Five of the FNC’s most accessible members

The National throws the spotlight on five of the most accessible FNC members who have taken great strides in connecting with the public.

While all Federal National Council members are required to keep in close contact with the public, some go to great lengths to achieve this. Ola Salem profiles the five most accessible FNC members based on their council work and interaction with the public on social media and at events.

Dr Mona Al Bahar (appointed member, Dubai)

Dr Al Bahar is one of the few members who dedicates time outside sessions to meet the public at evening majlis in Dubai, along with a small number of her colleagues.

Although the turnout has never exceeded a few dozen at any one time, she continues to attend to ensure that “no Emirati cannot access a member in the council”.

Already known in the Emirati community as one of the first local social workers in the country, she is a former professor at UAE University and is now director of care and rehabilitation at the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children.

Dr Al Bahar increased her public presence through Twitter, where she has openly debated matters and passed on proposals from the public to the 40-member FNC.

Mosabeh Al Kitbi (elected member from Sharjah)

Many in his emirate have kept in close contact with Mr Al Kitbi after his election campaign, which has been evident through issues he has raised with the council.

These have included the lack of support for abandoned women, an absence of a government check on maids to investigate any possible criminal records in other countries, and a call for early retirement for women.

Even when ministers dismiss Mr Al Kitbi’s questions in council sessions, he continues to grill them, bringing examples from the public to convey a strong message.

Several issues have already been resolved because of his persistence, including the formation of a new court of reconciliation in Al Dhaid, Sharjah, and the set-up of an Emirates ID computer database to ensure Emiratis are no longer held at the airport mistakenly because of name similarities.

Noura Al Kaabi (appointed member from Abu Dhabi)

As one of the youngest members, Ms Al Kaabi, chief executive of the media zone twofour54, is known to be one of the most prominent on social media, appealing to the country’s younger generation, with many labelling her a role model.

Ms Al Kaabi, who is also a member of the board of Abu Dhabi Media, is the most active member on Twitter, with more than 62,000 followers.

She can often be seen in council sessions providing live tweets to keep her followers up to date with the council’s work.

Ali Al Nuaimi (appointed member from Ajman)

Mr Al Nuaimi’s vast experience in the UAE’s banking sector has given him the upper hand when it comes to debates relating to business issues.

But his field of speciality has not stopped him from raising other issues in the council, based on the concerns Emiratis, both male and female, have passed on to him.

As a result of his interaction with the public, he has debated at FNC sessions on working conditions for women and surging prices of goods due to inflation – two issues of great importance to many.

Hamad Al Rahoomi (elected member from Dubai)

Once the elections of 2011 were over, Mr Al Rahoomi did not change his mobile number, because he wanted to ensure that any Emirati could reach him.

Along with other Dubai members, he too joined night majlis meetings and brought up issues raised to the council.

For the past two and a half years, Mr Al Rahoomi has made sure he kept members of the public updated with the council’s work and has involved many on social media and at public forums.