Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ABUDHABI5039
2005-12-14 13:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION:UAE SOCIETY THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 08/27/2006 05:03:03 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLAS ABU DHABI 05039 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: PAO INFO: ECON POL AMB DCM DISSEMINATION: PAO CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: PAO:HOLSIN-WINDECKER DRAFTED: PAO:HNOMAN CLEARED: PAO:WWROBERTSON VZCZCADI470 OO RUEHC RUENAAA RUEKJCS RUEHZM RUEHLO RHRMDAB RHWSMRC DE RUEHAD #5039 3481359 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 141359Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2762 RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0960 RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RHWSMRC/MCF01 SACCS USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 005039
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA;
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR MCKUNE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION:UAE SOCIETY THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 005039
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA;
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR MCKUNE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION:UAE SOCIETY THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS
1. Summary: Arabic language online forums are becoming
increasingly popular as a means of expressing opinions about
current events. Contributions to these online forums provide a
window on what is of interest to the Arabic street. End Summary.
2. The UAE has several dynamic Arabic language online forums.
Most of the content in these forums is contributed by UAE
nationals. Because participants can publish anonymously, these
forums provide an outlet for topics normally too sensitive for
open discussion. Such issues include: unemployment among UAE
nationals, poor infrastructure in some Emirates, social issues,
expatriates in the UAE, and politics. Postings to these online
forums provide an interesting look at current topics of interest
in UAE society. The following is a review of selected issues
being discussed in the popular UAE on-line forum "UAE For Ever."
3. Under the title "Filthy programming from a filthy TV channel
for filthy audience" a posting criticizes Abu Dhabi TV
programming and says "the TV tries to imitate the Christian type
of programming which is full of lewdness".
A comment on this posting says, "Abu Dhabi TV has nothing to do
with the UAE [culture] except its name".
4. Another posting lists a number of complaints in a sarcastic
poetic style. The issues include rising oil prices, crowded
streets in the country, the performance of the Marriage Fund,and
nepotism.
5. Another posting complains that a Dubai Media City organization
refused to organize a study tour for a group of female UAE
students from UAE University. The same organization, the posting
claims, received participants from an "indecent" program called
Stars of the Gulf, which is a local version of Star Academy.
6. A posting asks, "Why are there so many Indians and Pakistanis
in the Gulf countries?" The posting adds, "I believe they are
behind the [social] corruption in our countries because most of
these Indians and Pakistanis are pagans".
7. ON THE FEDERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL (FNC) ELECTIONS, A NUMBER OF
POSTINGS ARE CRITICAL OF THE PROPOSED ELECTIONS. ONE POSTING
SAYS "LET'S BE FRANK, THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE CANDIDATES
INITIALLY APPROVED BY EMIRATES RULERS. THIS MEANS CANDIDATES
SHOULD "KISS THE ASSES" OF THE RULERS FIRST TO RUN FOR THE FNC.
THIS MEANS THE ELECTIONS WILL BE HOSNI MUBARAK STYLE".
Another posting stated, "The elections are just propaganda and a
waste of resources".
8. A posting about roads and streets in Al-Fujaira says, "Even
though Fujaira government has a lot of money, they don't even
pave streets. Some UAE nationals avoid driving in some streets in
Fujaira because they are afraid their cars will be broken because
of the unpaved streets. Fujaira government should stop hoarding
the money".
9. Several postings tackle the issue of unemployment among UAE
nationals and accuse UAE officials of putting obstacles in front
of those seeking employment. Recent postings refer to the
project to build a new airport in Dubai and how such a project
could employ a large number of UAE nationals. Comments on this
issue are mostly critical and suggest that these projects will
create more jobs for Indians.
QUINN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA;
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR MCKUNE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION:UAE SOCIETY THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS
1. Summary: Arabic language online forums are becoming
increasingly popular as a means of expressing opinions about
current events. Contributions to these online forums provide a
window on what is of interest to the Arabic street. End Summary.
2. The UAE has several dynamic Arabic language online forums.
Most of the content in these forums is contributed by UAE
nationals. Because participants can publish anonymously, these
forums provide an outlet for topics normally too sensitive for
open discussion. Such issues include: unemployment among UAE
nationals, poor infrastructure in some Emirates, social issues,
expatriates in the UAE, and politics. Postings to these online
forums provide an interesting look at current topics of interest
in UAE society. The following is a review of selected issues
being discussed in the popular UAE on-line forum "UAE For Ever."
3. Under the title "Filthy programming from a filthy TV channel
for filthy audience" a posting criticizes Abu Dhabi TV
programming and says "the TV tries to imitate the Christian type
of programming which is full of lewdness".
A comment on this posting says, "Abu Dhabi TV has nothing to do
with the UAE [culture] except its name".
4. Another posting lists a number of complaints in a sarcastic
poetic style. The issues include rising oil prices, crowded
streets in the country, the performance of the Marriage Fund,and
nepotism.
5. Another posting complains that a Dubai Media City organization
refused to organize a study tour for a group of female UAE
students from UAE University. The same organization, the posting
claims, received participants from an "indecent" program called
Stars of the Gulf, which is a local version of Star Academy.
6. A posting asks, "Why are there so many Indians and Pakistanis
in the Gulf countries?" The posting adds, "I believe they are
behind the [social] corruption in our countries because most of
these Indians and Pakistanis are pagans".
7. ON THE FEDERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL (FNC) ELECTIONS, A NUMBER OF
POSTINGS ARE CRITICAL OF THE PROPOSED ELECTIONS. ONE POSTING
SAYS "LET'S BE FRANK, THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE CANDIDATES
INITIALLY APPROVED BY EMIRATES RULERS. THIS MEANS CANDIDATES
SHOULD "KISS THE ASSES" OF THE RULERS FIRST TO RUN FOR THE FNC.
THIS MEANS THE ELECTIONS WILL BE HOSNI MUBARAK STYLE".
Another posting stated, "The elections are just propaganda and a
waste of resources".
8. A posting about roads and streets in Al-Fujaira says, "Even
though Fujaira government has a lot of money, they don't even
pave streets. Some UAE nationals avoid driving in some streets in
Fujaira because they are afraid their cars will be broken because
of the unpaved streets. Fujaira government should stop hoarding
the money".
9. Several postings tackle the issue of unemployment among UAE
nationals and accuse UAE officials of putting obstacles in front
of those seeking employment. Recent postings refer to the
project to build a new airport in Dubai and how such a project
could employ a large number of UAE nationals. Comments on this
issue are mostly critical and suggest that these projects will
create more jobs for Indians.
QUINN