The group, with a strength of over 100, includes professors and professionals from different sectors.

In their online petition, the group also called for a constitutional amendment “which guarantees full legislative and oversight responsibilities.”

The Federal National Council (FNC) had its election five years ago when about 6,500 people, less than one percent of the Emirati population, elected half of its members. The rest were appointed in 2006. However, the online petition urges more participation.

Meanwhile, the National Election Commission (NEC) has issued a resolution setting the executive guidelines governing the next election of representatives of the federations' seven emirates to the FNC.

The NEC's 64 articles set the minimum number of electoral college members in each emirate at 300 times the emirate's number of representatives on the FNC. Abu Dhabi, which has eight FNC members, has to nominate at least 2,400 citizens to the electoral college.

Currently Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight elected members in the FNC. Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah have six members each while Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain having four members each in FNC. A total 40 members were elected during 2006 FNC election.

The guidelines also allow every UAE citizen registered with the electoral college in their emirate to cast their vote only from the emirate that he represents.

The regulations prohibit candidates from personal attacks, such as defamation or insulting, on other candidates and from inflaming "religious, sectarian, tribal or racial prejudice" in their campaigns.

They are allowed to run campaigns in the local media and to hold press conferences and sessions laying out their campaign promises.

Under the new regulations, NEC will set up sub-committees for elections and determine their functions, along with setting up teams for running the election process.