UAE History

Flag of Trucial States(1820-1971)

Colonial Influence in the Middle East

In 1820 the British seemed primarily interested in controlling the Qawasim, whose main centers were Ras al Khaymah, Ajman, and Sharjah, which were all small ports along the southeastern gulf coast. The original treaties, however, also involved Dubai and Bahrain. Although Dubai and Bahrain were not pirate centers, they represented potentially where pirates could sell captured goods and buy supplies. The inclusion of these ports brought two other extended families, the Bani Yas and the Al Khalifa, into the trucial system.

The shaykhdoms were relatively unaffected before World War II. European countries has interests in the Gulf region but the Trucial States were cast aside. In 1892 a treaty was made to halt the French from extending their interests to the region. The area continued to be governed by the British government in India, and in many ways they were treated as an extension of the Indian sub-continent. At that time the only currency accepted was the Indian rupee, mostly due to the abundance of Indian merchants that inhabited the region.

As conditions remained static in Sharjah, it gave way for Abu Dhabi and Dubai to prosper and become the centers of the Trucial Coast.The system of government was that of paternalistic. Basically, the government ruled with utmost authority but would seek affirmation from his Majlis (Assembly of Notables) on very important issues. The ruler also had to include the British influence from the treaties in with political decisions. A majority at the time, Indian Traders were regarded as British subjects and had to be treated with utmost dignity.

Throughout the nineteenth century, a separate identity was given to shaykhdoms through the jurisdiction of the British.  This sparked a stark difference between coastal society and inland nomadic society. The focus that was given to the coast gave way for Trucial Politics to be heavily biased towards costal matters and was not challenged until the 1930s. The 1930s brought about change because up until then the government received regular payments from oil and air agreements. Before then, the rulers revenues were restricted to custom duties.

The period between 1968-1971, British rule presided over the more advanced political agendas and negotiations, which often resolved the more pressing tensions and helped to preserve the individual Gulf States. When the United Nations conducted a referendum, the population of Bahrain voted for independence from Iran and after it was granted several states followed their lead. The shah was only willing to agree under one condition. Bahrain had to agree to not join any union or federation. Qatar, an inspired nation rich in oil, chose independence and what was left formed the UAE. These nations, UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain all obtained formal independence in 1971.

Abu Dhabi stood out a petroleum world power during the 1970s, and even had its amir serve as president of the UAE. With the increase of oil exportation UAE grew economically and instantly began spending money to a vast degree.

Obtaining independence in 1971 security concerns were a major focus of the UAE's foreign relations. In the early 1970s the UAE looked as though it would not continue as a viable state. Because the UAE was a relatively small state, its leaders recognized that defending the country's security from both internal and external threats such as Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

During the middle of the1970s, UAE felt the effects of the civil war in Lebanon. Not too long after several events were also occurring in close proximity: the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the Soviet intervention and civil war in Afghanistan, and the Iran-Iraq War all affected the UAE in various ways.

Around 1990-91, UAE joined with the United States in militarily forcing Iraq out of Kuwait. By that time, the UAE already had become a de facto member of the United States strategic empowering of the land. The UAE saw the crisis over Kuwait as a lack of Arab unity when dealing with a serious Arab issue. The UAE joined the Arab states that opposed the Iraqi invasion and supported the use of force to compel Iraq's withdrawal of troops. The UAE had attempted to prove solidarity on inter-Arab issues. It even supported the cause of Palestinian Arabs both within the League of Arab States, of which it was a member, and within international forums.

Throughout the 1980s, the UAE found it difficult to maintain neutrality in the Iran-Iraq War. Adu Dhabi generally swayed with Iraq whereas Dubai was more sympathetic to Iran. By 1992 the UAE was the Arab country with which Iran had the closest commercial relations. Thus, the crisis that erupted in April 1992 over disputed islands in the Persian Gulf seemed unexpected.

In 1993 the UAE was at a time of peaceful relations with both neighboring countries and those outside the Middle East region. It was a member of the United Nations. It also was a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Current UAE Information can be found in the “Country Facts” Post 

Area Map- Persian Gulf 

Country Facts

 
                     UAE in relation to the Middle East 

UAE-Physical Map

United Arab Emirates Flag

Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Area Comparative: slightly smaller than Maine

Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Environmental Current Issues: lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills

Disputes: boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies

Ethnic Breakdown: Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982) note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982) Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4% Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Government Officials: President KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)

head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SULTAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) and HAMDAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003)

Elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains appointed) held in the UAE on 18-20 December 2006; the new electoral college - a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointed by the rulers of the seven emirates - were the only eligible voters and candidates; 456 candidates including 65 women ran for 20 contested FNC seats; one female from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi won a seat and 8 women were among the 20 appointed members

note: reviews legislation but cannot change or veto

 Election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan elected president by a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum unanimously affirmed vice president after the 2006 death of his brother Sheikh Maktum bin Rashid al-Maktum unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states, 20 members elected to serve two-year terms)

Economy:  The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP based on oil and gas output to 25%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement with the US. The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors.

Higher oil revenue, strong liquidity, housing shortages, and cheap credit in 2005-07 led to a surge in asset prices (shares and real estate) and consumer inflation. The global financial crisis and the resulting tight international credit market and falling oil prices have already begun to deflate asset prices and will result in slower economic growth for 2009. Dependence on oil and a large expatriate workforce are significant long-term challenges. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on diversification and creating more opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.
Unemployment rate: 2.4% comparison to rest of the world-25

Population below poverty line: 19.5% (2003)
Agriculture projects: dates, vegetables, watermelon, poultry, eggs, dairy products, fish
Industries: petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles

Map of Oil Stations

 All information found on CIA fact book

Bibliography

Bibliography

Abdullah, Muhammad Morsy. The United Arab Emirates: A Modern

     History. London: Croom Helm, 1978.

Belaid Rettab and Bader Aldeen Ali Bakheet, “Dubai Construction Sector,” Data Management and Research department, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 2005, http://www.dcci.ae/content/doc/ResearchAndReports/Sectoral/Dubai-Construction-Sector-eng.pdf (accessed June 15, 2006).

Egbert, Conrad and Giuffrida, Angela “Was the Besix strike the tipping point for UAE labor?” Construction Week (Dubai), May 27, 2006.

Peck, Malcolm. The United Arab Emirates. Colorado: Westview Press. 1986

Soffan, Lina U. The Women of the United Arab Emirates.

     London: Croom Helm, 1980.

Taryam, Abdullah Omran. The Establishment of the United Arab Emirates, 1950-85. London: Croom Helm. 1987.

United Arab Emirates: Statistical Appendix, IMF Country Report No. 06/256, July 2006.

United States CIA Fact Book. United Arab Emirates Page. updated weekly. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ae.html
 

Zahlan, Said. The Origins of the United Arab Emirates. London: Macmillan Press. 1978.

Images and Maps

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Resistance Movements- Norman Finkelstein

Palestinians at a Refugee Camp- http://www.tadamon.ca/wp-content/uploads/tadamonwaterpalestinian.jpg

Although there are many talks of the UAE giving aid to Palestinian refugees, but there is still an issue of human rights being violated when dealing with immigration issues. A new partnership was created between UAE and Lebanon in March, 2009. The proposed plan is for improving living conditions for those Palestinians living in refugee Lebanese camps. The UAE Red Crescent (UAERC) plans to donate $6 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) under two new agreements. The money will be split with $5 million going to rehabilitate 343 structurally unsound, hazardous and unhygienic structures in Bourj El Shemali camp in South Lebanon. This money is part of the larger Camp Improvement Initiative which was launched by the Lebanese government and UNRWA, passed in 2006. 

Even though these plans sound wonderful, there are people who say the UAE government is shelling out money in order to keep immigrants out. There is opportunity offered in UAE but the government has been acting in a harsh manor toward immigration issues. An Arab Women shares her experiences with this issue through the use of a personal blog,
     "The second time round of trials for immigration I was called in during the holy month of Ramadan to go to Dubai. During the session I was told that if I wanted to stay in the country I would have to take off my veil and give in my Iranian citizenship (since I have both the Lebanese and the Iranian) …I refused of course then I was threatened that I would have to bear the consequence…By that time, I had decided to go back to my country but I was in conflict since I had to honor my contract with the University and my students…During that time, my younger brother’s residential visa was not renewed because he was told he was a Shia (so they came to that realization after being there since 1976)?.........My sister was also interrogated for 4 hrs for no apparent reason and was told that she had to be careful because she would called in at anytime. It was strange news since this took place 3 days after the Lebanese House Speaker visited the Emirates and had signed an agreement that the deportation of the Lebanese Shia would come to a halt! During this final interrogation, I was forced into having my eyes scanned and was asked to sign a paper that I have been deported for security and special reasons …I refused of course and then they became verbally abusive with me and one of the officers attempted to dump me in a cell full of Pilipino, Indian and other Asian convicts. I still refused … I think they gave up on me and ordered me to go to the airport immediately and take the 4 o’clock plane …of which I did!!! I was deported on the 21st of October, 2009.”

The security authorities in the United Arab Emirates, since less than a month have informed thousands of Palestinians holders of Palestinian or Jordanian passports (two-Strip) and Egyptian documents to leave the country.  and probably heard the words “guidance and orders from higher up” and taken the same footprint and pictures of all the criminals and displayed on the screen of black and white for all to see at the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior which in turn canceled his residence and demanded him to leave, and then deprived him also the six Gulf states, “even the Holy Land.”There is no country in the world that accepts the entry of the Palestinian passport or the Egyptian document for Palestinian refugees without a residency, even if they refused to leave the grounds there is no country that would accept …the alternative is a “prison” after he was expected to grant permanent residency or citizenship. This surprising deportation is a violation of all international norms and laws and even morality and humanity. These refugees remain silent as they are being deported after they had spent all their youth in the UAE!”

Norman Finkelstein is organizing a movement which promotes awareness of these atrocities. He has created a website and organizes marches and live broadcast stations to uncover these unjust allegations of threatening the security of the country especially toward people exposed to issues caused by the EAU. There was also an incident in June 09, which occurred where hundreds of Palestinian teachers were terminated from UAE schools and is now referred to as the “Gaza Massacre in the UAE”.

Special Topic- Current Struggle

 Behind the Construction Lives a Culture of Forgotten and Mistreated Human Beings

How is this is occurring? 
     From a variety of sources, I found that the plans to build this over-the-top city were well designed. But, with the added need to complete construction within nine years it no wonder why cheap labor was a necessity.
The website Human Rights Watch explains, 

"Sponsors and employers often confiscate migrants' documents, including passports and residence permits, restricting their freedom of movement and ability to report mistreatment. Migrants in the Gulf states typically can't obtain an exit visa without the approval of their sponsor or employer, sometimes placing them in situations that amount to forced labor.Migrants in undocumented or "irregular" situations are often indebted to traffickers, and have little choice but to work under highly exploitative conditions . Documented migrants can easily slip into illegal status when unscrupulous employers and sponsors deliberately let residence permits expire, or literally sell workers to other employers, thereby invalidating their work permits."

     The spark of tourists began after Lebanon faced a civil war between the years of 1975-1990. Lebanon was labeled unfit for vacationing, and left tourists open to establish a new vacationing spot. Thanks to the cleverness of UAE's elected vice president, Sheikh Mohammed, a plan was devised to promote UAE as a desired destination for Europeans traveling to the Far East.

     The United Arab Emirates: Statistical Appendix describes how the growth of the economy stemmed from industries dependent on tourism. "The growth of the economy is closely tied to labor-intensive sectors: in 2005 wholesale and retail trade and the restaurant and hotel businesses grew by 15 percent; the manufacturing sector by 13.9 percent; and finance, insurance, and the real estate sectors each by 12 percent." The expectation of labeling Dubai as a desired destination was not a simple over estimation. And in a recent list complied by Research Company Global Property Guide, Dubai has now come in at 15th place in a list of the worlds most expensive property locations.

NPR covers this story on the show, All Things Considered. 
Robert Smith interviews Dr. author of "Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success." a quick explanation of where Dubai went wrong, and how the signs were clear from the start. 


Dubai Proposal

Current Progress 


        Burj Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to be completed in 2009 (2,684 ft - 818 m)

MENASSAT- which is a website which tries to accurately portray news, trends and events concerning the media in the twenty-two countries of the MENA region (Middle East & North Africa, more specifically the twenty-two member states of the Arab League). In Arabic the word Menassat means "platform". In an attempt to cover the exploitation occuring in Dubai, they sent a photographer (Simba Russeau) and a writer (Jackson Allers) on a five-day journey to speak with the workers and try to paint a picture both through the use of interviews and images.
     Jackson describes the living situation as such,

"Squat, nasty and with no real ventilation, the 300 or-so workers stayed 10 to a room in the sparse cement cinder block-housing complex. Bunk beds were stacked in rows along the walls with no closets in rooms, which were no bigger than 6 meters by 5 meters. All of their belongings were out in plain sight. There was no privacy."

     Here is a part of an interview between Jackson, the writer, and Mohammed Jitumiya, a supervisor of some of the men working in construction. 

     Jitumiya tells of his wages, "Yes 3,000 people where I live. I make 520 Dirhams per month. They take 120 out of my salary each month for rent and food,"
     With the global impact resulting from the demise of the US dollar, UAE currency, Dirhams, have also lowered in value. Jitumiya was making roughly $149 per month for heavy construction work. And, as the dollar weakens, so do his salary rates.

Worker Complications

      It was not until post 9-11 that Arabs began investing their oil wealth into their own countries that the boom of production began and cheap labor was used as an easy option. Thus began the importing of people from India, Pakistan and other less fortunate East Asian countries.
Not only are the workers promised a false sense of opportunity but they are placed in a foreign place without the help of family members and those who know them as the individual that they are back in their homeland.


     Migrant workers employed through the private sector in the UAE are sponsored by UAE citizens under employment contracts for one to three years, subject to renewal. When the time comes that the worker's work permit expires, and the possibility of reissue is not feasible, the worker is forced to leave the country regardless of the amount of time spent working in the country.And if the worker has any family members also living within the country then the entire family must leave.

 Currently, A good majority of the construction projects have been put on hold. The projects are now in a pending state with an estimated worth of $582 billion, according to the market research firm, Proleads. Due to aid ($10 billion) received from UAE's capital, Abu Dhabi, some projects are still going ahead. As for the rest of the employees, many are unemployed and stuck here.They are part of the large group of foreign laborers that built Dubai when the economy was booming. Most workers have been unemployed for a few months now but have been forced to work. Some employees of these men have been known to hold their passports and proceed to order them to wait until work picks up.

Mandy Clark (Voice of America Website) concludes an article with the statement,

"It is a hope to return to boom times and to complete a skyline of half-finished buildings - a hope that now seems distant."

In efforts to try and gain a voice many workers have begun to point out needs for contracts and listings of grievances. All too often many cases of exploitation, abuse and misinformed migrant workers go undetected due to the fear instilled in the workers conscience. Here are some titles that have been published in the local papers(Khaleej Times) and other publications(Gulf News,), “Captive workers escape from housing compound,” “Construction worker dies – third in fortnight,” “Workers protest to get dues of over nine years,” or “Abandoned workers fear their plight will be ignored.”
     Besides the press there is little action being taken by civil societies and government officials. The lack of independent organizations means that these companies are easily getting away with horrible crimes against humanity. Basically, the workers do not believe that rights are ensured and so the crimes continue to exist and reporting of them is never systematically documented.
     Even with such little hope for these workers, there still manages to be efforts made toward organizing demonstrations, strikes, and even rioting. In 2005 a large group of over a thousand workers blockaded a major highway in Dubai and they insisted their unpaid wages be given to them. Another example in 2006, was when thousands of workers for Besix, a Brussels-based company, went on strike to voice a need for better wages. At the time they were only working for $4 a day.
     Personally I have found all this information to be quite disturbing from both a Humanitarian and Environmental stand point. There is much evidence which displays their blatant disregard to consider both during this whole fiasco. I honestly would only visit the country if I were granted the opportunity to only see the natural features which exist within the borders. I mean the place is located within a desert and they are desiring to constantly have access to items which can only be imported. The lifestyle is much to elaborate for my liking and I have little desire to call it a vacationing spot in the future. Their current struggles are important to take into account because we as humans should have learned from the mistakes which were made by past generations. We should hopefully take this example and apply it to our own country, America, and notice that they are not far from our own country's urban expansion. Luckily we are headed in a brighter direction but we have left behind a legacy that others are adopting too.