VZCZCXRO9178
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #4359/01 3311513
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271513Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7755
INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 6664
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004359 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM AE
SUBJECT: Candidates Nominated as UAE Prepares for First Election 
 
 
ABU DHABI 00004359  001.2 OF 002 
 
Ref: 
(A) 05 Abu Dhabi 4919 (Limited poll prelude to direct vote) 
(B) Abu Dhabi 3904 
(C) Abu Dhabi 3463 (Education reform reshaping civics) 
(D) Abu Dhabi 2655 (Elections/participation, not democracy) 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: The period during which the 6,000 plus members of 
the Federal National Council (FNC) "Electoral College" can be 
nominated to compete for one of 20 vacant seats has closed. 
Although nominations began slowly, the final list exceeded 450 
candidates and included 65 women.  UAE President Khalifa emphasized 
in a press interview that this limited election is only the first 
step toward greater political participation, but offered no timeline 
for direct elections.  End summary. 
 
FNC Candidates Chosen 
--------------------- 
¶2. (U) The UAE National Election Commission (NEC) announced that 456 
candidates have been nominated (from among the 6,689-member 
"Electoral College") to compete for the 20 FNC seats to be filled 
during December elections.  The final list of names will be 
announced November 30, prior to which time some press reports 
speculate that many names may be withdrawn by the candidates 
themselves or due to challenges/objections by other members of the 
Electoral College. 
 
¶3. (U) According to the preliminary nominee list, 14% percent of all 
candidates are women (65) with the emirate of Sharjah having the 
most candidates (101) and highest percentage of women (29), while 
the emirates of Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah each had only one female 
candidate out of 29 and 37 candidates respectively.  The numbers of 
candidates nominated from each emirate are: 
-- Abu Dhabi - 100 (14 women) competing for 4 seats; 
-- Dubai - 82 (15 women) competing for 4 seats; 
-- Sharjah - 101 (29 women) competing for 3 seats; 
-- Ras Al-Khaimah - 83 (3 women) competing for 3 seats; 
-- Ajman - 24 (2 women), competing for 2 seats; 
-- Umm Al Quwain 29 (one woman), competing for 2 seats; and 
-- Fujairah - 37 (one woman), competing for 2 seats. 
 
¶4. (U) A cursory review of the nominees reveals several instances 
where wives, husbands, brothers, or fathers are competing against 
one another.  Nominees appear to be fairly representative of the 
electoral body itself and include business leaders, educators, 
government officials, social workers (especially women), and 
previous FNC members.  The Arabic daily Al-Khaleej reported November 
24 that the Dubai Police Commander who was planning to compete for 
the Speaker's position, decided not to run after he was asked for a 
"certificate of good conduct" (objecting that anyone would question 
his conduct after years of public service).   In a separate report, 
a UAE University professor questioned the qualifications of many 
candidates, noting that elements of candidates' stated election 
platforms are "weak" and demonstrate little knowledge of either the 
constitution or the FNC. 
 
¶5. (U) In an interview carried by the official Emirates News Agency 
(WAM), Dr. Anwar Mohamed Ghargash, Minister of State for FNC 
Affairs, publicly announced that the UAEG does not and will not 
support any particular candidate.  He stated that after elections 
are completed, the rulers of each emirate will use their discretion 
in appointing the remaining half of the FNC membership from either 
inside or outside the "Electoral College" membership.  He added that 
citizens' interest in the elections is demonstrated by the fact that 
an information call center set up by the NEC received over five 
thousand inquiries since its launch in September. 
 
President Khalifa: Enabling Citizens 
Toward Greater Participation 
------------------------------------ 
¶6. (U)  In a November 20 interview by London-based Al-Sharq Al 
Awsat, President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan spoke broadly 
about political and social changes taking place in the UAE, focusing 
on the upcoming elections of the Federal National Council (FNC) in 
December.  Khalifa described the limited elections of the FNC as the 
beginning of "the enabling era," a distinct shift in both policy and 
purpose from the previous "foundation era" presided over by the late 
President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan.  Khalifa explained that 
the primary goal of this "enabling" period is to lay the groundwork 
for the emergence of a more active UAE citizenry.  He further stated 
that the first step is to increase the political experience of the 
FNC and make it more representative. 
 
¶7. (U) President Khalifa said his vision of democracy in the UAE 
aspires to create a condition where the traditional values of 
participation and Shura (consultation) are accentuated and the FNC 
is enabled to bear its responsibility as a legislative body that 
supports social change.  Khalifa repeatedly referred to membership 
on the FNC in terms of "loyalty."  He stated that representatives 
should have "undisputed allegiance to their homeland," and that FNC 
membership is a matter of "loyalty and responsibility." 
 
ABU DHABI 00004359  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶8. (U) Khalifa acknowledged that limited elections of FNC members 
this December are a small step toward democratization and defended 
the pace of change stating that "there is no need for rushing that 
may lead one to stumble."  He stated that gradual steps in elections 
are an extension of a philosophy seeking to provide the "right 
environment" for greater change, eventually leading to a fully 
representative electoral process.  When pressed for a timeline for 
the next stage, Khalifa responded by saying, "This is not a 
transition governed by the passing of time."  Khalifa emphasized 
that he does not consider parliamentary elections as the sole 
element of a democratic system.  He stated that "democracy consists 
of a package of practices" that include freedom of speech, and laws 
that guarantee political, social, and human rights (ref C). 
QUINN