UAE WOMEN SEE A PROMISING BUT CHALLENGING FUTURE

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
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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
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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
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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
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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