The Abu Dhabi First alliance, which is contesting the election being held by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), has recruited another high-profile member.

Yousuf Ali, Chairman of LuLu Hypermarkets and a leading member of the non-National business community, will fight the election under the alliance's banner.

Eighty-five candidates will vie for 15 seats on the chamber's board on December 7. Of these, 70 UAE nationals will fight for 13 seats while the remaining 15 candidates, all expatriates, will compete for two seats. The winners will be elected by members in a direct free election. Another six, including two women, will be appointed to the board by the Abu Dhabi Government.

Ali is the second expatriate to join the alliance – the other is Syrian doctor Kassem Alom, who runs Al Noor Hospital group in the capital. "Abu Dhabi First consists of a distinguished group of businessmen who have ideas to develop Abu Dhabi's economy, consolidate the role of the business community and develop the private sector," said Ali, who contested the last election as an independent candidate.

"I received many offers to join other alliances but decided to join Abu Dhabi First because of its comprehensive and advanced election programme. The alliance is in step with the modern thinking of the business sector and in harmony with the aspirations of Abu Dhabi's business community," Ali said adding the alliance's members had faith in the role the ADCCI could play in boosting the partnership between the government and private sectors.

Dr Alom said Abu Dhabi First represented the strongest economic groups in the emirate and aimed to provide real services to members.

Abu Dhabi First's spokesman, Escorp Holding Chairman Khalfan Saeed Al Kaabi, said the recruitment of Ali was a major achievement. "Yousuf Ali is a distinguished name in the business community of Abu Dhabi," he added. "He has a serious vision to improve the ADCCI's performance and diversify the services extended to the business community in the emirate.

"Fourteen days before the election, the alliance has 14 members. This confirms the vitality and comprehensiveness of our election programme, which is in line with the aspirations and wishes of all the economic sectors in Abu Dhabi."

And Al Kaabi said a 15th member would be announced in the next few days. "He will be a big election surprise in trade and industry circles since he has a strong presence in the Abu Dhabi business community."

Abu Dhabi First's 14 members include Khalfan Saeed Al Kaabi; Sheikh Mubarak Salem bin Ham, Deputy Board Chairman of bin Ham Group; Fatima Obaid Al Jaber, Al Jaber Group's Executive Chairman for Operations; Rashid Saif Al Suwaidi, Board Chairman of Ufuq Energy; and Abdul Jabbar Al Sayegh, Chairman of Al Sayegh Group.

Others are Nasser bin Muftah Al Shamsi, Chairman of Petro Middle East; Khalid Mohammed Al Badi, Deputy Chairman of Al Badi Group; Ali Saif Al Salmeen Al Mansouri, Deputy Chairman of Al Salmeen Group; Ali Mohammed Al Balushi, Chairman of Ghantoot Group; and Dr Kassem Alom, Saeed Rashid Al Dhaheri, CEO of Emirates General Trading Company; Khalifa Issa Al Khaili, Chairman of the Private Group for Investment; businessman Nasser Sultan Al Maamari and Yousuf Ali.


Future Abu Dhabi list formed

A group of businessmen have formed the Future Abu Dhabi list to contest the election to the board of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, due on December 7.

The list includes Rashid Mohammed Al Mazrouie, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Jassim Ahmed Al Mureikhi, Otaiba bin Saeed Al Otaiba, Mohammed Butti Al Rumaithi, Moeen Mohammed bin Brook and Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Saqr Al Falahi.

Official spokesman Otaiba Al Otaiba said members seek to boost the role of the private sector in the development process and they put the industrial revival of Abu Dhabi on top of their priorities.

Speaking to journalists, Al Otaiba said members of the list have dedicated themselves to the service of Abu Dhabi through serving businessmen, investors, small industrialists and the private sector.

He said the list will win a high percentage of votes if not win by majority given the size of support from businessmen and companies in Abu Dhabi.

It aims to benefit from the big investment opportunities offered by Abu Dhabi 2030 vision and plan, said Al Otaiba, adding list members will seek to boost the role of the private sector.

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