Archive: uae

11th January 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
A court in the UAE has cleared Sheikh Issa bin Zayed Al Nayhan, brother of Abu Dhabi's ruler, of torturing a business associate. A video which showed Sheikh Issa, assisted by men in uniform, torturing Afghan grain dealer Mohammed Shah Poor was widely circulated last year and was even broadcast on… Read more
9th December 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
It began with a caricature of Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, floundering in a sea of debt. At the Sunday Times, they probably thought nothing of it: far less flattering images of politicians appear day after day in the world's press. But in Dubai it proved too much for the… Read more
23rd November 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
Police in the Emirates have now joined the campaign pioneered by the Saudi mutawa to rein-in fashion-conscious youngsters. Gulf News reports that scores of young people have been arrested in Ras al-Khaimah shopping malls "for violating decency laws" with "unusual hair styles" and trousers and… Read more
6th November 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
The UAE is likely to appoint its first government-approved female muftis by the end of next year, according to The National. Six women are currently being considered for the training programme, which last several months. A mufti is a scholar qualified to interpret Islamic law and issue religious… Read more
29th September 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
An Egyptian man has been detained in Dubai after reportedly claiming in a mosque that he was Jesus Christ. "Prosecutors are questioning the suspect over alleged charges of offending a divine religion," a senior prosecutor told Gulf News. It is unclear as yet whether he will be charged.  Gulf News… Read more
23rd September 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
Four Emiratis – two men and two women, all in their twenties – have been jailed for six months each in Dubai for having sex in a five-star hotel. One of them, a married woman, was convicted of adultery along with her lover. Her unmarried sister-in-law was found guilty of having sex with a lover.… Read more
23rd August 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
An interesting hijab debate has broken out in the Emirates after Dubai Bank, apparently without consulting staff, ordered all female employees – Muslim and non-Muslim alike – to wear a headscarf and abaya. "Our bank is Islamic and must follow sharia in all respects, which will satisfy our clients… Read more
9th August 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
The United Arab Emirates is seeking to have falconry recognised by Unesco as part of the world’s “intangible heritage”. The application will be submitted to Unesco this month for consideration under the auspices of the international Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural… Read more
7th August 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
“Imagine a place where you can shoot a film from start to finish in one location. From scripting to casting to pre-production to filming in exotic locations to editing to sound recording to visual animation to processing to distribution and finally to the premiere night. Imagine a place like Dubai… Read more