Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan

His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, said that the UAE is going through important transformations and developments to raise political awareness and patriotism. The National Council elections are a leading example of this.

He added that national electoral participation is an important step. Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; the assistance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice president of the UAE, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Federal National Council has made steps to empower citizens. This empowerment program was launched in 2005 in order to enable the council to support the state and play a more effective and interactive role in that support.

He reiterated the importance of the Federal National Council in political participation. He further noted that the Constitution of the UAE stipulates the importance of political development as the people of the UAE move towards a national integrated democratic process that seeks to match the ambitions and desires of the people.

He explained that the Federal National Council has contributed to building laws and institutions; has consolidated the work of the Shoura, and addresses national and community issues that take into account the interests of the citizen both in the present time and in the future. He pointed out that the empowerment program supported by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has contributed directly to enabling the council to play a role in support of the government.

He further added that in light of global and regional changes the national leadership is working towards the future and taking into account these developments while putting the national interest above all other considerations. The government is seeking to empower awareness and national and political loyalty among the people of the UAE. This experience enhances national cohesion and promotes the national interest, through the interaction and turnout witnessed in this election cycle. The candidates seek to embody the aspirations of their voters and to realize their hopes and aspirations. This all contributes to the opening of new horizons for national parliamentary work in the UAE. The success of the empowerment experience supports political participation and national development under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, and other members of the Supreme Council and rulers of the respective emirates.

He praised the role of young men and women in the UAE and pointed out the responsibility placed on the shoulders of young people who have participated in national awareness campaigns, engaged in active participation, and participated in the election of candidates. They have interacted with families and the community using all the social and technological media available. UAEU has been keen to translate the directives of our leadership and promote the role of students in these awareness campaigns. This has been achieved through the launch of the Friends of Elections website in collaboration with the Higher National Election Commission. Students have participated directly in spreading national awareness about broad participation in the electoral process. This has in turn, strengthened national identity. His Excellency congratulated the winners of the election to the Federal National Council and stressed that this is a national mission and all the winning candidates have a great responsibility.