POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
The late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan launched the Political Empowerment Programme to mark the UAE’s 34th National Day in 2005. The programme aims to establish a supportive environment that encourages political participation among UAE citizens. The Programme also empowers the FNC to fulfil its role as a support unit for the executive authority, while remaining close to the people and their issue.
The UAE is steadily, gradually and carefully moving forward with political development, in a way that is tailored to the characteristics of Emirati society. The programme’s end goal is to establish a political culture in the UAE and strengthen patriotism and belonging among the people.
Speaking on the occasion of the 41st UAE National Day, the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed: “True political development is inspired by the values of the people and reflects their heritage and traditions. The UAE’s political model upholds our national identity, protects our values and engages all individuals and institution across the country.”
Political Participation
Role in promoting awareness
The Ministry promotes a culture of political participation as one of its strategic objectives and has adopted a sustainable approach to communication and interaction with as many members of society as possible for the common good.
This approach is based on the Ministry's commitment, since the inception of the programme, to implement awareness initiatives that cover all sectors of the society. The aim is to build collective awareness and introduce the political empowerment program launched by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2005, to raise awareness of parliament life in the UAE.
To achieve these goals, the Ministry launches innovative initiatives and organises periodic activities and events to promote political awareness among the community through all available communication channels.
Accordingly, the Ministry has continued to focus on activities and events related to parliamentary life in the country, through effective communication on various media outlets including print, visual, audio and social media.
The Ministry also works to highlight the coordination and cooperation between the government and the FNC, in the best interest of the citizens. It also underscores the important role of the National Federal Council and its achievements in legislative and regulatory aspects as well as public service issues.
As political participation is not a template ready to be applied in all societies, its form and mechanisms are determined as per the specificity of each society.
The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs contributes to the dissemination of a political culture commensurate with the nature of the UAE and its political, economic, social and cultural characteristics.
This is reflected in the review of the functions of the Department of Political Development in the Ministry and the projects that are implemented either on its own or through partnership with the concerned parties to spread political awareness among all segments of the community (on more than one occasion) and to consolidate the UAE’s culture of political participation.
Political Participation
Request to Organise Awareness Programmes
The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs has set strategic objectives to promote a culture of political participation through awareness programmes targeting all segments of the community, in order to build a national collective awareness about the political empowerment programme, launched by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2005, and of parliamentary life in the UAE, in general. With that in mind the Ministry organises lectures, sessions and awareness programmes for various institutions and bodies with the aim of reaching larger segments of society.
You can apply to host an awareness program at your institution by filling out the application form to host an awareness program.
Request to Organize AwarenessPolitical Participation
Awareness of government employees
The MFNCA, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the Federal National Council, coordinates and organises the participation of staff at government ministries as well as federal and local entities from various functional categories at the meetings of the Federal National Council.
The objective is to acquaint citizens with the functioning of the Federal National Council and its nature of work as well as to highlight the positive interaction between the Council and the government.
The Ministry is also keen to organise visits by youth to the Federal National Council sessions to inform them of the nature of the work of the Council, and recognize the efforts of the MFNCA to drive coordination between the legislative and executive branches to achieve the best interests of the nation and the citizens.
This initiative is part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to build a meaningful national community awareness, and to create a generation that is fully aware of the developments in the political empowerment programme launched by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It aims to enrich the knowledge of parliamentary life in the nation, and entrench the principles of loyalty by activating the participation of youth in the UAE’s sustainable and comprehensive development.
Political Participation
Joint Initiatives
The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs launches and implements several joint projects with national entities working towards enhancing the sense of belonging among citizens. These programmes increase the awareness of the vision of good leadership in enhancing the path of political participation in the country to achieve the directives of the UAE leadership to empower citizens in all fields.
The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs has several partnerships and signed MoUs with ministries, academic institutions and civil society institutions to achieve the desired objectives and to contribute to the improvement of political awareness. The Ministry urges citizens to participate effectively in the process of political development taking place in the UAE and to preserve the historical achievements of the nation.
The Ministry has emphasised on strengthening cooperation with several institutions and implementing various activities and projects with several partners, and has signed MoUs with them to reach out to the largest possible segment of the population.
Political Participation
Lectures and Seminars
The MFNCA organises a series of lectures and awareness workshops aimed at all sectors of the community including youth and women to enhance their political awareness and their knowledge about the role of the Federal National Council and the parliamentary life in the UAE.
The Ministry promotes the culture of political participation as part of its strategic objectives to underline the importance of increasing awareness of political participation and parliamentary action among the members of the community. Through various programmes and initiatives, the Ministry seeks to activate the role of youth to be active partners in the comprehensive and sustainable development of the UAE.
During the election period, the Ministry, as the General Secretariat of the National Elections Committee, focuses on awareness lectures for voters and candidates to ensure they are familiar with all the information they need about the electoral process. The Ministry provides all information regarding the achievements, premises, method of voting, rights and duties, the best way to choose their representatives in the FNC and other relevant information.
Political Participation
Social Media
As part of the commitment of the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs to harness all effective channels to reach different segments of society, it has developed a clear strategy for activating social media channels. These are leveraged to raise awareness of parliamentary life in the country as well as to introduce all segments of society to the Ministry's initiatives and efforts to enhance coordination between the government and the Federal National Council.
The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs has launched various innovative initiatives and campaigns through its social media channels to promote a culture of political participation and to enhance political awareness of the society, especially the youth, and to develop their capacity to be active participants in developing future strategies for the UAE.
Political Participation
Youth Circle
The UAE Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs and the Emirates Council for Youth organize a series of youth seminars dedicated to political development and the nature of parliamentary life in the UAE. These are aimed at introducing youth in the country to the parliamentary system and the various stages of political development in the UAE.
The youth seminars hosted by the Ministry aim to promote political awareness and foster a culture of political participation among the younger generation. They serve to engage the Ministry with the youth, and enable young people to meet with various stakeholders. The seminars provide an opportunity to discuss any questions by the young people, and to enhance their political awareness and knowledge of the political empowerment programme envisioned by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The events also underline the various steps related to the implementation of this programme and its role in achieving the overall development of the UAE.