Asharq Al-Awsat

The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has decided that women should make up half of the Federal National Council, an advisory body, when it is renewed next year, state-run WAM news agency reported on Saturday.

“The step reflects the country's future approach aimed at achieving full empowerment of Emirati women and emphasizes their pioneering and effective role in all vital sectors of the UAE,” said WAM.

“The directives of the President include doubling the current percentage of women's representation in the Federal National Council from 22.5 percent to 50 percent in the coming parliamentary term, and aims to rank the UAE in the top positions worldwide in terms of representation of women in parliament,” it added.

The 40-member FNC is currently chaired by a woman, Amal al-Qubaisi. Half of its members are elected for a four-year term, while the others are appointed by the rulers of the seven emirates making up the federation.

The last vote for the elected part was held in 2015.