Archive: uae

8th December 2012
By: Brian Whitaker
A group of Arab governments have joined forces with Russia in a move to gain more control over the internet.  The group, led by the United Arab Emirates, are expected to present their proposals next week to the world conference of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) which is meeting in… Read more
28th July 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
The foreign housemaids employed by countless families throughout the Middle East exist in a sort of social and sexual limbo. They are expected to work for years on end with little opportunity for leisure or the pleasures of the flesh. Often they are treated as asexual beings, though some households… Read more
3rd May 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Since the Arab uprisings began, the United Arab Emirates has seen little or no popular unrest – and the authorities seem determined to keep it that way by cracking down on possible sources of dissent. In the words of Human Rights Watch, "The government is reacting to domestic criticisms by banning… Read more
19th November 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
    At a meeting this week Unesco finally decided to include falconryon its list of the world's "intangible heritage". The decision marked the culmination of a five-year effort by the United Arab Emirates, supported by 10 other countries, to win international recognition for falconry and the video… Read more
6th November 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Various news reports today mention that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is claiming responsibility for the crash of a UPS cargo plane at Dubai on September 3, as well as the more recent incidents involving parcel bombs. The Boeing 747 aircraft had taken off from Dubai 45 minutes before it crashed… Read more
16th June 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Following my comment yesterday about the hazards of being a construction worker in Lebanon, I noticed a report in The National about Abu Dhabi's efforts to protect labourers during the hottest part of the day. From now until September 15, anyone working "in the sun and open spaces" is supposed to… Read more
18th May 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
The Abu Dhabi authorities seem to be in a quandary over whether to let Sex and the City 2 be shown in the emirate. The film, due to be released on May 27, has Abu Dhabi as its setting. Plans to shoot the film in neighbouring Dubai, using the ultra-modern facilities of Dubai Studio City, had to be… Read more
23rd March 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
The authorities in Dubai have been getting themselves into a bit of a muddle over chefs who like to add a dash of alcohol to their recipes. The Falafel Mafia blog notes that cooking with alcohol wasdeclared illegal in 2003. But there was little or no effort to enforce the ban until last week, when… Read more
18th March 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
The National reports on the drafting of a new and much-needed law in Abu Dhabi to tackle domestic abuse. There's talk of jailing abusive husbands or banning them from their homes and also – perhaps more importantly – of preventing family members from dropping charges in cases of abuse. The latter… Read more
15th February 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
XPRESS, a weekly tabloid in the Emirates, reports:  A shocking trend is sweeping across educational institutions in the UAE. It’s called same-sex relationships and it’s worrying officials and parents no end.  A number of students, school employees and others confided in XPRESS that inappropriate… Read more