The Emirates News Agency reported that His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, issued the Emiri Decree on convening the Sharjah Consultative Council as the body prepares to open its first regular session. The decree outlines the timing for members to gather and begin deliberations on draft laws referred by the Executive Council along with other public matters. This step ensures continuity in the council’s advisory functions following the conclusion of the previous term.
A review published by OneArabia indicated that during 2025 the Sharjah Consultative Council held 17 parliamentary sessions in which it addressed five general topics related to government department policies and passed six draft laws. The council’s committees and bureau convened 47 meetings and carried out 41 field visits to gather firsthand information for their recommendations. Members raised two formal parliamentary questions and made 211 interventions while directing 204 questions to government representatives during that period.
According to the Sharjah Government Media Bureau the council has operated for nearly a quarter century since its establishment and has passed 125 bills while producing 1883 recommendations across 370 plenary sessions. The body also handled 178 topics of general interest and 51 parliamentary questions to heads of government entities in that time. These activities have unfolded through four developmental stages that began with its formation in 1999 and evolved to include expanded municipal structures by 2015.
The Sharjah Consultative Council consists of 50 members chosen for their expertise with half elected directly by citizens and the other half appointed by the ruler under a system that began with partial polls in 2015. Its seven standing committees address key areas such as legal affairs, finance, education, health, public utilities, family matters and recommendations. The council studies societal issues and reviews institutional performance before forwarding proposals to the ruler and concerned authorities.
Law No. 3 of 1999 that created the Sharjah Consultative Council established it as a consultative assembly to support decision-making processes within the emirate. Members must be at least 30 years old with no criminal record and they serve terms of between two and four years. The current Emiri Decree aligns with this framework by activating the new session at a time when the council continues to focus on development priorities across Sharjah’s cities and districts.
