The active participation of UAE women in the next Federal National Council (FNC) elections should be considered a national priority, according to Shaikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and Dubai Women Establishment, and wife of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
At a session organised by the National Election Committee and Dubai Women Establishment, Shaikha Manal encouraged local women to "fulfil their potential as key contributors in nation-building" and expressed gratitude that the UAE's leadership has created conditions that allow women to flourish.
Shaikha Manal noted that the FNC has played an important role in supporting the women of the UAE. "The FNC attaches great importance to women's empowerment issues, enabling them to play an important role in serving the community, increasing their presence in various business sectors, as well as legislative and executive institutions, and holding decision-making positions," she said.
"This is the reason why we all hope that the women's participation in the current legislative session increases so as to support their role as active partners in the political life."
Additionally, Shaikha Manal noted that women have held several leading positions in the FNC, such as First Deputy Chairman of the Council, and have presided over a number of committees and participated in national and international conferences.
"This is the reason why we must continue to exert efforts in order to increase the number of UAE women in the FNC, which promotes their political participation and opens up new horizons," she added.
"I would like to take this opportunity call on UAE women to run for the FNC elections in order to achieve our aspirations and desired goals, and increase the political and economic participation."
During the session, UAE Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash explained that the existence of an electoral culture is based on the necessity of women's participation in electing and selecting individuals who work to ensure the wellbeing of citizens.
The UAE's efforts have helped the country be ranked the first globally in 'Closing the Gender Gap in Educational Attainment - Higher Education,' as well as be the first country in the region to reduce the gender gap, according to the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index.
UAE women are also ranked first in terms of leadership and parliamentary empowerment, according to a 2014 report from the Arab Women Studies Centre, which is affiliated to the Arab Women Foundation.
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