A survey of over 800 expatriate and Emirati residents by Rehab Lootah, the e-services Provisions Manager at Dubai e-government, revealed only 24 per cent of UAE residents are aware of the upcoming FNC elections and 44 per cent are aware of the FNC itself.
The inclusion of expatriates in the survey was necessary because "there is a large number of expatriates here and we have to ensure that they are comfortable because that affects us too," she said.
The survey revealed that the cost of living is the primary concern of UAE nationals, at 24 per cent, followed by work-related concerns, at 16 per cent. Concerns about the population makeup of the country came third at 15 per cent and traffic, health services and housing were the fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
Respondents said they would like to see policies that would prevent inflation and monitor price hikes in consumer goods, utilities and services as well a solution to the rising rents. Traffic problems, the survey revealed, could be solved by more coordination between the emirates.
Rehab said she was not surprised that a large number of Emiratis and expatriates were unaware of the FNC and the upcoming elections. She was however surprised about the concern of the respondents about health services, and the lack of concern on women's issues. Rehab, who started running a blog on being appointed a member of the Electoral College, has also taken up youth issues as an area of concern.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Abbas Al Lawati
Quelle/Source: Gulf News, 12.12.2006
