US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI970

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABU DHABI 000970 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR R ACTING U/S PAT HARRISON 
STATE ALSO DRL, NEA/PI, NEA/ARPI, AND NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, KWMN, MEPI, TC 
SUBJECT: UAE WOMEN SEE A PROMISING BUT CHALLENGING FUTURE 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  UAE WOMEN ARE GENERALLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE 
FUTURE OF THEIR ROLE IN UAE SOCIETY, TELLING US THAT THEY 
FORESEE WOMEN BEING APPOINTED TO THE FEDERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL 
AND MAKING OTHER GAINS IN THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SPHERES. 
HOWEVER, THEY ALSO SPOKE CANDIDLY ABOUT THE OBSTACLES FACING 
THEIR PROGRESS.  THEY ATTRIBUTED THESE CHALLENGES TO A VARIETY 
OF FACTORS, INCLUDING RESTRICTIVE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, 
GENDER DISCRIMINATION, THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS IN A NON- 
DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, RULING FAMILY CONNECTIONS, THE LACK OF 
CIVIL AND POLITICAL AWARENESS AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS, AND - 
AT TIMES -- THE UAE GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE 
CAPABILITIES OF WOMEN.  POST HAS SENT A NUMBER OF UAE WOMEN 
LEADERS IN THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION, LAW, AND NGO'S, TO 
PARTICIPATE IN MEPI-SPONSORED CONFERENCES, SUCH AS THE WOMEN 
AND THE LAW CONFERENCE IN AMMAN, AND THE CAMPAIGN SCHOOL IN 
DOHA.  POST WILL CONTINUE TO BROADEN ITS NETWORK OF UAE WOMEN 
WHO ARE EAGER TO ENGAGE IN REFORM DISCUSSIONS AND SUPPORT THE 
EMPOWERMENT OF UAE WOMEN.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) EMBASSY POLITICAL ASSISTANT INTERVIEWED A NUMBER OF UAE 
WOMEN FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS (INCLUDING DIPLOMACY, ACADEMIA, 
RESEARCH, BUSINESS, LAW, POLICE, SOCIAL AFFAIRS, AND FAMILY 
AFFAIRS), AND FROM DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS, TO EXPLORE HOW THEY 
SEE THEMSELVES NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.  MOST WOMEN SPOKE ON 
CONDITION OF ANONYMITY.  THE INTERVIEWS TOOK PLACE FROM 
DECEMBER 2004 TO FEBRUARY 2005. 
 
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POLITICAL PARTICIPATION 
----------------------- 
 
3. (U) MANY UAE NATIONALS, INCLUDING MANY WOMEN, BELIEVE THAT A 
WOMAN'S ROLE SHOULD BE CONFINED TO SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND 
ECONOMIC PURSUITS, AND THAT A WOMAN HAS NO PLACE IN THE 
POLITICAL ARENA.  IN GENERAL, WE WERE TOLD, MANY UAE WOMEN LACK 
THE POLITICAL AWARENESS OR INTEREST IN BECOMING MORE INVOLVED 
WITH POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING.  FURTHERMORE, IN THIS COUNTRY 
OF 4.04 MILLION WHERE UAE NATIONALS COMPRISE ONLY 15 PERCENT OF 
THE POPULATION, THERE ARE NO INSTITUTIONS TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO 
JOIN THE POLITICAL MAINSTREAM.  FOR EXAMPLE, WOMEN'S 
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE GENERAL WOMEN'S UNION OFFER ONLY 
EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, FAMILY, AND HEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAMS FOR 
WOMEN.  ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE SHARJAH CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL, 
WHOSE FEMALE MEMBERS' ROLE IS LIMITED TO SOCIAL, CULTURAL, 
FAMILY, AND FINANCIAL ADVICE TO THE RULER OF SHARJAH EMIRATE -- 
AGAIN WITH NO POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT. 
 
4. (U) WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF POLITICAL 
PARTICIPATION FOR UAE WOMEN, MOST OF OUR RESPONDENTS ASKED HOW 
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS IN SUCH A 
POLITICALLY CLOSED SOCIETY.  JOHARAH, AN ACADEMIC, COMMENTED: 
"WHEN A MAN ENJOYS ALL OF HIS RIGHTS, SO WILL THE WOMAN," 
REFERRING TO THE LACK OF DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION IN UAE 
SOCIETY BY BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.  (NOTE: THERE ARE NO POLITICAL 
PARTIES, ELECTIONS, OR TRADE UNIONS IN THE UAE. END NOTE.) 
MOST OF OUR CONTACTS FELT THAT HAVING UAE WOMEN PARTICIPATE IN 
THE APPOINTED FEDERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL (FNC) WOULD BE AN 
IMPORTANT STEP.  THEY WERE CONFIDENT THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN "IN 
THE NEAR FUTURE."  EBTISAM, AN ACADEMIC, STATED, "I AM NOT 
CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN JOINING THE FNC, RATHER, IS THIS 
PARLIAMENT STRONG ENOUGH?" 
 
5. (U) FOR SEVERAL YEARS, SHEIKHA FATIMA, WIFE OF THE LATE 
PRESIDENT SHEIKH ZAYED, HAS CALLED FOR THE INCLUSION OF WOMEN 
IN THE FNC.  MEMBERS OF THE FNC HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD 
ALLOW THIS AT SOME POINT.  MARIAM, A BUSINESSWOMAN, EXPLAINED 
THAT THE REASON FOR THIS DELAY IS THE UAE'S TENDENCY TO TAKE 
ITS TIME IN PREPARING ITS PEOPLE FOR SUCH A POSITION.  HOWEVER, 
SHE SAID IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE SOME WOMEN ATTENDING FNC 
SESSIONS AS A WAY TO EXPOSE THEM TO THE BODY'S DELIBERATIONS. 
MAY, A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL, SAID THAT THE REASON BEHIND THE 
DELAY IN GETTING WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL LIFE OF 
THE UAE, IS THAT DEMOCRACY IN A SOCIETY LIKE THE UAE NEEDS TO 
OCCUR VERY GRADUALLY IN ORDER TO SUCCEED. "COOK THE FOOD ON LOW 
HEAT TO MAKE IT TASTIER," SHE COMMENTED. 
 
6. (U) MOST OF OUR RESPONDENTS SAW THE APPOINTMENT OF SHEIKHA 
LUBNA AL QASSIMI AS MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND PLANNING, UAE'S 
FIRST FEMALE CABINET MEMBER, AS A HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE 
UAE.  SHAMSA, A SOCIAL COUNSELOR, COMMENTED THAT THE LONG AND 
TIRELESS EFFORTS OF UAE WOMEN HAVE FINALLY MATERIALIZED, AND 
THAT SHEIKHA LUBNA WILL SERVE AS A ROLE MODEL FOR UAE YOUNG 
FEMALES TO FOLLOW.  A STUDENT AT ABU DHABI WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY, 
WHEN ASKED WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO AFTER GRADUATION, STATED, "I 
WANT TO BE JUST LIKE SHEIKHA LUBNA." 
 
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TRADITIONS AND CULTURE 
---------------------- 
 
7. (U) TRIBAL TRADITIONS STILL POSE AN OBSTACLE FOR WOMEN, BUT 
THEY ARE NOT AS DOMINANT AS THEY ONCE WERE.  A FEW OF THE WOMEN 
INTERVIEWED BELIEVED THAT UAE TRADITIONS AND CULTURE CONTINUE 
TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO TRAVEL WITHOUT A CHAPERON, TO 
MIX WITH MEN, OR EVEN TO WORK.  THE MAJORITY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT 
THESE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS ARE BEING MISUSED IN THE NAME OF 
ISLAM, AND THAT THEY HAVE RECENTLY INTRUDED INTO THE UAE 
CULTURE, AND HAVE BECOME EXCUSES BY SOME TO HINDER THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN.  FATEMA, A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, SAID 
THAT THE UAE HAD BECOME MORE CONSERVATIVE WITH REGARDS TO 
SEPARATION OF THE SEXES IN SCHOOLS, CEREMONIES, AND OTHER 
PLACES, IN THE PAST 15-20 YEARS.  SHE GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A 
TEACHER BEING DISMISSED FROM TEACHING BECAUSE SHE WORE A 
COLORED HEADSCARF AS OPPOSED TO THE TRADITIONAL BLACK HEAD 
COVERING. 
 
8. (U) MAY, A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL, SAID THAT SOME WOMEN, 
PARTICULARLY THE YOUNGER GENERATION, ARE ABANDONING THEIR 
CULTURE AND IDENTITY IN ORDER TO IMITATE THE "SUPERFICIAL SIDE" 
OF WESTERN CULTURE, SUCH AS CLOTHING AND BEHAVIOR.  "UAE WOMEN 
SHOULD NOT IMITATE THE WEST BUT ADAPT TO THE VALUES THAT CAN BE 
APPLIED TO OUR SOCIETY AND CULTURE," SHE SAID.  EMAN, A FEMALE 
POLICE CAPTAIN, EXPLAINED THAT MOST YOUNGER EMIRATIS NEED 
GUIDANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING AWAY FROM THEIR ROOTS AND 
CULTURE.  THEY LACK ANY REAL AMBITION, AND THEY DO NOT WANT, OR 
NEED, TO WORK UNLESS THEY DO IT FOR PRESTIGE AND STATUS, SHE 
OPINED. 
 
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GENDER DISCRIMINATION 
--------------------- 
 
9. (U) GENDER DISCRIMINATION IS ANOTHER OBSTACLE FOR MANY UAE 
WOMEN.  WHILE UAEG STATISTICS SHOW UAE WOMEN COMPRISING 41.5 
PERCENT OF ALL EMPLOYEES IN EDUCATION, 34.2 PERCENT IN THE 
HEALTH SECTOR, AND 19.7 PERCENT IN SOCIAL AFFAIRS, AND 
ACCOUNTING FOR NEARLY 28 PERCENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS, AND 57 
PERCENT OF NATIONALS WORKING IN THE BANKING AND FINANCIAL 
SERVICES SECTOR, WOMEN STILL FACE DISCRIMINATION BY THEIR 
EMPLOYERS AND THEIR MALE COLLEAGUES.  IN 2003, THE UAE GENERAL 
WOMEN'S UNION PUBLISHED A REPORT INDICATING THE PERCENTAGE OF 
UAE WOMEN IN THE LABOR MARKET AS A WHOLE TO BE 18 PERCENT. 
ACCORDING TO MARIAM, A BUSINESSWOMAN, WOMEN STILL DO NOT ENJOY 
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SALARIES, AND PROMOTIONS.  SHE 
WENT ON TO SAY THAT ANY WOMAN WHO IS STRONG AND PRODUCTIVE CAN 
OBTAIN HER RIGHTS "AND MORE" AT WORK, AND CAN ALSO GAIN THE 
RESPECT AND APPROVAL OF HER MALE COLLEAGUES.  UAE WOMEN ARE 
ALSO WORKING IN LAW, ENGINEERING, MEDIA, POLICE AND THE ARMY. 
(THE UAE ARMY RECENTLY PROMOTED ITS FIRST EVER FEMALE, A 
BRIGADIER GENERAL MEDICAL CORPS PHYSICIAN).  SEVERAL OF THE 
WOMEN INTERVIEWED SAID THAT EMIRATI MEN NO LONGER SEE WORKING 
WOMEN NEGATIVELY, BUT RATHER AS A FINANCIAL NECESSITY, AS LONG 
AS WORK DOES NOT AFFECT THEIR ROLES AS WIVES AND MOTHERS. 
 
10. (U) AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF 
WOMEN CONFERENCE, HELD IN NEW YORK MARCH 1-3, NOURA AL SUWEIDI, 
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE UAE GENERAL WOMEN'S UNION, SAID THAT 
UAE WOMEN AND MEN ARE EQUAL UNDER THE COUNTRY'S CONSTITUTION, 
AND THAT UAEG HAS ISSUED MANY LAWS AND REGULATIONS WHICH RAISE 
THE STATUS OF WOMEN, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES IN THE 
ROLE OF WOMEN "AS KEY PARTNERS IN THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
PROCESS". 
 
11. (SBU) IN THE AREA OF EDUCATION, UAEG STATISTICS REVEAL THAT 
FEMALE STUDENTS OUTNUMBER MALE STUDENTS, COMPRISING 65 PERCENT 
OF COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND 72 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S TOTAL 
STUDENT BODY (KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE).  THESE FIGURES 
ALSO REFLECT THE FACT THAT UAE MALES ARE MORE EASILY ABLE TO 
STUDY OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY, WHEREAS FEMALE PRESSURES PREVENT 
MANY UAE FEMALE STUDENTS FROM DOING SO.  WOMEN'S LITERACY RATE 
REACHED 81.7 PERCENT IN 2003.  YET, GENDER DISCRIMINATION ALSO 
APPEARS TO BE ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE REPORTEDLY HIGH 
UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG UAE WOMEN COLLEGE GRADUATES.  TWO OF THE 
WOMEN ACADEMICS POINTED OUT THAT THE WOMEN WHO DO FIND WORK IN 
SENIOR POSITIONS AND RECEIVE PROMOTIONS USUALLY HAVE 
CONNECTIONS TO MEMBERS OF INFLUENTIAL FAMILIES. 
 
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VISION/AMBITIONS 
---------------- 
 
12. (U) IN GENERAL, THE WOMEN INTERVIEWED WERE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT 
THEIR FUTURE.  ALL AGREED THAT UAE WOMEN WILL GAIN GREATER 
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL OPPORTUNITIES, BECOME MORE OUTSPOKEN, 
AND BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE WITH MEN IN THE JOB MARKET.  THEY 
BELIEVE THAT WOMEN WILL SEE THEIR ROLE IN THE UAE EVOLVE 
SLOWLY, AND THAT THEY WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY INDEPENDENT FROM 
MEN, BOTH SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY.  JAMEELA, A LAWYER, WHO 
ATTENDED THE MEPI-SPONSORED `WOMEN AND THE LAW' CONFERENCE IN 
AMMAN IN FEBRUARY 2004, EXPECTED TO SEE WOMEN BECOMING JUDGES 
AND PUBLIC PROSECUTORS, PROFESSIONS NOT CURRENTLY OPEN TO WOMEN 
UNDER UAE JUDICIAL LAW.  RECENTLY, FOUR UAE WOMEN BEGAN 
TRAINING AS PUBLIC PROSECUTORS FOR THE FIRST TIME, EVEN THOUGH 
THE LAW PROHIBITING ANY POTENTIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THEM IS 
STILL TECHNICALLY IN EFFECT. 
 
13. (SBU) EBTISAM, AN ACADEMIC, SAID THAT SHE EXPECTS MORE 
WOMEN WILL ASSUME LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.  SHE ATTRIBUTED THIS 
TREND TO COMPETITION BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN EACH EMIRATE. 
SHE EXPLAINED THAT APPOINTING MORE WOMEN WAS A "COSMETIC REFORM 
JUST TO SATISFY THE FOREIGN AGENDA AND AVOID EXTERNAL 
PRESSURES," AND THAT THIS DID NOT REFLECT A COMMITMENT TO 
DEMOCRATIC REFORM.  SHE WENT ON TO SAY THAT SHE BELIEVES THAT 
THERE WILL BE WOMEN IN THE FNC.  HOWEVER, SHE QUESTIONED THE 
BODY'S LEGITIMACY, AS LONG AS IT WAS COMPOSED OF UNELECTED 
MEMBERS LOYAL TO THE RULERS "WHO DO NOT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE 
QUALIFICATIONS."  SHE SAID THAT WHILE WE WILL SEE MORE 
APPOINTMENTS OF WOMEN TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, WE WILL ALSO SEE 
MORE RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL CONSERVATISM AS A REACTION TO 
PERCEPTION THAT THE UAE IS SUCCUMBING TO "EXTERNAL INFLUENCES." 
 
14. (U) OUR CONTACTS SAID THAT MORE WOMEN WILL SEEK 
INDEPENDENCE FROM MEN IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR PROFESSIONAL 
SKILLS AND CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY.  WITH GREATER INDEPENDENCE 
AND DEVELOPMENT, WOMEN MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO GET DIVORCED OR 
FIND THEMSELVES SINGLE BECAUSE MOST UAE MEN STILL PREFER 
UNEDUCATED WOMEN WHOM THEY THINK ARE EASIER TO CONTROL, OUR 
CONTACTS SAID.  ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ONLY ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, MANY 
EDUCATED UAE WOMEN IN SENIOR POSITIONS ARE EITHER DIVORCED OR 
SINGLE. 
 
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COMMENT: 
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15. (SBU) IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT MOST WOMEN INTERVIEWED WERE 
CONCERNED PRIMARILY ABOUT THEIR OWN PERSONAL ISSUES, SUCH AS 
EDUCATION, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, MARRIAGE, NATIONALITY LAWS, AND 
RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE, AND LESS SO ABOUT POLITICAL ISSUES. 
WE ALSO NOTE THE WOMEN'S CANDOR AND OPENNESS IN ADDRESSING THE 
CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL STEREOTYPES THAT HINDER WOMEN FROM 
PARTICIPATING IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, AND OBTAINING THEIR 
RIGHTS SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY.  DESPITE THEIR ENCOURAGING 
BELIEF THAT THEIR STATUS WILL IMPROVE IN THE FUTURE, THE 
GREATEST CHALLENGE FACING UAE WOMEN CONTINUES TO BE THE UAE'S 
MALE-DOMINATED TRIBAL SOCIETY WHICH IS MOVING SLOWLY IN 
GRANTING WOMEN EQUAL RIGHTS AND GREATER POLITICAL 
PARTICIPATION.  THE U.S. MISSION WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND ITS 
CIRCLES OF UAE WOMEN CONTACTS, BUILD STRONGER RELATIONS WITH 
THEM, ENGAGE WITH THEM ON ISSUES CONCERNING THEIR POLITICAL 
PARTICIPATION IN UAE SOCIETY, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PARTICIPATE 
IN MEPI-SPONSORED EVENTS. 
 
SISON