Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI2202
2004-07-04 12:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

THE SLOW RISE IN TRAVEL OF UAE NATIONALS TO THE

Tags:  CVIS KPAO SCUL BMGT ECON TC 
pdf how-to read a cable
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Diana T Fritz 02/06/2007 05:25:30 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM July 04, 2004


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2202 - ROUTINE) 

TAGS: CVIS, SCUL, BMGT, ECON, KPAO 

Captions: None 

Subject: THE SLOW RISE IN TRAVEL OF UAE NATIONALS TO THE USA AND
 THE IMPACT ON US INTERESTS 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 02202

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: CONS 
 INFO: DCM 
Laser1:
 ACTION: CONS 

DISSEMINATION: CONS
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: DCM:RALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: CONS:MMARRANO/TPONCE
CLEARED: CGD:DVISOCAN;PAO:HOWINDECKER;ECON:OJOHN;FCS:NCPARKER

VZCZCADI881
RR RUEHC RUEHDE RUEHXK RUCPDOC
DE RUEHAD #2202/01 1861203
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041203Z JUL 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4969
INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4112
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ABU DHABI 002202 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR CA/EX, NEA/FO, NEA/ARP

USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/CLOUSTENAU AND ITA/OIO/ANESA/BORR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KPAO SCUL BMGT ECON TC
SUBJECT: THE SLOW RISE IN TRAVEL OF UAE NATIONALS TO THE
USA AND THE IMPACT ON US INTERESTS

REF: 03 ABU DHABI 1905

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED ENTIRE TEXT

SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ABU DHABI 002202

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR CA/EX, NEA/FO, NEA/ARP

USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/CLOUSTENAU AND ITA/OIO/ANESA/BORR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KPAO SCUL BMGT ECON TC
SUBJECT: THE SLOW RISE IN TRAVEL OF UAE NATIONALS TO THE
USA AND THE IMPACT ON US INTERESTS

REF: 03 ABU DHABI 1905

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED ENTIRE TEXT

SUMMARY
--------------


1. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 9/11, THE NUMBER OF UAE
NATIONALS TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES IS STARTING TO
RISE. HOWEVER, THIS IS FROM A SHARPLY DIMINISHED BASE - THE
ROAD BACK TO PRE-9/11 LEVELS FOR UAE NATIONALS WILL TAKE
TIME. THE NUMBER OF UAE NATIONALS TRAVELING TO THE UNITED
STATES HAS FALLEN 84 PERCENT FROM 2001 TO 2003. THIS
DRAMATIC DECLINE HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN ALMOST ALL VISA
CATEGORIES, PARTICULARLY STUDENT AND BUSINESS/TOURIST
VISAS. THE LOSS OF SUCH A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF UAE
STUDENTS AND TRAVELERS HAS HAD A FINANCIAL IMPACT
PARTICULARLY FOR A NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES AND MEDICAL
INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. WITH REGARDS TO THE
DECREASING NUMBER OF UAE STUDENTS, THE LOSS OF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPOSE THEM TO THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE IS
THE MOST DISCONCERTING IN THE LONG RUN. THE MISSION
CONTINUES EFFORTS TO COUNTERACT THE DECLINE IN UAE TRAVEL
THROUGH AGGRESSIVE PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORTS. END SUMMARY.

FACTS AND FIGURES
--------------


2. IN CALENDAR YEAR 2000, A TOTAL OF 11,859 UAE NATIONALS
APPLIED FOR VISAS AT THE CONSULAR SECTIONS IN ABU DHABI AND
DUBAI. BY THE END OF 2002, THAT NUMBER HAD DWINDLED TO
2,520 AND THEN AGAIN TO 2,304 AT THE CLOSE OF 2003. THE
NUMBERS ARE EVEN MORE DRAMATIC FOR STUDENT VISAS. IN 2000,
A TOTAL OF 1,386 UAE NATIONALS WENT TO THE UNITED STATES
FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDIES. BY THE END OF
2003, THAT NUMBER HAD FALLEN TO 214. IN ADDITION, THE
NUMBER OF UAE NATIONALS WHO APPLIED FOR VISAS TO TRAVEL TO
THE UNITED STATES FOR BUSINESS AND/OR PLEASURE TOTALED 8027
IN 2000. ONLY 1321 UAE NATIONALS OPTED TO DO THE SAME IN

2003.


3. HOWEVER, INITIAL FIGURES IN 2004 INDICATE THAT PEOPLE
ARE GRADUALLY RETURNING TO TRAVEL TO THE USA. DURING THE
PERIOD JAN-MAY 2004, A TOTAL OF 15,305 INDIVIDUALS OF ALL
NATIONALITIES APPLIED FOR VISAS IN ABU DHABI AND DUBAI,
WHILE IN THE SAME PERIOD IN 2003, THE TOTAL WAS 9,719. THE
NUMBER OF UAE NATIONALS APPLYING FOR VISAS IN ABU DHABI AND

DUBAI HAS ALSO INCREASED OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. DURING THE
PERIOD JAN-MAY 2004, A TOTAL OF 1,056 UAE NATIONALS APPLIED
WHILE DURING THE SAME PERIOD IN 2003, 642 APPLIED.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VISA PROCESS HAVE HELPED TO LURE PEOPLE
BACK TO TRAVELING TO THE USA. MOST UAE NATIONALS, FOR
EXAMPLE, ARE NOW ISSUED VISAS IN 24 HOURS, A TIMEFRAME THAT
COMPARES FAVORABLY WITH THE TWO-WEEK WAITING PERIOD FOR EU
SCHENGEN VISAS.


4. THE MAIN CATALYST BEHIND QUICKER ISSUANCE HAS BEEN THE
CHANGES IN THE CLEARANCE PROCESS. SPECIFICALLY, THE REVISED
CONDOR CRITERIA SENT IN OCTOBER 2003 SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED
THE POOL OF APPLICANTS SUBJECT TO NSEERS. THE OVERALL
STREAMLINING OF THE CLEARANCE PROCESS AND THE NEWLY
RELEASED ELECTRONIC SAO FEATURE IN THE NIV APPLICATION HAVE
ALL CONTRIBUTED TO FASTER PROCESSING OF APPLICANTS,
INCLUDING THOSE THAT REQUIRE WASHINGTON CLEARANCES. WORD OF
MOUTH SPREADS QUICKLY, AND LOCAL APPLICANTS ARE BECOMING
AWARE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN A US VISA THE NEXT DAY,
WHICH IS HELPING TO INCREASE APPLICATION FIGURES. ANOTHER
FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO HIGHER NUMBERS IS THE MISSION'S
OUTREACH CAMPAIGN (SEE PARAGRAPH 13),WHICH TARGETS BOTH
THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND SPECIFIC INTEREST GROUPS, SUCH AS
STUDENTS. MOREOVER, THE POST-9/11 REALITIES HAVE COME TO BE
ACCEPTED BY VISA SEEKERS, AND THEY ARE ADJUSTING TO THE NEW
ENVIRONMENT, AS EVIDENCED BY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF
APPLICANTS SCHEDULING INTERVIEWS MONTHS IN ADVANCE OF
ANTICIPATED TRAVEL. HOWEVER, WE STILL FACE CHALLENGES THAT
NEED TO BE OVERCOME IN ORDER TO RAISE THE FIGURES BACK TO
PRE-9/11 LEVELS.

STUDENT TRAVEL
--------------


5. TOUGHER VISA POLICIES AND THE PERCEIVED THREAT OF
DISCRIMINATION HAVE PROMPTED UAE STUDENTS TO SHUN U.S.
UNIVERSITIES. THE FIGURES ARE STARK AS GRADUATING STUDENTS
ARE NOT REPLACED, AND BOTH TRANSFERRING AND NEW STUDENTS
HEAD TO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, UK AND OTHER DESTINATIONS, WHICH
ARE AGGRESSIVELY OFFERING EDUCATIONAL AND IMMIGRATION
OPPORTUNITIES. NEW ZEALAND HAS JUST STARTED A 90-DAY VISIT
PROGRAM FOR EMIRATIS WITH NO VISA REQUIRED, ALTHOUGH A
STUDENT VISA IS STILL REQUIRED FOR STUDY. THERE IS ALSO
GROWING INTEREST ON THE PART OF AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS IN
SETTING UP BRANCH CAMPUSES OR AFFILIATES IN THE UAE. THE
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN SHARJAH IS AFFILIATED WITH THE
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, DC WHILE THE AMERICAN
INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY IN ATLANTA, GA SET UP THE
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN DUBAI.


6. THE UAE AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. TOLD AMBASSADOR MARCH 9,
2004 THAT 4,500 UAE STUDENTS WERE STUDYING IN THE U.S. IN

2000. THIS NUMBER HAS NOW DECLINED TO ABOUT 1,800.
SCHOLARSHIP OFFICIALS FROM THE ABU DHABI INVESTMENT
AUTHORITY (ADIA) TOLD PAO THAT THEIR 1300 SCHOLARSHIP
STUDENTS USED TO BE HANDLED BY A WASHINGTON-BASED STAFF OF
OVER 50. THEIR OFFICE HAS SHRUNK IN SIZE AND THEY ARE
MOVING INTO THE UAE EMBASSY AND OUT OF THEIR OWN OFFICES AS
THEIR STUDENT NUMBERS HAVE DECREASED AND STAFF LAID OFF.
THEY NOW SPONSOR 300 STUDENTS IN THE U.S., BUT MOST
TELLING, 100 OF THESE WILL GRADUATE IN MAY. OF THEIR 150
NEW SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS THIS YEAR, ONLY 12 WENT TO THE
U.S. ADIA OFFICIALS STATED THAT THERE ARE OTHER ENGLISH
SPEAKING COUNTRIES TO TURN TO THAT HAVE EASIER PROCEDURES,
DO NOT LEAVE STUDENTS HANGING FOR MONTHS WITH NO ANSWER TO
VISA REQUESTS, DO NOT HUMILIATE LEGITIMATE VISITORS AT
POINTS OF ENTRY AND DO NOT TURN AWAY STUDENTS HOLDING VISAS
UPON ARRIVAL. AS MORE OF THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES MOVE
TO OTHER COUNTRIES, THE APPLYING STUDENTS WILL NATURALLY
GRAVITATE TO WHERE THE CROWD IS GOING. "IF THE TREND
CONTINUES," THEY SAID, "WE WILL HAVE NONE GOING TO THE
U.S."


7. PAO MET WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. EDUCATIONAL
GROUP, A COMPANY THAT HAS BROUGHT US REPRESENTATIVES TO THE
UAE FOR EDUCATIONAL FAIRS FOR YEARS. SPRING 2000 WAS THEIR
LAST TOUR HERE, WITH 30 UNIVERSITIES REPRESENTED. AFTER 3
YEARS HE WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE 12 REPRESENTATIVES TO COME TO
THE UAE BY SLASHING THE PRICE OF THE TOUR. HE SAID THAT OF
THE 1/2 MILLION FOREIGN STUDENTS IN THE US, ONLY 30,000 NOW
ARE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, WHEREAS AT ONE TIME THERE WERE
20,000 SAUDIS ALONE. HE STRESSED THAT AUSTRALIA IN
PARTICULAR WAS PLAYING UP THE FACT THAT PARENTS COULD FEEL
MORE SECURE WITH THEIR CHILDREN NOT IN THE U.S. ONE VERY
PRAGMATIC RESULT OF THE CHANGE IN DESTINATION HE MENTIONED
WAS IN ENGINEERING. ENGINEERS GRADUATING FROM NON-US
SCHOOLS MAY NO LONGER DESIGN PROJECTS ACCORDING TO US
SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH WOULD HAVE DEFINITE IMPLICATIONS FOR
US COMPANIES WANTING TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE MIDDLE EAST.


8. PAO ALSO MET WITH THE HEAD OF THE SCHOLARSHIP OFFICE OF
EDAAD, A PROGRAM INITIATED BY THE CROWN PRINCE OF DUBAI IN
2001 WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING A STRONG EDUCATIONAL
BASE AND EXCEPTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE
LEADERS. THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2001 WITH THE INTENTION TO
SEND ALL THE SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS TO THE U.S., BUT THE
TERRORIST ATTACKS CHANGED THAT PLAN. FOR 2001-2003, THEY
SENT STUDENTS TO BOTH BA AND MA-LEVEL PROGRAMS; IN 2004,
THEY DECIDED TO CONCENTRATE ON MA STUDENTS. THE TOTAL HAS
REACHED 227 STUDENTS AND OF THESE, ONLY 36 ARE IN THE U.S.,
THE REST ARE ATTENDING UNIVERSITIES IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA,
FRANCE, AND SWEDEN, WITH THE MAJORITY IN THE UK. EVEN
THOUGH THE U.S. IS STILL BEING PROMOTED BY THE AMERICAN
HEAD OF THE PROGRAM, PERCEPTION OF BIAS AND ANTAGONISM, AS
WELL AS VISA DIFFICULTY, WAS KEEPING STUDENTS FROM
ACCEPTING OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY IN THE U.S.


9. THE INCREASE IN OPPORTUNITIES INSIDE THE UAE IS ALSO
PROVIDING A VIABLE OPTION FOR MANY STUDENTS WHO WOULD HAVE
GONE ABROAD. IN ADDITION TO THE FREE GOVERNMENT UAE
UNIVERSITY IN AL AIN WHICH HAS A WEAK ENGLISH PROGRAM,
WOMEN CAN NOW STUDY IN ENGLISH AT ONE OF THE HIGHER
COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY WHICH EXIST IN EVERY EMIRATE. TWO
CAMPUSES OF ZAYED UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN (AN ENGLISH-
LANGUAGE, AMERICAN-BASED CURRICULUM) ARE IN ABU DHABI AND
DUBAI. BOTH UAEU AND ZAYED U. HAVE STARTED SELECTED
GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND EDUCATION.
PRIVATE, FEE-BASED UNIVERSITIES, OFTEN WITH AMERICAN OR
FOREIGN (UK, AUSTRALIA) AFFILIATION ALSO OFFER
ALTERNATIVES. MANY PEOPLE TELL PAO NOW THAT THEIR DAUGHTERS
ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO ABROAD WITHOUT A CHAPERONE, A FACT
WHICH RESULTED IN THE DECISION OF THE TWO PLUS PARTICIPANTS
TO NOT ACCEPT THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS. TWO WOMEN WHO GRADUATED
FROM GEORGETOWN AND AU IN THE 70S TOLD PAO THAT IT
SURPRISES THEM THAT SOCIETY WAS A LOT MORE LIBERAL WHEN
THEY WERE SENT ABROAD ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO.

BUSINESS TRAVEL
--------------


10. THE (U.S. EDUCATED) CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR HAS TOLD U.S.
OFFICIALS THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO SEND HIS STAFF TO THE
U.S. FOR TRAINING. HE CITED THE DETENTION AND QUESTIONING
OF THE UAE AMBASSADOR ON HIS RETURN TO THE U.S. FROM LAST
FALL'S WTO MINISTERIAL IN MEXICO. HE NOTED "IF THEY WILL
DELAY AN AMBASSADOR, THEY WILL THROW MY PEOPLE IN JAIL."


11. MANY UAE NATIONALS AND OTHER MIDDLE EAST PROFESSIONALS
LOOK ON BUSINESS TRAVEL TO THE U.S. AS A CHORE. EACH UAE
NATIONAL HAS STORIES OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATES OR FRIENDS
HAVING BEEN REJECTED FOR A VISA OR SUBJECT TO LONG DELAYS
IN VISA ISSUANCE RESULTING IN MISSED MEETINGS, CONFERENCES
AND APPOINTMENTS. OTHERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS UPON ARRIVAL IN
THE U.S. VERY FEW OF THE COMMERCIAL SERVICE'S REGULAR
CONTACTS GO TO THE U.S. FOR ANY PURPOSE, WHEREAS 4 YEARS
AGO, IT WAS THEIR FAVORITE DESTINATION FOR VACATION,
BUSINESS, AND MEDICAL TRAVEL. A DELAYED VISA OR HARASSMENT
AT THE U.S. AIRPORT IS A GREAT FEAR IN THIS NATION, WHERE
FACE AND PRIDE ARE PARAMOUNT. MANY UAE NATIONAL
BUSINESSPEOPLE HAVE SAID THEY WOULD RATHER NOT APPLY THAN
RISK BEING REJECTED (SEE REFTEL.) BELOW ARE SEVERAL
EXAMPLES OF THE IMPACT OF THE NEW VISA REQUIREMENTS ON U.S.
BUSINESS INTERESTS IN THE UAE.

(A) ONE OF THE LARGEST U.S. ENGINEERING FIRMS IS HAVING
PROBLEMS FULFILLING TWO CONTRACTS WORTH $30 MILLION WITH
THE UAE'S GAS COMPANY, GASCO, DUE TO PERCEIVED LENGTHY
WAITS FOR VISAS. WHEN UAE ENGINEERS TASKED WITH CARRYING
OUT THE WORK FOR THE UAE CANNOT GET VISAS QUICKLY TO GO TO
THE U.S. TO ATTEND REQUIRED TRAINING, UAE CLIENTS,
CONTRACTS, AND VALUABLE JOBS, GO ELSEWHERE, USUALLY TO
CANADA, GERMANY, FRANCE, UK, AND OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
WILLING TO ISSUE VISAS EXPEDITIOUSLY.

(B) MANY LOCAL CLIENTS, INCLUDING THE UAE OIL PARASTATAL
ADNOC, HAVE TOLD US THAT SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NEW VISA PROCEDURES THEY WILL AVOID "BUYING AMERICAN" WHEN
POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN GETTING VISAS FOR
THEIR STAFF TO ATTEND TRAINING OR CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS IN
THE U.S. THE UAE OFFSETS GROUP HAD HOPED TO SET UP A
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR PILOTS IN THE UAE, BUT RAN INTO
DIFFICULTY GETTING VISAS FOR INSTRUCTION IN THE U.S. THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT, IN CONTRAST, FACILITATED THE TRAVEL
OF UAE PERSONNEL AND THE UAE OFFSETS GROUP, UNDER THE
PATRONAGE OF THE DEPUTY CROWN PRINCE, HAS NOW BEGUN A
VALUABLE, LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH A NEW AUSTRALIAN
SERVICE PROVIDER. THE OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF THIS PROJECT
STRONGLY PREFERRED TRAINING HIS PEOPLE AT A SCHOOL IN THE
U.S., BUT NOW THIS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR TRAINING PROGRAM
AND THE NUMEROUS FOLLOW-ON CONTRACTS ARE LOST TO THE U.S

(C) ANOTHER LOSS OCCURRED WHEN A U.S. OIL COMPANY MADE AN
INVESTMENT IN EXCESS OF $300 MILLION IN THE DOLPHIN ENERGY
PROJECT, BUT UAE PROJECT STAFF WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN VISAS
TO ATTEND NECESSARY AND REQUIRED TRAINING IN THE U.S. THE
FRENCH PROMPTLY GRANTED VISAS FOR THE UAE STAFF AND SO
OBTAINED THE CONTRACT FOR THE TRAINING.

MEDICAL TRAVEL
--------------


12. (A) ACCORDING TO U.S. FIRMS IN THE MEDICAL SECTOR, THE
NUMBER OF PATIENTS TRAVELING TO THE U.S. FOR MEDICAL
TREATMENT HAS DECLINED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW VISA PROCEDURES. ESTIMATES FROM
THESE INSTITUTIONS RANGE FROM A 50% TO 90% DECREASE IN
PATIENTS TRAVELING TO THE U.S. FOR EVALUATION AND TREATMENT
- WITH A GOOD PORTION OF BUSINESS THAT WOULD HAVE GONE TO
THESE U.S. ENTITIES NOW HEADING TO EUROPE, SINGAPORE AND
CANADA. THE DIRECTOR OF ONE OF THE MAJOR GOVERNMENT
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN THE UAE INFORMED THE SCO THAT THE
NUMBER OF PATIENTS THEY SEND TO THE U.S. HAS DROPPED FROM
APPROX. 200 A YEAR TO 10, MAINLY DUE TO DELAYS IN VISAS
(LARGELY FOR ACCOMPANYING FAMILY MEMBERS) AND PARTLY DUE TO
THE PATIENTS UNWILLINGNESS TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S. THINKING
THEY MIGHT BE MISTREATED. IN JANUARY, THE LOCAL PRESS
QUOTED THE MIDDLE EAST REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THE MAYO CLINIC
AS SAYING THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A DROP OF 30-40 PERCENT IN
PATIENTS COMING FROM THE ARABIAN GULF REGION FOLLOWING
9/11.

(B) THERE DOES SEEM TO BE RECOGNITION THAT THE VISA PROCESS
IS GETTING BETTER AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR
BEFORE, BUT WITH DAMAGE ALREADY INFLICTED AND PERCEPTIONS
IN PLACE THAT WILL TAKE TIME TO CHANGE, MOST INSTITUTIONS
ARE ATTEMPTING ALTERNATIVE AVENUES TO MAINTAIN THEIR
CLIENTELE. ACCORDING TO LOCAL PRESS REPORTS, SEVERAL U.S.
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE LOOKING AT ESTABLISHING THEMSELVES
IN THE UAE TO PROVIDE SERVICE. HARVARD MEDICAL
INTERNATIONAL HAS A FACILITY AT DUBAI HEALTHCARE CITY
(DHCC) AND REPORTEDLY PLANS TO ESTABLISH A RESEARCH
FACILITY AND PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY CENTER THERE. THE MAYO
CLINIC RECENTLY ESTABLISHED A CARDIOLOGY CENTER IN DUBAI
MANNED BY SPECIALISTS WHO FLY IN ONE WEEK A MONTH. IT IS
ALSO REPORTEDLY PLANNING TO SET UP A FACILITY AT DHCC, AS
IS JOHNS HOPKINS. ONE U.S. INSTITUTION IS SENDING PATIENTS
WHO WOULD HAVE TRADITIONALLY GONE TO THE U.S. TO ITS
FACILITIES IN SINGAPORE. ADDITIONALLY, INSTITUTIONS ARE
LOOKING AT HOW TO UTILIZE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH
INSTITUTIONS IN EUROPE AND CANADA TO COMPENSATE FOR THE
DECREASE IN FOREIGN PATIENT TRAVEL TO THE U.S. THE MAYO
CLINIC HAS INCREASED ITS LABORATORY TESTING SERVICES TO
CUSTOMERS IN THE ARABIAN GULF BY 40 PERCENT IN TERMS OF
VOLUME AND HAS SIGNED UP SEVERAL HOSPITALS IN THE REGION TO
BE THEIR MAJOR REFERENCE LABORATORY.

PERCEPTIONS AND MISPERCEPTIONS
--------------


13. PRIOR TO 9/11, ALL UAE NATIONALS WERE NOT REQUIRED TO
APPEAR FOR A PERSONAL INTERVIEW AND MOST HAD THEIR VISAS
WITHIN 24 HOURS. POST 9/11 VISA PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS
CHANGED THE MANNER IN WHICH ALL VISA APPLICATIONS ARE
PROCESSED TO INCLUDE THOSE OF UAE NATIONALS. THE CHANGE
WAS NEEDED AS THE UNITED STATES MOVED TO TIGHTEN SECURITY
ON ITS BORDERS AND THE MAJORITY OF UAE NATIONALS READILY
ACCEPTED THIS. HOWEVER, MANY UAE VISA APPLICANTS BEGAN TO
GET CAUGHT IN THE CHANGEOVER PROCESS TO TIGHTER SECURITY
SCREENING AND SAW THEIR RESPECTIVE APPLICATIONS PUT ON HOLD
FOR MONTHS, SOMETIMES INDEFINITELY. IN ADDITION, THE
SERIES OF DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) DOMESTIC
REGISTRATION AND EXIT/ENTRY PROCEDURES INCLUDING SEVIS,
NSEERS, USVISIT BEWILDERED MANY OF THOSE WHO TRAVELED TO
THE UNITED STATES. THEIR CONFUSION WAS ONLY COMPOUNDED WHEN
THEY WERE FOUND TO BE IN VIOLATION THOSE DHS REQUIREMENTS.


14. UAE NATIONALS NUMBER ABOUT 800,000 IN A COUNTRY WITH A
POPULATION OF ABOUT 4 MILLION. WORD OF MOUTH AMONG THE UAE
COMMUNITY TRAVELS QUICKLY. WHEN ONE UAE STUDENT ENCOUNTERS
A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ISSUANCE OF HIS VISA OR IS
DENIED, MANY PROSPECTIVE UAE STUDENTS HEAR ABOUT IT. THE
SAME HOLDS TRUE FOR INCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN AT THE US PORTS
OF ENTRY. WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL IS A UAE BUSINESSMAN OR
STUDENT, IF HE BELIEVES HE IS BEING TREATED UNJUSTLY,
UNFAIRLY OR WITH DISCRIMINATION, HIS STORY WILL TRAVEL
QUICKLY AMONG HIS COMPATRIOTS AND SOMETIMES BE BLOWN OUT OF
PROPORTION. MANY PROSPECTIVE BUSINESSMAN, STUDENTS OR
TOURISTS HAVE DETERMINED IT IS NOT WORTH THE HASSLE AND
TROUBLE APPLYING FOR A VISA AND TRAVELING TO THE UNITED
STATES. MANY HAVE OPTED FOR EUROPE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
IN PARTICULAR. THE BRITISH CONSUL IN ABU DHABI HAS REPORTED
THAT VISA APPLICATIONS FROM UAE NATIONALS HAVE INCREASED 70
PERCENT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY
HAS OPENED AN EDUCATION ADVISING OFFICE TO FACILITATE UAE
STUDENTS WANTING TO STUDY IN AUSTRALIA. THESE OTHER
MISSIONS WILL NOTICE THE GRADUAL RISE OF OUR UAE NATIONAL
VISA APPLICANTS. THIS MAY FURTHER COMPLICATE OUR EFFORTS TO
ATTRACT UAE TRAVELERS BACK TO THE US AS THESE MISSIONS WILL
REDOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THEIR OWN HIGH LEVELS OF
UAE APPLICANTS. HOWEVER, UAE NATIONALS THAT HAVE TRAVELED
TO OTHER WESTERN NATIONS FOR EDUCATION OR BUSINESS STILL
COMMUNICATE TO US THEIR DESIRE TO RETURN TO THE UNITED
STATES. TO THAT END, THE MISSION IS TAKING CONCRETE STEPS
TO NURTURE THE NASCENT GROUP OF UAE NATIONALS THAT ARE NOW
ENCOUNTERING EXPEDITIOUS VISA PROCESSING AND WHOSE
EXPERIENCE WILL BE SHARED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.


15. THE EMBASSY AND THE CONSULATE IN DUBAI HAVE UNDERTAKEN
A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO EXPLAIN THE RULES OF VISAS
TO TARGET AUDIENCES, SUCH AS STUDENTS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK ON CORRECTING WIDESPREAD MISPERCEPTIONS. OUTREACH
EFFORTS HAVE INCLUDED PRESENTATIONS, BRIEFINGS AND QUESTION
AND ANSWER SESSIONS WITH TRAVEL BUSINESS GROUPS, SCHOOLS,
MEDICAL GROUPS, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND MEDIA GROUPS.
MISSION EMPLOYEES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY --
FROM THE VISA INTERVIEW WINDOW TO DIPLOMATIC RECEPTIONS --
TO ADVERTISE THE GOOD NEWS ON IMPROVED VISA PROCESSING.
AND THE MISSION HAS A SPECIAL FOCUS ON STUDENT APPLICANTS.
BOTH THE EMBASSY AND CONSULATE INTERVIEW STUDENTS ON A WALK-
IN BASIS. IN DOING SO, WE CAN INFLUENCE THE POWERFUL YET
DOUBLE-EDGED MEDIUM OF WORD OF MOUTH, WHICH AS MENTIONED
ABOVE SERVED TO MAGNIFY NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES AND CAN NOW
HELP PUBLICIZE THE IMPROVEMENTS WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE AND
CORRECT THE MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT TRAVEL TO THE UNITED
STATES AND THE US VISA PROCESS. WHILE THE RETURN TO PRE-
9/11 TRAVEL PATTERNS BY UAE NATIONALS WILL TAKE TIME, WE
ARE COMMITTED TO USING ALL THE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO GET
OUT THE SECRETARY'S MESSAGE OF "SECURE BORDERS/OPEN DOORS."
ALBRIGHT