United Arab Emirates

Federal National Council

Political system: Monarchy
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s): 03 Oct 2015
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: No information available
Timing of election: No information available
Number of seats at stake: 40
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 224,279
Voters: 79,157
Voter turnout: 35.3%

Results

About the election: Since there are no political parties in the UAE, all candidates ran as independents. During election campaigning, many candidates focused on social issues, promising to provide better housing and more health services. Others focused on job creation and better educational services. The size of the Electoral College (a body which elects half (20) of the members of the Federal National Council) remained small but increased from 129,274 in 2011 to 224,279 in 2015. The government described the move as the leadership's willingness to "enable citizens to participate actively in the process of political development". Turnout increased from 27.25% to 35.29%. As in the 2011 elections, one woman was among the 20 winners. On 18 November, the newly elected members were sworn in alongside the 20 appointed members, including eight women.

The 2015 elections used a single-vote system (meaning each voter voted for only one candidate in his/her emirate). Previously, voters were allowed to vote for as many as half the number of seats from their respective emirates. Eligible voters outside the country were allowed to vote for the first time in 2015.

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 31
Number of women elected: 9

Notes: One woman was elected while eight others were appointed by the rulers of the constituent states.
Percentage of women elected: 22.5%
Women Appointed: 8
Women Indirectly Elected: 1
Sources: Federal National Council (12.10.2015, 19.11.2015)

The National

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 31
Total number of women after the election: 9
Percentage of women after the election: 22.5%
First-term parliamentarians: No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: No information available
Date of the first session: 18 Nov 2015

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Amal Abdulla Al Qubaisi (Female)
Date of birth: 1969
Date of election: 18 Nov 2015