This photo shows an ongoing session of Federal National Council. File photo

The Committee for the 2023 Federal National Council (FNC) Elections in the Emirate of Sharjah, which falls under the National Elections Committee (NEC), recently held a meeting to discuss the ongoing preparations for the upcoming FNC Elections in 2023.

The meeting took place at the committee’s headquarters located within the Sharjah Consultative Council. During this meeting, led by Chairman Isa Saeed Bin Hanzal and attended by all committee members, it was emphasised that the committee’s headquarters, situated in the Sharjah Consultative Council building, is fully equipped and ready to receive prospective candidates from the electoral body of the emirate. This is particularly for those individuals who are interested in putting forth their nominations for the FNC Elections in 2023.

Individuals who were unable to register through the link provided on the National Elections Committee’s website (www.uaenec.ae) or the “National Elections Committee — uaenec” app available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play can complete their registration from Aug.15 to Aug.17, 2023, between 8:00AM and 3:00PM, as well as on Aug.18, between 8:00AM and 12:00PM.

KEY REQUIREMENTS: During this period, the Emirate Committee will receive nomination forms, ensure they meet the necessary constitutional requirements, and then forward them to the National Elections Committee for approval through the Election Management Committee.

Additionally, the Sharjah Emirate Committee for the 2023 Federal National Council Elections discussed its operational approach. This includes arranging all administrative, technical, and logistical aspects related to the electoral process, while closely overseeing the entire process to ensure the elections are carried out with accuracy, transparency, and integrity.

Isa Saeed Bin Hanzal underlined that the Committee has taken significant steps to ensure that all necessary information and resources are available to members of the emirate’s electoral body who are interested in running for the FNC 2023. This applies particularly to those who encounter challenges when attempting to register using the remote candidate registration system provided by the National Elections Committee’s website or its associated app.

The Sharjah Committee for the 2023 FNC Elections extended an invitation to all members of the electoral bodies to complete their registration using the “UAE Pass” digital identification system. Additionally, the committee emphasised the vital importance of adhering closely to the executive instructions laid out by the National Elections Committee.

Recently, the Dubai Committee for the FNC Elections had confirmed it is fully prepared to conduct the 2023 Federal National Council electoral process in the emirate. The upcoming FNC elections represent a new milestone in the UAE’s efforts to enhance political participation and enable citizens to actively contribute to the national decision-making process.

During a tour of the committee’s headquarters at the Hatta Hall in the Dubai World Trade Centre, Essa Mohammed Khalifa Al Mutaiwei, Chairman of the Dubai Committee for the 2023 Federal National Council Elections, emphasised the committee’s commitment to maintaining the highest benchmarks of efficiency in the election process. “UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s vision to politically empower citizens builds on the efforts of the late Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to enhance political participation,” he added.

He further said the support extended to the committee by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council; and Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, has played a key role in enabling the committee to carry out its duties effectively.

Consistent with the leadership’s firm belief that political participation is one of the main pillars of the UAE’s social development, the National Elections Committee for the Federal National Council Elections has adopted a pioneering new approach for managing the electoral process, Al Mutaiwei said. The committee will facilitate key procedures and provide maximum comfort for candidates and voters. He noted that trained Emirati personnel will receive candidates and manage registration in accordance with the conditions and requirements for candidacy.

The National Elections Committee announced that potential candidates for the FNC 2023 elections could register from Aug.15 to 18, 2023.

The committee said that those on the electoral lists could apply for candidacy by completing the form on the link, tarashah.uaenec.ae, which is available on the committee’s website and the smart application “National Election Committee — uaenec,” that can be found on Apple Store and Google Play.

WAM