Final Arrangements Made for Elections

Monday, 7th December 2009

Aiming at reviewing arrangements related to conducting the elections due to start this morning of Monday, 7th December 2009, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ADCCI)’s Elections-Supervising Committee (ESC) - chaired by the Judge, HE the Advisor Ahmed Ibrahim Al Za’abi seconded from the Judicial Department - visited and inspected the three voting stations based at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in the city of Abu Dhabi, the Al Khubaissi district in the city of Al Ain, as well as at the Al Dhafrah Club in Zayed City. The chamber has completed its entire technical and technological preparations for both carrying out the elections and providing the best possible facilities for participants in voting at the above-mentioned venues.

In accordance with the announcement made by the ESC, the chamber’s general meeting will be convened for elections to be conducted this morning of Monday, 7th December 2009, from 8:00a.m. through 8:00p.m., at Halls 3 and 4 of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and in both Al Ain and Bida’a Zayed; and in case of an unfulfilled quorum at the said meeting, an invitation shall be extended by publication in newspapers for another one scheduled to be on Monday, 21st December 2009 at the very same venues and such a meeting shall be valid irrespective of the number of attendees.

13 UAE members shall be elected by the UAE chamber-members only out of UAE candidates and 2 out of expatriate ones shall be elected by foreign chamber-members. A chamber-member shall prior to casting his vote abide by the following:

His membership with the chamber should be valid at the time of convening the general assembly meeting for election either in the first or second round. Votes shall be as multiple as the number of memberships in the chamber;

An ID (e.g. a passport or driving licence) should be produced;
A voting card should be obtained;

It shall be necessary to report personally to the polling station at the Exhibition Centre for the purpose of voting; that is to say, voting by fax, mail or otherwise will not be accepted;

If the quorum has not been fulfilled on the day and date of the first meeting, members who have cast their votes will have to re-attend at the second one since all procedures which took place at the first meeting shall be deemed null and void;

If a member did not attend the first meeting, he may attend the second one; and
New or renewed memberships issued on 7th December 2009 shall not be entitled to vote at the first round; neither shall those issued or renewed on 21st December 2009 have the right to vote at the second one.

As regards voting procedures, the ADCCI ESC has explained that the process of casting votes would take place pursuant to the following:

Reporting to the polling station at the Exhibition Centre;Obtaining a voting card’s number from the Verification Counter;Getting into the voting hall and heading for the voter’s voting screen;Entering the number of the voting card into the ballot device;Once his personal details and candidates’ photographs and names have appeared, the voter shall click the photo of the person he is desirous of electing;Confirming the selection by clicking the relevant key;The computer system shall automatically print an election paper containing the names of candidates selected by the voter; The member shall pull out the printed card, signing and depositing the same into the box appointed for the purpose; and All this shall be done under the supervision of the ESC.

With regard to the announcement of results, the committee formed to oversee the elections shall in the event of a fulfilled quorum at the first round declare winners of the ADCCI Board Membership; and in case of a tie between two or more candidates, the committee shall draw lots in public to determine winners out of them.

For his own part, HE Mohammed Rashed Al Hameli, ADCCI Director-General, said: “The chamber has completed its services preparations and readiness related to conducting the ADDCI Board Members’ elections and that the Internal Committee overseeing the provision of technical and services facilities has completely drawn up all preparations and details associated with this important electoral process by making available equipment, accessories, computers and technical systems pertinent to carrying out such elections, along with ensuring their proper progress in a perfect manner”.

The Internal Committee set up by ADCCI staff has worked incessantly towards the availability of all requirements and facilities to both the voters and members of the ADCCI General Assembly, who are going to take part in voting for electing board members of the chamber, something which is due to be under way - at the three venues specified by the ESC chaired by the advisor appointed by the Judicial Department - in this morning of today, Monday, 7th December 2009, Mr. Al Hameli affirmed, noting that all necessary arrangements have been made so as to provide such facilities in an easily smooth way which would reflect the importance of this electoral process related to the Abu Dhabi-based private-sector community and businesses. Add to this, security services being rendered by the Ministry of Interior.

Moreover, the ADCCI ESC has announced the withdrawal of six candidates, including 3 UAE nationals; namely, Al Taher Mussabah Al Kindi, Ibrahim Mahmoud Al Mahmoud and Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Al tamimy, plus 3 expatriates: Jack Saleem Mattar, Afeef Ziyad Samir Saloum and Antoine Jirjy Canaan.