According to the Emirates News Agency, the UAE Parliamentary Division of the Federal National Council to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, headed by Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi as chairman, will participate in the 153rd IPU Assembly along with the 218th session of the Governing Council. The division’s involvement includes contributing to sessions hosted by Tanzania’s National Assembly in Arusha next week. This step continues the UAE’s role in global parliamentary forums that address pressing international issues through dialogue and cooperation. The UAE Parliamentary Division to participate in 153rd IPU Assembly in Tanzania forms part of the country’s established parliamentary diplomacy efforts.
The meetings will unfold under the theme of enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all, the Emirates News Agency reported. A general debate centered on this theme will allow delegates to exchange perspectives and mobilize parliamentary responses to shared challenges. An outcome document tied to the theme is also slated for adoption by the assembly.
Resolutions will cover an emergency item selected by participants in addition to a standing committee item on inclusive social development for all, focusing on parliamentary strategies to advance the rights and empowerment of people living with disabilities, according to the Emirates News Agency. The IPU’s statutory bodies, such as the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and the Committee on Middle East Questions, are scheduled to hold parallel sessions. Forums for women parliamentarians and young parliamentarians will convene as well during the gathering.
The official host parliament website for the 153rd IPU Assembly lists the event dates as October 5 to 9, 2026, at the Arusha International Conference Centre. It notes that the assembly will draw participants from the IPU’s 183 member parliaments, marking Tanzania’s first time hosting the event after securing the bid at the 148th assembly in Geneva in 2024. The Inter-Parliamentary Union’s own event page confirms that the Governing Council will elect a new president for a three-year term in Arusha.
Tanzania’s preparations have included arrangements for more than 2,000 delegates, including parliament speakers, lawmakers and officials from around the world, according to the host parliament website. IPU President Dr. Tulia Ackson has confirmed that visas will be issued free of charge upon arrival at relevant airports to facilitate attendance. The scale of the gathering underscores the IPU’s function as a platform connecting national legislatures on topics from human rights to sustainable development.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously detailed how Dr. Al Nuaimi represented the Arab Group on the IPU Executive Committee for four years until 2025, chairing the Sub-Committee on Financial Affairs. A WAM report from April 2025 noted the UAE’s contributions to IPU statute amendments, a code of conduct for officials and an anti-harassment policy during that period. The Federal National Council formed its IPU Parliamentary Division at the start of its 17th legislative term with Dr. Al Nuaimi in the chair.
