Page 510 - Truncal States to UAE_Neat

Notes to Chapter Nine

which cater for the non-Arab speaking expatriate population.
150 By 1979 all law courts of the UAE except for those of Dubai were the
responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Justice. Islamic Affairs and
Auqaf.
151 As was the case in March 1980 when Ra’s al Khaimah and Sharjah
announced the amalgamation of their departments of electricity and
water with the federal organisation because the cost of fuel for the
power stations had risen by a further 30 per cent.
152 See Currency Board Bulletin, vol. 5, no. 2 June 1979. pp. 59ff, and
Statistical Section tables B.l, and B.3. pp. 149-51, covering the years
1977 and 1978.
153 In 1977/78 Abu Dhabi’s oil production accounted for about 80 per cent
of the total UAE production, while Sharjah’s declining production
accounted for about 1.2 per cent. The remainder is made up by Dubai.
154 A few days after the jealously guarded secret of the vast Jabal ’Ali plans
was unveiled, an article appeared in the Financial Times, 6 August 1976,
under the headline "Abu Dhabi’s Industrial Ambitions", speculating
with regard to Ruwais that "Plans for this remote area of Abu Dhabi
have the potential to outshine anything planned by Dubai. With its
abundant energy supplies and natural deep water harbour it could
become a major industrial centre in the Gulf."
155 At the height of the Lebanese civil war it was reported by the local press
that no less than 10,000 passports of many nationalities were left at Abu
Dhabi airport alone. The owners who entered on a visitor’s visa on the
understanding that they would claim their passports again upon
leaving the country within 96 hours, instead, sought employment.
156 The latest attempt to regularise the employment of immigrants de­
monstrated the difficulties of accommodating the various interests.
Regulations which were in principle sanctioned by the Council of
Ministers, finalised in detail by the Ministry of Labour and Social
Affairs, were applied without much warning in February 1980 without
the formal approval of the Supreme Council, and while the two
authorities competent to issue decrees, the President and the Vice
President, were out of the country. The Ruler of Abu Dhabi conceded to a
petition by Abu Dhabi’s Chamber of Commerce, and he extended the
period of grace allowed for people to regularise their situation. See
Emirates News, 29 January 1980 and after.
157 During February 1980 the Finance and Industry Ministry finalised the
draft of a law regulating industrial activities in the country. It envisages
a committee which would study applications from citizens or 51 per cent
locally-owned firms to set up industries. Criteria for approval would be
"the project’s ability to fit in with economic and social plans and the
ability to satisfy local consumption needs and replacing imports,
according to Emirates News of 20 February 1980.
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