UAE organizing education seminars on upcoming federal election

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Election Committee is organizing a series of educational seminars throughout the Emirates on the Federal National Council Elections set to take place on Oct. 3.

The educational seminars will run from Aug. 9 to 19 and are intended to ensure members of the Electoral College are up to date on the regulatory and legal aspects of the UAE’s electoral process.

The seminars will review the Federal National Council program, and go over knowledge gained from the two previous elections held in 2006 and 2011. Seminars will also look at the electoral process timetable.

The seminars will also serve the important function of explaining the rights and duties of voters as well as the rules concerning candidates in the elections.

Tariq Hilal Lootah, undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs and chairman of the Election Management Committee, said the seminars will cover the whole country to benefit the maximum number of voters.

“Awareness about the legal and regulatory process will contribute to enhanced participation in the elections,” Lootah said.

The first educational session is Aug. 9 in Abu Dhabi at Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Theater at Zayed University. A seminar will follow at Al Ain Municipality headquarters on Aug. 10.

The country’s western region will host a seminar at the Baynunah Institute of Science and Technology Theater – Madinat Zayed on Aug. 11.

The Dubai Police Officers Club public library in Hatta has scheduled multiple sessions on Aug. 13.

The emirate of Sharjah will host four seminars Aug. 16 – one at Qasmiyeh University Theater and another at the Maliha Cultural Sports Club in the city of Maliha. Another seminar is set for the Cultural Center Theater in Khorfakkan. The Sharjah Women’s Union Association will also hold a seminar to be only open to women.

Sessions are organized at cultural centres in Ajman on Aug. 17 and in Umm Al Quwain on Aug. 18.

A further two seminars will be held in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. The first on Aug. 13 is just for women and will be hosted at the Emirates Association for Social Development headquarters. Another is set for Aug. 19 at the Cultural Center Theater.

The city of Fujairah also hosts an election seminar August 19 at the Cultural Center Theater.