US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI663

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000663 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, NEA/RA, NEA/ARPI 
STATE PASS TO USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2015 
TAGS: ELAB, ETRD, PHUM, PREL, TC 
SUBJECT: ABU DHABI LEADERSHIP REITERATES COMMITMENT TO 
SOLVING CAMEL JOCKEY PROBLEM 
 
 (U) Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  On February 13, MbZ aide Yousef al Otaiba 
told Ambassador Sison that the smaller emirates would suffer 
a financial penalty from Abu Dhabi if they do not cut the 
trafficking of underage camel jockeys.  MFA U/S Abdullah 
Rashid al-Noaimi told visiting ARPI Office Director Alan 
Misenheimer and DCM in a concurrent meeting that Abu Dhabi is 
committed to preventing the trafficking of persons in the 
UAE.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) On February 9, representatives from the ruling 
families of six of the seven emirates attended the 14th 
annual Arab camel race festival in the emirate of Ras al 
Khaimah.  Although the race was held under the patronage of 
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, notably 
absent from the audience were representatives of the Emirate 
of Abu Dhabi.  Ambassador pointed out the media coverage of 
the race to MbZ aide Yousef al Otaiba during a February 13 
conversation; al Otaiba emphasized that the smaller emirates, 
all financially dependent upon oil-rich Abu Dhabi would &pay 
a financial price8 if the camel jockey problem &was not 
cleaned up.8 
 
3. (C) In a concurrent meeting, MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid 
al-Noaimi told visiting ARPI Office Director Alan Misenheimer 
and DCM that Abu Dhabi is committed to preventing the 
trafficking of boys for camel jockeys and also of women for 
sexual exploitation.  He stated that outside pressure and 
reports are useful to Abu Dhabi, as it can use the 
information to lean on other emirates which are slower to 
change their views on the use of underage camel jockeys.  He 
also noted that linking this with the FTA is a useful tool in 
the discussions with other emirates. 
 
4. (C) Al-Noaimi noted that the UAE is a federal system, and 
each emirate has a fair amount of discretion in their 
activities.  He further stated that some personal views (i.e. 
those of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of 
Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance) are impeding movement of 
this issue in some emirates. 
SISON