UAE VICE-PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER UNVEILS NEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000635

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP
STATE FOR DRL
STATE FOR USTR DBELL AND AROSENBERG

E.O. 12958: DECLASSIFY ON 04/16/2017
TAGS: PGOV ELAB ECON PREL PHUM EINV SCUL AE
SUBJECT: UAE VICE-PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER UNVEILS NEW
GOVERNMENT STRATEGY

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON FOR REASONS 1.4(b & d).


1. (C) Summary: On April 17, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
(MbR),Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of
Dubai, presented a new government strategy to UAE President Sheikh
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The plan, developed by the UAE Cabinet,
covered six areas: 1) social development, 2) economic development,
3) government sector development, 4) justice and safety, 5)
infrastructure, and 6) rural development. MbR highlighted key areas
of the strategic plan at a presentation attended by an audience of
over a thousand, including UAE senior government officials, police
and military, and the diplomatic corps. During his presentation, MbR
pointedly criticized the UAE Labor and Justice ministers,
environmental officials, and the poor state of education standards in
the UAE, leading some members of the audience to speculate that the
Labor and Justice ministers might be "on their way out." (Note:
This is the first time the UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister has
publicly briefed President Khalifa in front of an audience that
included non-UAEG officials. End note.) End Summary.


2. (U) On April 17, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MbR),
Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,
presented a new, six-pillar government strategy to President Khalifa.
The social development pillar focuses on improving the educational
system, upgrading healthcare services, rectifying the population
imbalance between UAE nationals and foreigners and increasing social
welfare and community development programs. The economic development
pillar lays out a plan to stimulate economic growth and strengthen
the competitiveness of the UAE economy. The government sector
development pillar aims to improve government services based on
internationally recognized "best practices." The Justice and Safety
pillar seeks to modernize the judicial system and formulate a
National Emergency System. The Infrastructure pillar lays out a plan
to improve roads and housing and ensure adequate electricity and
water services. The Rural Area Development pillar focuses on
improving the quality of basic services and living conditions in
less-developed areas of the UAE and providing training and funding
for new businesses in those areas.


3. (SBU) During his presentation, MbR sharply criticized two
ministers: Minister of Labor Dr. Ali Al Ka'abi and Minister of
Justice Mohammad Al-Daheri. MbR noted that there are over 300,000
illegal workers in the UAE in "non-productive" jobs and also
criticized the Labor Ministry for failing to rectify the "population
imbalance," which appeared to be a reference to the presence of
foreign workers in the UAE and a lack of progress in the government's
"Emiratization" program. MbR continued by saying, "The Labor
Ministry's focus throughout the past eighteen months was erroneous",
criticizing the requirement for UAE companies to hire Emirati Public
Relations Officers, when the Emirati human capital did not yet exist
to fill these jobs. MbR also sharply criticized the Minister of
Justice, Mohammad Al-Daheri, stating that "the Ministry of Justice
was twenty years behind." MbR added that he had seen photos snapped
by "secret cellphone cameras" of large stacks of files piled up on
chairs and desks within the courts, referring to the significant
backlog of cases in the courts.


4. (SBU) MbR also expressed his dismay with a lack of progress for
the environmental sector. His criticisms of the education sector
were mainly focused on the UAE's public school system's substandard
curriculum and teaching methods, rather than education sector
officials. MbR denied that the problem was insufficient funding,
noting that allocations for public education have significantly
increased in each of the past several years.


5. (C) Comment: MbR's public criticisms were unusual for the UAE, a
culture which puts a strong premium on not subjecting individuals to
public fingerpointing; MbR's remarks caused quite a buzz in the large
audience. After the official presentation, Ambassador attended lunch
with several UAEG officials and UAE businessleaders. Obaid Al Tayer,
President of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told
Ambassador he believed the Ministers of Labor and Justice could well
tender their resignations as a result of MbR's remarks. End
comment.

SISON