Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI1367
2003-03-22 12:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UAE
null Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:48:20 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM March 22, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 1367 - ROUTINE) TAGS: ELAB, ECON, SOCI Captions: None Subject: UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UAE Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 01367 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM: RAALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON: GARANA CLEARED: ECON: TEWILLIAMS VZCZCADI433 RR RUEHC RUCPDOC RUEHZM RUEHTU DE RUEHAD #1367 0811244 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 221244Z MAR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8986 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0491
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001367
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA
AMEMBASSY TUNIS HOLD FOR FSI: OLIVER JOHN
USDOC FOR 4530/ITA/MAC/ONE/DGUGLIELMI,
4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU,
4500/ITA/MAC/DAS/WILLIAMSON,
3131/CS/OIO/ANESA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON SOCI TC
SUBJECT: UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UAE
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001367
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA
AMEMBASSY TUNIS HOLD FOR FSI: OLIVER JOHN
USDOC FOR 4530/ITA/MAC/ONE/DGUGLIELMI,
4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU,
4500/ITA/MAC/DAS/WILLIAMSON,
3131/CS/OIO/ANESA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON SOCI TC
SUBJECT: UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UAE
1. (U) Local Arabic language press reported on March
15 that the official unemployment rate in the UAE was
2.6%, the lowest in the Arab world. The Ministry of
Labor and Social Affairs supplied this information to
the Arab Labor Force Conference held in Tunisia in
early March. The official rate reported by the
Emiratis was only for nationals and did not include
unemployment in the foreign labor force. The following
day however, local Arabic language press reported that
the unemployment rate among nationals in Dubai was
10.43%, a statistic released by Dubai Municipality.
2. (SBU) Comment: If the unemployment rate among
nationals is over 10% in Dubai, the second largest
Emirate in the UAE, unemployment for the country is
unlikely to be as low as 2.6%. National government
unemployment figures are probably unreliable -- UAE
macroeconomic information in general is suspect --
reflecting political agendas more than detailed and
accurate statistical analysis. The Dubai figure is
likely to be more credible as many nationals remain
voluntarily unemployed due to unrealistic salary and
work expectations even though the government has
sought to convince Emiratis -- through training and
work placement programs -- to consider a wider range
of jobs, particularly in the private sector.
Unfortunately, most Emiratis prefer the easier work
environment and better benefits of the public sector,
despite the fact that most of the jobs are in the
private realm.
Wahba
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND EB/CBA
AMEMBASSY TUNIS HOLD FOR FSI: OLIVER JOHN
USDOC FOR 4530/ITA/MAC/ONE/DGUGLIELMI,
4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU,
4500/ITA/MAC/DAS/WILLIAMSON,
3131/CS/OIO/ANESA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON SOCI TC
SUBJECT: UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UAE
1. (U) Local Arabic language press reported on March
15 that the official unemployment rate in the UAE was
2.6%, the lowest in the Arab world. The Ministry of
Labor and Social Affairs supplied this information to
the Arab Labor Force Conference held in Tunisia in
early March. The official rate reported by the
Emiratis was only for nationals and did not include
unemployment in the foreign labor force. The following
day however, local Arabic language press reported that
the unemployment rate among nationals in Dubai was
10.43%, a statistic released by Dubai Municipality.
2. (SBU) Comment: If the unemployment rate among
nationals is over 10% in Dubai, the second largest
Emirate in the UAE, unemployment for the country is
unlikely to be as low as 2.6%. National government
unemployment figures are probably unreliable -- UAE
macroeconomic information in general is suspect --
reflecting political agendas more than detailed and
accurate statistical analysis. The Dubai figure is
likely to be more credible as many nationals remain
voluntarily unemployed due to unrealistic salary and
work expectations even though the government has
sought to convince Emiratis -- through training and
work placement programs -- to consider a wider range
of jobs, particularly in the private sector.
Unfortunately, most Emiratis prefer the easier work
environment and better benefits of the public sector,
despite the fact that most of the jobs are in the
private realm.
Wahba