night of December 10, several hours before Sheikh Sultan died.
Dr Aisha al Nuaimi, a communications professor at UAE University and one of the letter's signatories, said she could not understand why the event was halted as issues to be discussed were not controversial.
"Fifteen years ago it was much easier for society to raise these issues," she said. "I think we have to stand and defend our right to give our opinion about an issue in society. That's why we signed the letter."
Email:lmorris@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Mahmoud Habboush
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Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
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7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
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7.40pm Torno Subito
8.15pm Talento Puma
8.50pm Etisalat
9.25pm Gundogdu
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed PDK
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 820Nm
Price: Dh683,200
On sale: now
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.