UAE: Women & youth empowerment via Federal Council elections

The latest estimates released by the Central Bank of the UAE suggest economic growth this year will fall far short of previous forecasts. They are more pessimistic than those from the IMF.

GDP will expand only 2% in 2019, compared with a previous forecast for 3.5% published in March, according to the central bank. - By contrast, the IMF sees a pickup of 2.8% from 1.7% last year, according to its April Regional Economic Outlook. We expect growth closer to the IMF estimates supported by a robust non-oil sector.

More than 330,000 Emiratis have signed up to vote for the Federal National Council (FNC) in October, a 50% increase in the number of voters from the last election in 2015.

The FNC -- one of the five federal establishments created by the UAE constitution -- comprises 40 members, including eight seats guaranteed for women.

Those registered to vote are also able to nominate themselves as candidates for the FNC.

Council membership is intended to represent the wider population. The Council passes, amends or rejects draft federal laws, as well as deliberating international agreements and accords. Draft laws are then passed onto the Cabinet for review and approval.

This year’s voter list, announced by the National Election Commission, has a higher number of women and young voters (aged 21 to 40 years) on it than previously. They were 50% and 61% of the total, respectively.