Leaked UAE Emails: Yousef al-Otaiba Criticises Trump

The latest round of leaked emails of the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to the US reveal repeated criticism by the diplomat of then-US presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The Huffington Post, the US media outlet that received the latest series of emails, said they showed Yousef al-Otaiba denigrating Trump and others with officials close to then-President Barack Obama.

UAE Email Leak: 'On What Planet Can Trump Be President?'

The latest round of leaked emails of the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to the US reveal repeated criticism by the diplomat of US President Donald Trump.

Diplomatic Spat: Several Gulf States Cut Ties with Qatar for Allegedly ‘Supporting Terrorism’

The Middle East has descended into a huge diplomatic row. Four Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE have severed diplomatic ties with Qatar. While Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have also closed their borders with the country. They accuse Doha of supporting terrorism and interfering in the internal affairs of Arab states.

GCC Rift: Five Nations Cut Diplomatic Ties with Qatar

The Qatari government says it regrets the unjustified decision by four countries to cut diplomatic ties. Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also imposing an air, sea, and land embargo. The Saudis accuse Qatar of supporting extremism and radicalism as well as media incitement, which Qatar denies. Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra explains.

BBC Documentary - Abu Dhabi, UAE

BBC Presenter-Reporter Amandeep Bhangu | Current Affairs Documentary | Broadcast internationally | The UAE is often thought of in terms of oil wealth and conspicuous consumption. But the new name of the game is economic and cultural diversification. So is it really changing? Amandeep Bhangu examines by interviewing Emiratis and expats who work in the capital, Abu Dhabi.

UAE Direct »

Couple 'Detained in UAE for Sex Outside Marriage'

BBC: A South African man and his Ukrainian fiancee have been detained in the United Arab Emirates for unlawful sex, a relative says.

Emlyn Culverwell‚ 29, and Iryna Nohai, 27, were reportedly arrested after a doctor discovered Ms Nohai, who had stomach cramps, was pregnant.

They were arrested for sex outside of marriage, which is illegal in the UAE.

Mr Culverwell's mother has pleaded for their release, saying "the only thing they did wrong was fall in love". » | Wednesday, March 8, 2017

‪UAE: Ferraris Fill Dubai as Enthusiasts Show Off Their Supercars‬

Ferrari owners from across the UAE gathered to show-off one of the world's most iconic sports car brands, in Dubai's Jumeirah district, Saturday.

Ahmed Mansoor Speech - Martin Ennals Award 2015

UAE Declares Three Days of Mourning after Death of Dubai Ruler’s Son

Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Al Maktoum was a keen
sportsman and horse racing enthusiast.

THE GUARDIAN: Sheikh Rashid of United Arab Emirates, a graduate of Sandhurst, dies of heart attack aged 33

The United Arab Emirates has declared a three-day period of mourning after the son of Dubai’s ruler died of a heart attack.

Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum died aged 33, the UAE’s state news agency, WAM, reported. » | Associated Press | Saturday, September 19, 2015

Britain Pledges to Help Thousands of Refugees – But Rich Arab States Have Taken In NONE

EXPRESS: SUPER-RICH Arab states have been branded "shameful" after it emerged they have refused to give asylum to a single Syrian refugee.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates – all relatively close to war-ravaged Syria and said by commentators to have the capacity to quickly house refugees – are yet to take any of the four million Syrians fleeing the region.

The news comes as record numbers embark on the life-threatening journey to Europe – and packed refugee camps in Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt come under threat from the Islamic State advance.

And although the tragic death of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi has seen European attitudes to the crisis change overnight, campaigners have slammed Gulf states' unwillingness to change tack.

Syrians must apply for tourist visas and work permits in order to have any hope of starting a new life in the Gulf – with few of the costly documents ever granted.

Amnesty International's Head of Refugee and Migrants' Rights, Sherif Elsayid-Ali, said: "The records of Gulf countries is absolutely appalling, in terms of actually showing compassion and sharing the responsibility of this crisis... It is a disgrace." » | Patrick Maguire | Saturday, September 5, 2015

UAE President Stable after Stroke

THE HINDU: The President of the United Arab Emirates suffered a stroke, but is now in a stable condition, the official news agency WAM reported on Saturday.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al—Nahyan “suffered a stroke on Friday morning. He immediately underwent a surgical operation. » | DPA | Saturday, January 25, 2014

Blow for Britain and BAE Systems as UAE Rules Out Eurofighter Deal

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain fails to seal multi-billion pound deal to sell 60 Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighters to the United Arab Emirates

Defence group BAE's hopes of exporting its Typhoon fighter have been dealt a blow after the United Arab Emirates ended negotiations about buying the jet.

The Gulf nation had been in talks over a multi-billion pound deal to buy 60 of the twin-engine supersonic fighters as it looks to upgrade its air force.

"The UAE have advised that they have elected not to proceed with these proposals at this time," Britain's biggest defence company said in a statement as the market closed on Thursday.

BAE and the British government had been in discussion with the UAE "regarding a range of defence and security capabilities including the potential supply of Typhoon aircraft".

"We put a world-class proposal on the table but the UAE has elected not to proceed at this time," a spokesman for the company said. » | Alan Tovey | Thursday, December 19, 2013

'Saudi Money to Egypt Will Go to New Pharaoh, Not People'

Egypt will receive up to 8 billion dollars in loans and aid from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as part of an aid package to help Egypt's devastated economy. For more RT is joined by contributor Afshin Rattansi, in London.

UAE Islamists Convicted for Plotting Government Coup

BBC: Sixty-eight Islamists in the United Arab Emirates have been jailed over allegations of a plot to overthrow the government.

Many of those convicted were imprisoned for at least seven years. Another 26, including 13 women, were acquitted.

The 94 defendants were accused of trying to seize power in the Emirates.

The verdict ended a trial criticised by human rights groups, which said the judge failed to investigate "credible" allegations of torture of defendants.

The defendants included human rights lawyers, university lecturers and students.

A majority of those convicted were given jail sentences between seven and 10 years, reports said. Eight defendants no longer in the country were sentenced to 15 years.

The convictions were condemned by Human Rights Watch. Nick McGeehan, the organisation's Gulf researcher, said they represented "another low point for the UAE's worsening human rights record".

"These verdicts cement the UAE's reputation as a serious abuser of basic human rights," Mr McGeehan added. (+ video) » | Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Dubai Expat Acquitted Over Sending Text Message Islam Insult
THE NATIONAL: DUBAI // An expatriate who was accused of sending a text message insulting Islam and the Prophet Mohammed to a colleague was acquitted this morning.

DM, a Briton, was accused of sending the message to his fellow sales executive KS, 24, after a business trip to Saudi Arabia in March last year.

The sales executive claimed that the Briton had reprimanded him for performing Umra after work hours during the trip, telling him that this was not an approved company activity.

When they returned to Dubai on March 15, the sales executive resigned. He claimed that two days later the Briton sent him a text message that insulted Islam and the Prophet Mohammed and warned him that he "knew lots of sheikhs". » | Salam Al Amir | Thursday, May 16, 2013

Saudi Arabia Reportedly Deports Men for Being ‘Too Handsome’
TIME: It’s a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem for three men who have reportedly been deported from Saudi Arabia for being “too handsome.”

The men were visiting Saudi Arabia from the United Arab Emirates to attend the annual Jenadrivah Heritage & Cultural Festival in Riyadh. They were apparently minding their own business when members of Saudi Arabia’s religion police entered the pavilion and forcibly removed them from the festival. Their offense? They were considered “too handsome” to stay for fear that women would find them irresistible, according to the Arabic-language newspaper Elaph. » | Melissa Locker | Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Omani Culture in the Heart of the UAE
Deep inside the United Arab Emirates, there's a town called Madha - except the community is not part of the UAE.Because of a decision taken 70 years ago, Madha belongs to a different country, Oman, and maintains its own unique character. Al Jazeera's Andrew Hopkins reports from Madha.

David Cameron Heads to Gulf in Bid to Sell Typhoon Fighter Jets

THE GUARDIAN: Low-key mission will also attempt to patch up relations with leaders in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

David Cameron will embark on a low-key arms trip to the Gulf on Monday in an attempt to persuade regional powers upset by Britain's response to the Arab spring to buy more than 100 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. The deals could be worth more than £6bn to Britain.

The prime minister will fly to a major UAE military airbase on a mission to patch up relations with leaders in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where major British businesses such as BP and BAE have important interests.

Cameron will join forces with senior political and military figures from the UAE to inspect Typhoons at Al Minhad airbase, which is used as an air bridge for British forces flying between the UK and Afghanistan. Britain hopes to persuade Gulf leaders to buy 100 Typhoons on top of the 72 bought by Saudi Arabia.

The looming confrontation between Iran and its regional adversaries will also feature heavily in Cameron's talks with leaders in the Sunni-dominated Gulf countries. Britain could base Typhoons, built by a European consortium that includes BAE Systems, in the UAE if relations with Tehran deteriorate.

The prime minister, who is irritated by claims that he uses his overseas trips to sell defence equipment to countries with questionable human rights records, has made arrangements to minimise the media coverage of the trip. » | Nicholas Watt and Ian Black | Monday, November 05, 2012

Gulf States Urge Citizens to Leave Lebanon over Syria Fears
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon owing to fears the Syrian conflict is spilling over the border.

The warning by the four Arab states comes after a series of kidnappings of Sunni Muslims by Shias.

On Wednesday, rioters blocked the road to Beirut airport, as dozens ofSyrians were kidnapped and their shops vandalised in violence that triggered orders from Gulf nations for citizens to leave Lebanon immediately.

Rioters set fire to tyres on the road, while an Air France flight was diverted to Damascus for refuelling before flying on to Larnaca in Cyprus because of the insecurity, apparently triggered by unconfirmed reports over the fate of Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria in May.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also formally suspended Syria’s membership in protest at the ongoing violence. » | Thursday, August 16, 2012

UAE Considers Crack Down on Skimpy Dressers
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Authorities in Abu Dhabi are considering introducing a national law that would enforce a dress code in public places within the UAE.

The debate about preventing skimpy attire being worn in shopping malls and on the streets has recently been brought to the fore by various campaign groups. The issue has also been fiercely debated in the social media.

The proposed law is currently with the cabinet after a recommendation from the Federal National Council (FNC) was backed by Dr Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, on Tuesday.

The politicians involved have so far agreed that expatriate residents are most likely to walk around in inappropriate clothing, rather than tourists.

“In the UAE we are a conservative society. We hold on to our traditions. I speak as the head of the national tourism council and our powers are limited”, said Dr Al Owais, reported in the newspaper The National. » | Thursday, June 14, 2012