Got the Stomach for Some Medical Tourism in the UAE?

The National has recently published an article on the growing popularity of stomach reducing surgery.

Tummy Stats in UAE
It reports these bulging statistics:

“Doctors are reporting increases of up to 500 per cent in the number of people turning to gastric surgery in an attempt to lose weight and are operating on patients as young as 12.”

“Demand for surgery has soared as obesity rates in the UAE have reached 'epidemic' proportions, with more than 25 per cent of men and almost 40 per cent of women classed as being dangerously overweight, according to World Heath Organisation estimates.”

It’s Alimentary
The report goes on to explain the methods of gastric surgery, stating the risks involved and discussing the pros and cons of going through with the deed.

Surgery Followed by UAE Holiday
Another recent article is indicating that ‘medical tourism’ is on the increase, due in large part to the growing quality of surgical services being offered in the Emirates. Tummies, tucks, wrinkles ironed out, enlargements, reductions—they will all be part of what’s estimated to be a $60 billion industry in the UAE in the next decade.

Links
Kareem Shaheen, Gastric Surgery Numbers Balloon, The National, 1 August 2009.
Medical Tourism in the Emirates, FIF, 29 July 2009.

Check it Out
Check out the new site America’s Cup in the UAE.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Tips Provided by the UAE for Traveling in a Muslim Country

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Washington DC helpfully provides this article with advice for people travelling in a Muslim country and specifically the UAE.

Different Etiquette
Middle Eastern society is generally considered both more formal and more traditional than Western society.

People less familiar with the region should be aware of different rules of etiquette. Middle Easterners are also social and personable people who are interested in their guests and who expect their guests will be interested in them. The guidelines below are adapted from information prepared by the Middle East Institute for visitors to the region.

Different Language
Both English and Arabic are the most widely spoken languages in the UAE, though because of its diverse expatriate population, visitors may also hear Urdu, Hindi or Pashtu.

Arabic dialects are numerous, but several basic phrases are the same throughout the region, such as:
Salaamu aleikum (“Peace be upon you,” used like “Hello”)
The response: “Wa aleikum a-salaam” (“And unto you peace”).

Ahlan wa sahlan (“Welcome,” very common of Arab hosts)

Food
The act of communal eating is a highly recognized outward expression of friendship in the Middle East.

Do not eat with your left hand, which is considered unclean. Also, in many places, it is considered polite to leave a bit of food on one’s plate.

Do not ask for pork or pork products. Muslim tradition frowns on consuming pork, and observant Muslims consume Halal food, which involves a particular preparation of the meat.

Arab hosts will always offer tea or coffee. A gracious guest will accept the gesture.

Observant Muslims do not drink alcohol or smoke. In the UAE, alcohol is served in most hotels but may not be available in local restaurants. If alcohol is not offered, it is better not to ask for it.

Women
Women traveling in the UAE are not expected to cover their heads or wear traditional Muslim dress. When visiting a mosque, women will be asked to respect Muslim tradition and wear an abaya and cover their heads. Often, this will be provided at the mosque.

Photography
Do not take photos in mosques or at military installations. If you would like to take a photo of a Middle Eastern person, especially a woman, ask permission first.

Personal Presentation
It is an insult to show the bottom of your foot to another person. It is best to keep both feet on the floor. Modest dress is best for men and women.

Boundaries
When asking about a Muslim person’s family, keep questions general and do not ask specifically about the spouse.

Handshaking
Men shake hands. Women should wait until the man extends his hand. Pious Muslim men may not shake hands with women. Pious Muslim women do not shake the hands or touch men who are not in their families. Rather, they might simply put their hand over their hearts to show their sincerity in welcoming the visitor.

Etiquette
Generosity and thoughtfulness are extremely admirable and respected in the Middle East and Arab cultures.

If you are about to eat, even if there is only enough for one person, it is considered polite to offer the food. The offer might be politely declined, but it is important to extend the offer.

Standing up for new guests and especially older, higher-ranking people is important.

Typically, elderly people are greeted first. Men also are expected to stand when a woman enters.

Work Days and Weekends
In the UAE, Friday is the holy day and day of rest. Weekends are Friday and Saturday.

Concept of Time
The concept of time in the Middle East is generally seen as fluid, and many Middle Easterners are more relaxed about when an appointment or event ends or begins, both at work and at a social gathering. Visitors should always be on time or notify the host if you will be delayed because of traffic or other reason. But it would not be unusual for visitors to be kept waiting.

Interaction between Males and Females
It is common to see men walking together holding hands, but men and women generally do not unless they are married or related.

Religion
Islam is the predominant religion in the UAE. It is based on five pillars: Profession of faith, Prayer, Fasting, Charity and Pilgrimage.

Muslims pray five times a day: dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and night. Muslims may pray in public places. In the workplace, a room or space is usually designated for prayer.

In the fall [northern hemisphere], Muslims observe a full month of fasting and festivities, called Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset. When visiting during Ramadan, refrain from eating, drinking or smoking in public or in front of staff or business associates. Food will be available at hotels for non-Muslim guests. Do extend the traditional greetings of Ramadan, “Ramadan Kareem” (“Happy – or blessed - Ramadan”).

During Ramadan, families and friends break their fasts together at a huge meal called iftar. Do accept an invitation to iftar. It is a wonderful experience and great introduction to family life in the Middle East.

Other Religions
The UAE’s Constitution declares that Islam is the official religion. However, the UAE government follows a policy of tolerance toward non-Muslim religions. There are a number of Christian churches, as well as a Hindu temple complex.

Link
Traveling in a Muslim Country, Embassy of the UAE, Washington DC, Created 1 January 2009; Last updated 11 February 2009.

N.B. This article has already been altered since it was created. Please always check the source of the article via the above link to receive updates and to ensure that you always are basing your cultural decisions and practice on the most recent version provided by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates.

Related
Don’t They Know It’s Friday? RBM.
Could You Pass the New Culture Test for UAE Residency Visa? ETE.
UAE Ramadan Reports (and links), ETE.

Check It Out
Check out the new site America’s Cup in the UAE.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: “Do accept an invitation to iftar. It is a wonderful experience and great introduction to family life in the Middle East.”

New UAE Web Site for History Making America’s Cup 2010

Old Race
According to Wikipedia, the America’s Cup is the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing.

Old Cup
The cup is the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years.

New Venue
The 33rd racing of the America’s Cup yacht race was widely expected to be held in Valencia but history was made with the announcement today that the competition would be held in the little known emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates.

New Blog
An old competition holding an historic regatta in the young country of the Emirates warrants the establishment of a new site that has America’s Cup news from a UAE perspective.

Blog writer, Geoff Pound, is based in the United Arab Emirates, but he hails from New Zealand which has featured prominently in the recent history of the America’s Cup. As a young person he had an undistinguished career as a yachtsman with the Howick Yacht club in Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’. His career started in P Class yacht racing but unfortunately, he made his mark more under the water than above.

Other Sites
His other blog sites which have a UAE flavor are:
Experiencing the Emirates: Random reflections on everyday life in the Emirates.

Fujairah in Focus: News, views and issues from Fujairah, UAE.

New Site
Here is the link to America's Cup in the UAE.

Advertising
Do contact me for information about advertising on these sites.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: The America’s Cup—or affectionately known as the ‘Auld Mug’.

America’s Cup to be Contested on UAE’s ‘Pirate Coast’ off Ras al-Khaimah

According to Associated Press (5 August 2009):
Two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland announced Tuesday it has chosen Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, as the port for the America’s Cup—the oldest trophy in international sports.

Beautifully Appropriate
This stretch of water was named ‘Pirate Coast’ after raiders frequently harassed ships during the 17th century to the 19th centuries despite European and Arab navies patrolling the area.

What a fitting historical backdrop for the best-of-3 showdown between these bitter rivals, Alinghi of Switzerland and American’s BMW Oracle Racing.

Where’s Ras al-Khaimah?
People have heard of Dubai and Abu Dhabi but who, what and where is Ras al-Khaimah?

Ras al-Khaimah (in Arabic ‘top of the tent’) or ‘RAK’ as it is affectionately known in the Emirates is one of the lesser known emirates in the United Arab Emirates that used to be part of Sharjah. It is in the northern part of the country, bordering an enclave of Oman and looking out to the Persian Gulf.

(N.B. This stretch of water is often called the ‘Arabian Gulf’ (see this photo or this map) but beware of the reaction from Iran before you use this term).

RAK is currently the fifth most populated of the seven emirates. The projected population figures for the end of 2009 are Dubai (1.722 mill), Abu Dhabi (1.628 mill), Sharjah (1.017 mill), Ajman (250,000), Ras al-Khaimah (241,000), Fujairah (152,000) and Umm al Quwain (56,000).

Ras al-Khaimah is an emirate that has concentrated on heavy industry having opened the UAE's first cement company in the early 1970s and becoming the UAE's largest producer of cement. In the 1980s, the emirate formed RAK Ceramics, which has become the world's largest ceramics producer and Julphar is the Persian Gulf’s first pharmaceuticals company.

Sea, Weather and Safety
According to the announcement Ras al-Khaimah has been chosen by defending America’s Cup champion Alinghi of Switzerland because of its weather, safety (compared to Valencia) and support.

Alinghi skipper, Brad Butterworth, a four-time America's Cup winner, said that Ras al-Khaimah “has a great, building sea breeze during the day, similar to Mediterranean conditions in the summer, making it good for these boats and safe for all concerned.”

UAE's Initial Reaction
The ruler of Ras al-Khaimah, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, said it is "a great moment for us to host the America's Cup here. It is significant because it reflects how the Emirates have become a place for hosting international events. It is a reflection on what we have achieved in terms of becoming the destination for tourists and trade and industry and is a reflection of our integration in the world at large."

Link
Bernie Wilson, Swiss pick UAE's Ras al-Khaimah for America's Cup, The Associated Press, 5 August 2009.

Check out the new web site America’s Cup in the UAE.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: RAK “is in the northern part of the country, bordering an enclave of Oman and looking out to the Persian Gulf.” (Map courtesy of Wikipedia-CLICK TO ENLARGE).

What’s the Purpose of Visiting Abu Dhabi’s Louvre or any Museum?

Why?
That is the question asked by Michael Kimmelman in his New York Times article in relation to the Louvre in Paris.

It is a good question for those creating the new Louvre, Abu Dhabi, due to be completed in 2012.

This is a question that every tourist should ask, even when visiting a modest museum or gallery.

I have been visiting many galleries and museums over the summer so I am glad of the question, “Why do I do this?” Why don’t we stay home and look for magnificent art work on the Internet for as long as we like?

Kimmelman asks, “What exactly are we looking for when we roam as tourists around museums? As with so many things right in front of us, the answer may be no less useful for being familiar.”

One Minute for Mona
Kimmelman has some interesting descriptions of visitors to the Louvre as they walk around the many pavilions.

Listen to this observation about the amount of time people spend at each item:

“Almost nobody, over the course of that hour or two, paused before any object for as long as a full minute. Only a 17th-century wood sculpture of a copulating couple, from San Cristobal in the Solomon Islands, placed near an exit, caused several tourists to point, smile and snap a photo, but without really breaking stride.”

Has the enlargement of galleries and their offerings meant that we now race around rather than linger and gaze? Often the cost of entry to galleries and museums forces us to see everything in one quick and usually tiring visit. It feels like trying to read an encyclopaedia in a morning. But don’t you love the free galleries in London where you can go to one room or one floor for your morning fill of beauty?

Kimmelman says that galleries and museums have always been about ‘self-improvement’, about being able ‘to see better’.

Rabbi Sidney Brichto tells of his visit to the galleries in Florence and how they evoked within him a sense of awe and “a sudden overwhelming awareness of human suffering.” It is about seeing. Kimmelman is right.

Slow Looking
There is no one motivation for visiting a gallery and no one way to look at a painting but Kimmelman says, “Slow looking, like slow cooking, may yet become the new radical chic.”

Art in Arabia
I hope the new Louvre Abu Dhabi encourages ‘slow looking’ through the price of its entry fee so that it encourages people to come back and linger.

I hope it and all the galleries and museums in the UAE will increasingly enable visitors to ‘see’ deeper into the Emirati culture and probe with reverence and respect the unique cultural treasures that emerge from the land and its history.

Link
Michael Kimmelman, At Louvre, Many Stop to Snap but Few Stay to Focus, New York Times, 2 August 2009.

Related
Words Can Never Hurt Me? SFS.
You are Wasting Time! Or Are You? SFS.
Approaching With Reverence the Blank Canvas, SFE.
Rabbi Sidney Brichto’s Unexpected Day Trip to Florence, SFE.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Visitors at the Louvre. (Photo courtesy of Valerio Mezzanotti and The New York Times at the above link).

Women in the United Arab Emirates

This article is posted on the web site of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Washington DC. Keep checking the site for updates to this article to ensure your information is current.

Equal Rights
The Constitution of the UAE guarantees equal rights for both men and women. Under the Constitution, women enjoy the same legal status, claim to titles, access to education and the right to practice professions as men. They are also guaranteed the same access to employment, health and family welfare facilities. The rights of women to inherit property are also guaranteed and ensured.

Education and Literacy
The literacy rate of women in the UAE was 90 percent in 2007.

The number of UAE national women enrolled in higher education is actually 24 percent more than the number of UAE national men enrolled in higher education and reflects a staggering statistic: 77 percent of UAE females continue on to higher education from high school.

With 3,200 female students and campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the US-accredited Zayed University is producing graduates who are strong in technology, business, the arts and leadership.

Women currently make up 75 percent of the student body at the national university in Al-Ain.

Women in Government and Business
Women graduates in the UAE can now be found working in government, engineering, science, health care, media, computer technology, law, commerce and the oil industry.

Four UAE cabinet ministers are women—including Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Foreign Trade Minister, who was on Forbes magazine’s 2007 list of the 100 most powerful women in the world.

Women form two-thirds of government sector workers. In October 2008, the first female judge was sworn in.

In 2006, nine women took up seats within the Federal National Council (FNC), accounting for 22.5 percent of the Council’s membership. In March 2007, these nine FNC members sat for the first time and began full participation in the deliberations of the Council.

In 2003, for the first time, the Abu Dhabi police trained 32 women to work with the special security forces.

The UAE has four women fighter pilots, the first to serve in UAE military forces.

Employment Protections
Employers in the UAE are prohibited from firing or threatening to fire a female employee on the basis of pregnancy, delivery or parenting. Maternity leave in the public sector is two to six months. While on maternity leave, a woman is entitled during the first two months to full pay, the third and fourth months to half salary and the last two months to no pay. A woman may take one paid hour break from work per day for 18 months to nurse her baby.

International Participation
In 2004, the UAE became a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The UAE regularly participates in and hosts international and GCC conferences on women’s issues.

The 2007 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) status report on Millennium Development Goals recognized the positive outcome of the UAE’s target-oriented policies in a number of areas, including women’s empowerment. It particularly noted that the state legislations in the UAE do not discriminate on the basis of gender with respect to education, employment or the quality of services provided.

According to the findings of the report, educational indicators show that women’s achievements in education have reached its targeted levels, and in some cases, exceeded that of men because of a strong desire among women to become financially independent and professionally successful. Along with economic growth, the UAE has progressed in the social arena. According to the UNDP’s Gender-Related Development Index for 2007-2008, the UAE ranks 43rd among 177 countries and 29th in the world under the Gender Empowerment Measures, which is the best rating in the Arab World.

Portrait of Progress
The UAE released a report in the fall of 2008, Women in the United Arab Emirates: A Portrait of Progress, which outlines both the developments and challenges associated with the status of women in the Emirates. The report notes that “Having made significant progress, the UAE does not intend to stagnate with regards to its women’s empowerment policies but rather to continue and develop… The UAE intends to establish a new benchmark for gender empowerment in the region.”

Link
Women in the United Arab Emirates, Embassy of the UAE, Washington DC, created 1 January 2009; last updated 20 April 2009. Keep checking this site for updates to this article to ensure your information is current.

Related
Women in the United Arab Emirates: A Portrait of Progress (PDF)
General Women's Union, UAE
Dubai Women Establishment
International Business Women’s Group, Abu Dhabi
Women in Parliament and Politics in the UAE: A Study of the First Federal National Council Elections(PDF)
Women in the UAE(PDF)

Check It Out
Check out the new site America’s Cup in the UAE.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Foreign Trade Minister, who was on Forbes magazine’s 2007 list of the 100 most powerful women in the world.

Thomas Friedman on Putting Islamic Radicals Out of Business

Thomas Friedman writes in the New York Times:

“The same day that President Obama spoke to the Muslim world from Cairo University, Osama bin Laden released a long statement on Islamic Web sites and on Al Jazeera. As the Egyptian Middle East expert Mamoun Fandy noted: “Obama beat Osama hands down. Ask anyone about the content of Obama’s speech and they will tell you. Ask them what Osama said and most people will say, ‘Did he give a speech?’”

“To the extent that the radical Islamists have any energy today, it comes not from the power of their ideas or examples of good governance, but by stoking sectarian feuds. In Afghanistan, the Taliban play on Pashtun nationalist grievances, and in Iraq, the Sunni jihadists draw energy from killing Shiites.”

“The only way to really dry up their support, though, is for the Arab and Muslim modernists to actually implement better ideas by producing less corrupt and more consensual governance, with better schools, more economic opportunities and a vision of Islam that is perceived as authentic yet embracing of modernity. That is where “our” allies in Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan have so consistently failed. Until that happens, the Islamist radicals will be bankrupt, but not out of business.”

To read the full article:
Thomas Friedman, The Losers Hang on, The New York Times, 25 July 2009.

Related
Barack, Have You Heard My Favorite Middle Eastern Joke About…SFE.
Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman, RBM.
Thomas Friedman, Machiavelli and the Challenge of Change, SFS.
Thomas Friedman: Call Your Mother, SFS.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Taliban fighters train with their weapons in an undisclosed location in Afghanistan July 14, 2009. (Courtesy REUTERS/Stringer from Boston’s The Big Picture).

Cars: the Great Love of Emiratis—See the New Models Inflaming their Passion

Welcoming 2010 Mustang
A convoy of Ford Mustangs roared across Dubai this week to the Autodrome for the unveiling of the new 2010 Mustang models.

Check out the video and article about this popular car in the Emirates.

Impounded Cars Up for Auction
You’ve heard the story about droves of expats leaving their cars at the airport and skipping the country. Read this article and short video about the cars that are being auctioned.

Thousands of impounded cars are soon to be auctioned in Dubai under a new law that gives police the right to sell vehicles that have been unclaimed for more than six months. UAE authorities currently have 6,800 cars reserved for sale and out of these, the first batch of 2,042 will be sold in the coming days. Cars will not be individually sold but will be sold in bulk to dealers. See this article for details.

Suggestions for Shooting Car Events
I could have done with these tips as I recently watched the Tour de France boys on their bikes in Barcelona. If you’d like photographic tips for taking pics of cars, check out this site and the colorful examples.

Smart Car Range in the Emirates?
Some say with fuel costs and cutting carbon emissions we need to be driving smaller cars. Check out which of this small smart car range you would like.

Is Your Car Cooking?
Why let all the scorching heat your car accumulates in the Emirates go to waste? Harness the power of the sun and have fresh baked cookies in the middle of your work day.

Check out this story, the instructions and some recipes on how to make cookies on the dashboard of your car.

Pee Power
Discovery News tells us that urine is a ‘clean’ energy source and the technology is being created now so when your car petrol gauge is low all you need to do is to piss into the tank.

Audi Celebration
The National reports that “Audi reaches its 100th anniversary later this year. It has already celebrated by breaking one milestone – last year it sold one million cars for the first time in its history, overtaking both Daimler-Benz and BMW in the process.” Audi sales companies have their accelerator flat to the floor in the UAE.

The Top Super Cars of the UAE?
Check out this list with 100 pics of the best super cars of the Emirates.

Which one is your favorite?

Toyota Prado 2010 to the UAE
Toyotas are popular in the Emirates because of their size which caters to large families and their off-road capabilities.

Here are some spy shots of the Toyota Landcruiser Prado/Lexus GX 2010 model that is making its way to the UAE.

UAE Residents Driving Electric?
This Tesla Roadster looks sporty. See the pics and its specifications. Great for the UAE environment. Might need a long power lead.

Links & More
Ford Mustang 2010 Models Roars into Dubai, AMEInfo.
Dubai to Auction Thousands of Cars, AMEInfo, 29 July 2009.
Pick Up a Free Audi, Porsche, BMW from the Dubai Airport, ETE, 11 February 2009.
Thousands Skip UAE Without Paying Debts While Honest Ones Pay Dearly, ETE, 25 May 2009.
Buying Expensive Number Plates Still Popular in UAE, ETE, 17 May 2009.
Urine: A ‘Clean’ Energy Source, Discovery News, 8 July 2009.
Expensive Number Plates Demand the Most Expensive Cars in the UAE, ETE, 17 May 2009.
Suggestions for Taking Photos of Cars, Digital Photography School, DPS.
Audi Turns 100, Celebrates 1 Million Cars produced, The National, 4 July 2009.
The Super Cars of the UAE (100 Pics), Izismile.Com, 20 July 2009.
Spy Shots: Next Toyota Landcruiser Prado in Middle East, Autoblog, 8 July 2009.
UAE Residents Could Be Driving Electric Cars Soon, ETE, 18 July 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Some of the cars that are highlighted in the stories above.

Obama’s Request to UAE for Peace with Israel Would Bring Many Benefits

Steps to Peace
President Barack Obama has sent letters to the UAE and at least six other Arab and Gulf states seeking confidence-building measures toward Israel, and to get peace talks restarted.

A White House official told Foreign Policy (26 July 2009), when asked about the letters: "The president has always said that everyone will have to take steps for peace.

Further Motivation
There are other reasons for working to thaw this relationship and lift embargoes. Officially the UAE and Gulf States have no contact with Israel yet Sultan Sooud al Qassemi, Fellow at the Dubai School of Government, reveals to Bitterlemons International (23 July 2009) the links that are emerging and he asks whether there should be more contact for the sake of easing the life of Palestinians.

Two-Way Contact
Al Qassemi cites several examples of commercial interests and photographs and video clips showing the meeting of Gulf and Israeli politicians.

He mentions that Israel is moving toward the Arab Gulf States with the clearest example being its vote for the UAE to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Should not this gesture be reciprocated by some decisive new step towards Israel by the UAE?

Fault on Tennis Court
The denial of a visa earlier this year (15 February 2009) to the Israeli tennis player, Shahar Peer, meant that the UAE was hit with the wrath of international opinion, the Dubai Tennis Championships was smashed with a $300,000 fine (17 May 2009) and warned that in the future it could forfeit its right to host the international tennis championship.

Because Peer was blocked entry to the UAE, ESPN, the major television network, cancelled its coverage of the Dubai Championships.

The UAE’s position on this issue became murkier when, only a few days later, it allowed Israel’s Andy Ram entry to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships. The explanation about this reversal was unclear although an official did state that this decision was not to indicate “any form of normalization of relations with whom the UAE does not have diplomatic relations.” It was good to see the reversal of this decision for Andy Ram but as a general policy the matter remains uncertain and potentially a major problem for competition and conference organizers of international events in the UAE.

Blocking Trade and Trade Officials
Only three weeks after Israeli tennis star Shahar Peer was denied a visa, the UAE refused a visa to Sarah Younger, Israel’s representative on the International Chamber of Commerce’s Banking Commission for attending a conference in Dubai.

The issue of the trade boycott of Israeli goods by the UAE surfaced at the time when the Dubai Ports World failed to get the green light to run port facilities in several American cities. One article was entitled ‘Dubai Ports Firm Enforces Israel Boycott’, yet another article declared that the Dubai Port Company says it works with Israeli firms.

When US Senators discussed the question of the trade boycott, despite informal assurances that goods would flow freely, the official UAE law banning trade between the seven emirates and Israel, plus the fact that Israeli passport holders were not welcomed were responsible in large part for the deal not going through.

Visitors from Israel to UAE
There are conflicting reports on the Internet regarding visa entry requirements but this student guide is typical of many statements about UAE visa requirements:

1. The applicant should not be an Israeli citizen.
2. The applicant’s passport should not contain Israeli stamps.

The Emirates organization is also clear in its advice to visitors:

‘Nationals of ‘Israel’ may not enter the UAE.’

As has been shown with Israeli tennis players, this law is inconsistently applied. Furthermore, when the enrolment procedures in its new Abu Dhabi branch were questioned in relation to New York University’s proud tradition of anti-discrimination, the university leadership said that the restriction of Israeli students did not apply to their institution. The article on this discussion was entitled, ‘NYU Abu Dhabi Ignores Law Denying Israeli Entry into UAE’. Other international universities have decided to shelve or cancel their proposal to establish a campus in the UAE because they weren’t given the same freedom or because of their concerns about the discriminatory nature of this visa restriction.

Clarification Needed
The ad hoc lifting of the law for Andy Ram, the granting of exceptions as with the NYU-AD and the secret relationships between UAE and Israeli leaders still leaves cloudiness and uncertainty as to the UAE’s position with Israel. This needs clarification, the laws need to be changed, trade between Israel and Arab countries should be encouraged and the archaic and discriminatory visa prohibitions should be overturned.

If this important human rights matter is not addressed the UAE will continue to forfeit opportunities to hold significant international conferences and sporting competitions, such as the Olympic Games.

Salaam/Shalom
There are many benefits that will emerge from transforming the relationship between the UAE and Israel. The issues are similar around the Gulf and the UAE has a great opportunity to give a strong lead to the Arab Gulf states. However, Obama’s letter gets to the most important reason to stop the thaw, reopen talks and grow a positive relationship—the demands of Salaam.

The first word of greeting one hears in the United Arab Emirates is As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم). Likewise, people greet each other in Israel with the words Shalom aleichem (שלום עליכם). These greetings both mean ‘Peace be upon you’. They sound similar. The greeting (with a handshake and sometimes a kiss) conveys a depth of relationship—not the absence of war and conflict but positively working toward healthy relationships between people and the enjoyment of wellbeing that encompasses the environment in which we live.

Obama, Palestinians, settlement, visas, sporting events, trade….

The heart of Emirati and Israeli culture and faith is peace and this is the common ground upon which these two nations must tread.

Related
Barack Hussein Obama Says Assalaamu Alaykum to Egypt and the World, ETE, 4 June 2009.
Obama in Egypt Calls for Religious Freedom, Interfaith Dialogue and Service, ETE, 4 June 2009.
Reflecting on the Richness of Salaam, ETE, 18 November 2008.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: “The heart of Emirati and Israeli culture and faith is peace.”

Establishing a Business in the UAE

This article is from the UAE Embassy in Washington DC web site and appears designed to advise prospective residents how they might set up a business in the Emirates.

N.B. The article is likely to be altered and updated in the months to come so please check the above link to obtain the most current version.

In the UAE, regulation of the establishment and conduct of businesses is shared at the federal and emirate levels. There are two paths for doing business in the UAE: through joint partnerships or through a Free Zone.

Joint Partnership
In order to establish a business that sells products or services freely throughout the UAE, at least 51 percent of the business must be owned by a UAE national. (Forming this type of joint partnership is the best and easiest way to establish a business in the UAE.) All businesses require a license and licensing procedures vary from Emirate to Emirate. Specific information is available at individual Chambers of Commerce:
Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Ajman Chamber of Commerce
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Fujairah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Umm al-Qaiwain

For more detailed contact information for these offices, please visit the Resources page.

Free Zones
Establishing a business entity in one of the numerous UAE Free Trade Zones (FTZs) can be an attractive option for foreign investors and businesses. All seven Emirates already have, or are developing, such economic zones.

The major advantages in operating in a free zone are:
* 100 per cent foreign ownership of the enterprise
* 100 per cent import and export tax exemptions
* 100 per cent repatriation of capital and profits
* No corporate taxes for 15 years, renewable for an additional 15 years
* No personal income taxes
* Less burdensome documentation, mostly in English
* Assistance with labor recruitment, and additional support services such as sponsorship and housing.

There are over 20,000 companies in 21 Free Zones around the UAE.

The largest Free Zones, by number of companies, are the following:
* Jebel Ali Free Zone (6,000 companies)
* Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (3,900 companies)
* Dubai Airport Free Zone (1,300 companies)
* Dubai Media City (1,200 companies)
* Dubai Internet City (1,000 companies)

Procedures
An independent Free Zone Authority (FZA) governs each free zone and is responsible for issuing FTZ operating licenses and assisting companies with establishing their business in the FTZ. Investors can either register a new company in the form of a Free Zone Establishment (FZE) -- a limited liability company governed by the rules and regulations of the Free Zone in which it is established -- or simply establish a branch or representative office of their existing company based within the UAE or abroad.

The procedures for establishing a business in a Free Trade Zone are usually very straightforward and can be completed in a short space of time, especially if there are no environmental issues involved. Individual Free Zones may have specific requirements, but general steps are:
* Questionnaire from the relevant Free Zone Authority which will assist in assessing a company's requirements
* License application, planning documents, and a consumer request for electricity
* Provisional approval and lease agreement
* Meetings with the authority to finalize details of the project
* Licenses

Once a legal presence has been established in the Free Zone, the business will need to lease premises or land and acquire an operating license from the FZA. Different types of licenses apply in the different types of free zone, however, it is important to understand that companies with trade and industrial licenses can only conduct business within the Free Zone or abroad. To sell products in the UAE, a UAE official agent is required, and a joint venture needs to be formed.

When not to choose a Free Zone
There are a few scenarios in which a prospective company might not want to choose to do business in a Free Zone, and should instead opt for a regular joint partnership. These are if a company:
* Practices a regulated profession
* Requires a lot of visas or warehouse/office space
* Plans a long presence in the UAE and wants to reach a wider portion of the UAE market
* Has a particular UAE company or individual with which to partner

Key Industries
Sectors with strongest demand and opportunity include:
* Construction services
* Materials and supplies
* Defense – Aerospace
* Energy – Alternative Energy
* Professional services
* Select tourism products/services
* High end hotel brands
* Creative/profitable arts and culture entertainment products
* High end, strongly - branded medical service providers and cutting edge products

Link
Establishing a Business [in the UAE], UAE Embassy in Washington DC web site, Created 1 January 2009. Last updated 15 April 2009.

As indicated above, this article has already been altered and is likely to be updated in the months to come so please check the above link to obtain the most current version.

Related
Don’t They Know It’s Friday? By Jeremy Williams, RBM, 6 June 2008.
Essam Al Tamimi, Setting Up in Dubai- a Review, RBM, 26 December 2007.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Doing Business in the UAE.