Sharjah 24: As part of its active participation in the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2025), the Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC) concluded its series of sessions within the "Cultural Café" programme with an extensive dialogue session titled "The Citizen's Voice: From Observation to Law."
The session was moderated by journalist Ayman Musbah and featured a select group of council members and law professors, and was attended by a large audience of interested individuals, intellectuals, and academics.
The session was attended by a number of parliamentary and administrative figures, including Her Excellency Mira Khalifa Al Muqarrab, Secretary-General of SCC, and several council members, as well as a diverse audience of fair visitors from various age groups and social backgrounds.
The meeting began with a welcoming address. Participants included His Excellency Hamad Abdulwahab Al Qawadi, SCC Member and Member of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee; His Excellency Obaid Ishaq Al Mazmi, SCC Member and Member of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee; and Dr Manal Mirza Mohammed, Assistant Professor of Public Law at the University of Sharjah (UOS).
Culture and knowledge, Sharjah fundamental pillars
The speakers' presentations complemented each other, highlighting the Emirate of Sharjah's vision of making culture and knowledge two fundamental pillars for human development and societal progress. This vision stems from the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah who envisioned Shura (consultation) as a genuine practice that fosters awareness and responsibility, translating citizens' needs into effective policies and legislation.
During the meeting, a central discussion took place concerning the vital role of the Sharjah Consultative Council in receiving citizens' feedback and transforming it into legislative initiatives and practical proposals that contribute to improving government performance and promoting sustainable development.
Voice of the citizen
At the outset of his remarks, His Excellency Hamad Abdulwahab Al Qawadi affirmed that SCC, since its establishment in 1999, has served as a platform for the voice of the citizen and a representative of their aspirations. He noted that the Council operates through multiple channels to receive public feedback, including field meetings, official visits, opinion polls, and direct communication with members. He explained that every observation received by the Council is referred to the relevant committees for study and analysis, with the aim of formulating it as a recommendation or draft law. He added that this parliamentary methodology reflects transparency and embodies the leadership's vision of making consultation a daily practice, not a seasonal one. Al Qawadi emphasised that Sharjah's experience in parliamentary work has become a national model for community participation in decision-making, where the Council is not separate from the people but rather represents an extension of their voice in the legislative arena.
Transforming public feedback into legal text
His Excellency Obaid Ishaq Al Mazmi, in his intervention, addressed the legislative mechanisms that transform public feedback into legal text. He explained that the Council operates according to a structured, scientific methodology that begins with field observation and culminates in a draft law or an applicable recommendation. He noted that the Council's committees hold hearings and workshops hosting citizens, experts, and representatives of government entities, thus strengthening the principle of community participation in legislation. He added that effective legislation is not born in closed offices, but rather from the field, from the pulse of the community that experiences the details of daily challenges. He emphasized that the relationship between the Council and the executive authorities in Sharjah is based on integration and cooperation, with all parties striving to achieve a single goal: developing public services and improving the quality of life.
For her part, Dr Manal Mirza Mohammed addressed the importance of legal and social awareness as the foundation for any effective parliamentary practice, stressing that building a generation aware of the law, its rights, and its duties is an investment in the future. She pointed out the necessity for educational institutions to adopt educational programs that instil the concepts of consultation and legal citizenship in students from the earliest stages of their education, affirming that promoting a culture of dialogue and adherence to the law contributes to establishing a balanced civil society that interacts with its institutions. She called for expanding partnerships between universities and parliamentary councils in the country to conduct applied studies that contribute to developing legislation and documenting the Emirati parliamentary experience.
At the conclusion of the session, the speakers affirmed that the Sharjah Consultative Council has successfully transformed the citizen's voice into a force for proposing solutions and genuine participation in decision-making. They noted that what distinguishes Sharjah's experience is its continuous engagement with the community and its proactive approach to addressing challenges through field initiatives and high-quality studies.
Great interaction
The session witnessed significant interaction from the attendees, who offered their insights and inquiries regarding the Council's operational mechanisms and its role in enhancing community participation and shaping public policy.
In closing, the attendees expressed their appreciation for the Council's initiative in organising this cultural series, which linked parliamentary work with general culture, as part of SIBF 2025. They emphasised that the session embodied the Emirate's vision of making the citizen's voice the foundation of development and the law the tool for achieving it.
For an optimal experience, please
