UAE Presentation

Submitted by Jordan

UAE: Activists Planning Hunger Strike

(Abu Dhabi) – Five activists jailed seven months ago for “publicly insulting” United Arab Emirates officials plan to begin a hunger strike on November 13, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today. The activists said the hunger strike will continue until authorities release them unconditionally and end all judicial proceedings against them.

Link (submitted by Jordan)

Tensions Beneath the Stability in the U.A.E.

Amid the upheavals that have roiled the Middle East this year the United Arab Emirates has remained an island of stability — an achievement that has paid dividends as business and tourism have fled neighboring unrest to refocus on the federation. 

The allegiance of emiratis — who make up an estimated 20 percent of the 8.26 million population — to their rulers is underpinned by a social pact in which they receive benefits including free health care, education and even housing, along with guaranteed monthly salaries and subsidized food and fuel, paid for from the federation’s vast oil revenues.

Link (submitted by Jordan)

Proposed Law in U.A.E. Could Encourage Investing

DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates is moving ahead with a major overhaul of corporate law to introduce unified accounting standards for all businesses, amend guidelines for share offerings in local capital markets, and extend the possibility of foreign majority ownership of companies nationwide. 

Currently, foreigners are not allowed to own more than a 49 percent stake in businesses outside specially designated free zones and only large — usually public — businesses are held to international accounting standards.

Link (submitted by Jordan)

Abu Dhabi fund to invest in infra

NEW DELHI: The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, has expressed keen interest in entering the Indian market and may invest in the country's key infrastructure sector. 

Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, managing director of ADIA, met commerce, industry and textiles minister Anand Sharma on Monday to discuss opportunities of investment in India. Both sides agreed to finalize a joint working group to expedite the process. "This is an opportunity to enter this huge market," Al Nahyan said. 

Link (submitted by Jordan)

Men ALLOWED to beat their wives and young children (as long as they don't leave any marks), rules UAE court

"Husbands are allowed to beat their wives and children - as long as they don’t leave any physical marks, an Islamic court in the United Arab Emirates has ruled. 

The astonishing legal ruling gives all husbands and fathers in the ultra-rich Gulf state the 'right to discipline' female family members if they have first attempted reconciliation."

Link (submitted by Jordan)