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UAE’s Promises of Qualitative Life

Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan

Security and decent living rights are the mantra of every government around the globe. UAE government and its constitution guarantee protection and decent living rights for each citizen in the country. It promises of a qualitative life for everyone throughout the country. It promotes civil liberties. It stands for delivery, service and welfare of everybody in the country. Scientists at New York’s Colombia University conducted the poll (November, 2012) according to which the UAE was the 17th happiest country in the world out of a study of 156.

Tax free salaries, stable family life and a luxurious lifestyle are the few obvious reasons of it. Most recently, Mercer ‘Quality of Living’ (December, 2012), ranked Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the region in quality of living standards. It shows UAE government strong commitment towards achieving a qualitative life for its all nationals.

Again the Legatum Institute annual prosperity index (December, 2012) indicated that the UAE secured its status as the most prosperous country in the Arab world and ranked amongst thirty overall ‘Top Performers’ worldwide. It retained its top position in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena). It was decided on eight distinct categories: economy; education; entrepreneurship & opportunity; governance; health; personal freedom; safety & security; and social capital. Its promises for qualitative life are not confined to its nationals. It is the home of millions of expatriates consisting of two hundred nationalities from six continents. They and their families enjoy good living standards, security and stability as well as full rights governed by strict laws which regulate labour relations. The effective laws guarantee their right to transfer savings to their families in their home countries. Foreigners working in the UAE are estimated to have remitted AED 41.2 billion to their home countries in 2011, compared with AED 38.8 in 2010.

Concept of qualitative life is a perpetual dream of all the human beings on earth. Although, definition, perception or parameters of it may be different but final destination has been one i.e. triumph of a qualitative life. It also varies from country to country depending upon its national character, mode of governance, human rights, and above all respect for humanity. A qualitative life comprises of better security, and decent living rights. It includes the provision of basic necessities of life. It facilitates chances of better education, health care system, housing and the last but not the least, supply of clean drinking water to each citizen. It cares about environment and nature. It upholds the importance of rule of the law, transparency and accountability. It eliminates all socio-economic ills. It encourages fair and free competition. It protects basic human rights. It controls all kinds of rough elements in the society and spreads interfaith harmony etc. UAE of course, stands tall in these definitions, parameters and multiplier effects of having a qualitative life for everybody in the country.

UAE government has been promulgated many effective laws about the protection of its people with the promise of a qualitative life. Most recently, cabinet approved 72 articles to take care the health, education, cultural and social rights of the child.

Another step towards having sustainable qualitative life, most recently, the UAE cabinet made it compulsory for corporations and government agencies to include women on their boards of directors. The historic decision was announced on Twitter by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. “Women proved themselves in many workplaces and today we want them to have a strong presence in decision-making positions in our institutions,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted. Very few nations have implemented such far-reaching regulations to ensure women are represented on boards of directors he added. It is hoped that would further enhance women empowerment in the country. It would also increase women active participation in the decision making in the country.

The Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has said that the security and decent living were the rights for each UAE citizen. “The achievement of development and the social empowerment for Emiratis top the priorities of the government, which always seeks to invest on human resources, being the core of social development,” he added. During the said meeting the ‘Social Solidarity Fund’ for the Emirate of Dubai was endorsed. He advised the implementation of policies that support the social development objectives in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015. It is hoped that would ensure good living conditions for citizens.

Saqr Ghobash, the Minister of Labour also the chairman of the board of trustees for the National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority said more than 20,000 new jobs will be created for UAE nationals from 2013. New posts in ministries, airlines, oil companies, and more than 20 other entities were announced at the end of last month by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. They are part of a programme called Absher, established by the President, Sheikh Khalifa. “It is aimed to increase the participation of the Emirati in the job market in quality and attractive jobs he added.” He also urged human resources departments to prep nationals before joining a new job to ensure there was no confusion over their duties, and help to train them for their new role.

At international front UAE has been contributing magnificently for achieving qualitative life through its rigorous socio-economic assistance, humanitarian growth programs and foreign aid throughout the world. World Food Programme (WFP) appreciated UAE world wide effort to help victims and struggling people. It has been actively engaged to harness the humanitarian situation in Syria, Yemen and occupied Palestinian territories. According to its figure, the total WFP shipment value from Dubai depot from 2011 until date was Dhs32.5 million. This included Somalia (Dhs13 million, Yemen (Dhs3.5 million), Syria (Dhs4.5 million) and Pakistan (Dhs11.5 million).

The UAE Government was again the largest donor in the country in 2011, , giving AED 5.97 billion, more than 77 percent of total aid, followed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), which disbursed AED 782.3 million. AED 6.86 billion was disbursed for development projects, an increase of 210.2 percent over the figure for 2010. Overall, AED 625.3 million was spent on humanitarian aid in 2011, an increase of 54.2 percent over the figure for 2010. A total of AED 253.1 million was devoted to charitable projects, an increase of 36.9 percent over 2010.

All these above mentioned facts and figures clearly endorse UAE promises of qualitative life for each of its citizen.

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