FNC elections: Big win for the people of UAE

Never mind most of them couldn't make it. But at the end of the FNC voting on Saturday, camaraderie was all around as the UAE announced "all are winners".
Announcing the 20 elected members to the Federal National Council, Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Federal National Council Affairs, said: "All are winners today. There are 20 seats but there is a greater number of winners and these are the nominees."
"This election process is considered a successful one by all standards," Dr Gargash said. The elections witnessed 79,175 votes representing 35.29 per cent of the electorate, compared to the 25,877 votes polled in the 2011 elections representing 27.75 per cent of the electoral college.
"Through team work, the UAE succeeds and continues to prosper, grow and develop. There are too many people to thank but I'd like to thank the National Election Council and its members across all the emirates for all their efforts," he said.
Explaining the hard work that had gone into the democratic process, Dr Gargash said more than 400 volunteers of different ages participated at various centres and "that has been a prosperous experience to them and to us".
"We also need to thank those who lead the elections and all their teams," the minister told a Press conference held after the results were announced.
Earlier in the day, the air was filled with a sense of celebration. And the spirit of democracy was evident as citizens turned out in large numbers irrespective of gender and age.
After the polling stations opened doors at 8am, crowds across several venues in the UAE were scant, but the turnout at booths picked up as the day progressed, especially towards the evening. The polling time had to be extended to 9pm to accommodate late voters.
Dozens of election staff were on hand to help check people in and guide them to one of several dozen touch-screen e-voting machines. Most voters finished the process within minutes.
The voting process was delayed at Al Khan booth for 20 minutes due to a technical fault.
A show of confidence from women marked the final day of the elections. Speaking to Khaleej Times, women candidates in Sharjah said that they are not worried about the outcome of the election.
They said that even if they fail in this election, they will be happy, as they consider the experience itself as a great success for them and the country as a whole.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
The complete list of winners:
Abu Dhabi
Khalifa Suhail Ali Al Mazrouie with 2167 votes'
Matar bin Amira Al Shamsi with 1634 votes
Saeed Saleh Mezar Saeed Al Rumeithi with 1597 votes
Saleh Mubarak bin Othaith with 1382 votes
Dubai
Hamad Ahmad Sultan Obaid Al RAhoomi Al Muhairi with 2076 votes
Marwan Ahmad Ali Khalifa Al Muhairi with 961 votes
Khaled Ali Ahmad bin Zayed Al Falasi with 722 votes
Jamal Mohammad Matar Musabeh Al Hai with 672 votes  
Sharjah
Jasim Abdullah Abdul Razzaq Al Naqbi with 787 votes
Salem Obaid Obaid Al Shamsi with 644 votes
Mohammad Ali Saif Al Ketbi with 519 votes
Ajman
Hamad Abdullah Saeed Ghalitha Al Ghafli with 723 votes
Salem Abdullah Hamad Rashid Al Shamsi with 458 votes
Ras Al Khaimah
Salem Ali Ahmad Ali Al Shehi with 2037 votes
Ahmed Yousaf Mohammad Al Noaimi with 1358 votes
Naema Abdullah Saeed Al Sharhan with 1004 votes
Umm Al Quwain
Khalfan Abdullah Salem Humaid Al Ali 382 votes
Obaid Humaid Humaid bin Rakad Al Ali 372 votes
Fujairah
Mohammed Ahmad Mohammed Ahmad Al Yamahi with 912 votes
Ahmad Mohammed Mubarak Abdullah Al Hamoodi with 546 votes
Speaking to Khaleej times, Commander Salim Alshamsi, winner from Sharjah, said he will be obliged to achieve all his election programs, particularly women and youth empowerment and improvement of the health and education sector.