BARRELS OF GENEROSITY

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000402 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID ECON AE SUBJECT: BARRELS OF GENEROSITY Sensitive but unclassified. Please Protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) With oil prices soaring and petrol-rich Abu Dhabi enjoying a booming economy, new building projects are rampant, standards of living for UAE citizens are well above comfortable, and an envious expatriate community enjoys what perks it can glean from local largesse. Making ends meet at a standard that even attempts to "keep up with the al-Joneses" is increasingly beyond the reach of many. Inside sources, however, indicate that the government of Abu Dhabi is about to share a perk sure to boost the spirits of the downtrodden -- helping foreign diplomats upgrade their transportation. ¶2. (SBU) The UAE has always enforced a strict vehicle inspection regime, with the slightest dent requiring a police report and expeditious repairs. Foreign diplomats do their best to follow the regime, but often take small liberties on the theory that "petty infringement," falling under the category of "diplomatic immunity," is forgivable, and drive cars somewhat below the prevailing host country standard. Some have even been seen washing each other's cars to keep down expenses and keep up appearances. In the interest of hosting a presentably "well-wheeled" diplomatic corps, the Abu Dhabi Executive Council is reportedly poised to step in with a program to subsidize car purchases for accredited diplomats in the emirate. Under this visionary initiative, arriving diplomats will receive vouchers toward purchase of one of the more expensive Toyota dune bashers, but may also be able to leverage these funds to upgrade to more conservative models of their choice. Furthermore, long and faithful service in the Emirate is anticipated to boost the generosity of the allowance. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: This is the one time that the U.S. Embassy may be the beneficiary of Abu Dhabi largesse without extending the tin cup -- the staple of demarche regimes of late -- with Embassy morale expected to escalate accordingly. If only it were not April 1. End comment. QUINN