HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has passed a directive for Emirati women to occupy 50% of the UAE’s Federal National Council in next year’s election.

Election for new members of FNC will happen next year and women will occupy HALF of the seats.

Currently, women represent 22.5 % of the total seats in the FNC, i.e there are 9 women members for 40 seats.

This new directive was issued by a tweet from the UAE Government

As directed by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in a step to further empower Emirati women and bolster their contributions to development, women’s representation in the National Federal Council will be raised to 50%, starting next round. #UAEGov

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— UAEGov (@uaegov) December 8, 2018

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, also extended his support for the decision

The Presidential decree allocating 50% of the seats in the Federal National Council to women is a great leap forwards in cementing the legislative and parliamentary role of women in our nation’s development.

Women are half of our society: they should be represented as such.

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) December 8, 2018