More wedding halls needed, says FNC member

The Tuesday session will primarily address Emiratisation and issues supporting Emiratis.

ABU DHABI // A lack of wedding halls is driving couples to hold ceremonies at hotels, meaning they start their married lives with a major expense, an FNC member says.

And many of the state-funded halls that are being used are urgently in need of renovation, says Salem Al Ameri, a member from Abu Dhabi.

Mr Al Ameri will express his concerns to Dr Maitha Al Shamsi, head of the Marriage Fund and Minister of State, at Tuesday’s session of the FNC.

He says there are not enough wedding halls built by the fund to cater for the UAE's growing population.

Mr Al Ameri intends to ask Dr Al Shamsi if there are plans to renovate halls or build more, to save grooms from paying thousands of dirhams for the night.

He also plans to question Abdullah Ghobash, Minister of State and head of Emirati human resources development authority Tanmia, on how the agency is helping nationals to find work.

“One of the strategic goals of the authority is to employ national cadres looking for work based on the needs of the labour market,” Mr Al Ameri says.

“So what is the authority’s plan in employing these people?”

Much of the session will be devoted to Emiratisation.

Ali Al Nuaimi, of Ajman, plans to quiz Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Development and International Cooperation and head of Zayed University, on what percentage of the university’s staff is Emirati and how ZU plans to increase it.

“Some students there told me there are few Emiratis teaching or even in administration,” Mr Al Nuaimi says. “Through this question I will know their Emiratisation efforts.”

Mr Al Nuaimi also plans to question Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy, on efforts to convert public transport and private vehicles to compressed natural gas.

“Some countries have already started transitioning to natural gas,” he says. “I want to know if the UAE has similar plans.”

Hamad Al Rahoomi, from Dubai, will ask how the Ministry of Public Works is planning to increase the housing loan ceiling to Dh800,000, while Ahmed Al Amash, of Ras Al Khaimah, wants to know how the Awqaf will help pilgrims to this year’s Haj.

“Haj is one of the pillars of Islam,” Mr Al Amash says. “What are the measures taken by the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments to facilitate the performance of Haj?”

He says many Emiratis perform Haj regularly, which has led some travel agents to take advantage of the season and raise their prices.

Other agencies overcharge pilgrims and offer them unsuitable accommodation and poor or no health services.

The FNC will discuss a bill on food security during the second part of the meeting.

The public session will be held in Abu Dhabi at the FNC headquarters, starting at 9am