Fujairah Collage

Fujairah Collage
Some distinctive landmarks in Fujairah

Monday, June 20, 2011

Fujairah Municipality Fosters Community Service Among Students

The Fujairah Municipality participated recently in a project to foster community service in the emirate.

It was undertaken under the umbrella of the Takatof Voluntary Social Program of the Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy.

Takatof has for years fostered the spirit of volunteerism among all age groups of society.

The Department of Public Health worked in collaboration with the Sakamkam School for Basic education in which the students were able to show their appreciation to labourers that serve the community.

The project, which has been running throughout the 2010-2011 academic year, has been entitled, “Your Welfare is Your Self-seeking.”

The project involved the distribution of more than 50 meals to labourers in Fujairah. The presentations were made at the Fujairah Corniche.

The students participating ranged from 8 to 10 and the purpose of the exercise was to instill within them a spirit of appreciation.

The students were reminded that such a gesture was in line with the Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) who encouraged workers to persevere and tend to the service of society.

Representatives of the school thanked the men for the contribution that they make to the community life of Fujairah. In turn, the students were thanked for their service, by representatives of the Fujairah Municipality.

Engineer Mohammed Saif Afkham, the General Manager of the Fujairah Municipality, said that collaborating with the school in this project was important for highlighting the service role of the municipality.

The municipality will continue to work on a range of projects to extend the service dimension and offer appreciation to the many people who serve the society in Fujairah.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Images: Photos courtesy of the Fujairah Municipality.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Fresh Dates Appearing in Fujairah and Kalba Souqs and Shops

The first dates for the year are appearing in Fujairah and Kalba souqs and supermarkets.

They are near enough to full size, some are still green and unripe (kimri) while others are changing colour and are crunchy to eat (khalal).

At these early stages of development they have a distinctive taste but they are regarded as a delicacy by locals and a foretaste of good things to come.

Dates are a good source of Vitamin C and they give a good energy boost in this unusually hot weather.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Images: These photos were taken at the Kalba fruit and vegetable souq this week. Date vendors were offering a free taste and serving customers as they entered the front doors of the souq.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Mangroves and Sidr Trees in Fujairah and Kalba

A person doing research on the food that the local people of Fujairah and Kalba ate hundreds and thousands of years ago has asked some questions.

I wonder if you can help?

1. Have you ever seen mangrove trees (qurm in Arabic) with fruit in this area and do local people still eat them? The Fujairah and Kalba fruit markets don’t appear to stock mangrove fruit in their souks but maybe this is regarded as a wild or traditional fruit.

2. If you have seen mangrove fruit, when does the fruit ripen in Fujairah and Kalba?

3. Have you ever seen sidr trees around Fujairah and Kalba? This tree has an ancient tradition and the fruit and honey that comes from it is much sought after, especially in Yemen.

4. If so, when does the sidr fruit ripen in Fujairah and Kalba?

(See pictures of the sidr fruit or berries at this link)

Honey

5. Does honey come from the mangrove blossom in Fujairah and Kalba and if so, when?

6. Does honey come from the sidr blossom in Fujairah and Kalba and if so, at what times of the year?

If you know one or more answers to the questions, do send me an email. The researcher would be grateful to hear what you have to say.

Geoff Pound

geoffpound(at)gmail.com

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Images: Mangrove fruit (courtesy of Wikipedia).

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Dividing the Day into Two in Fujairah and Multiplying the Fun

If you’re a mad dog or an Englishman going out in the midday sun in Fujairah with the intention of doing some shopping, you may well be out of luck.

While some shops and Colleges keep their doors open from 9 to 5 or thereabouts, many government offices close finally for the day at 2pm or they close at 2 and open again at 4.40 and go until 7 or 7.30pm.

Every business is different in terms of their opening hours.

The Al Khaleej Bookshop in the Fujairah posts their opening hours on the shop window (pictured).

Why Divide the Day?

In bigger UAE cities like Dubai where commuting takes forever, many shoppers and workers resist the idea of dividing the day, going home and returning for the second half.

In Fujairah, a city that is growing and where the streets are slowing, it still is quite feasible to keep to the Emirati tradition of a day with two halves.

On a day like today when it is 45+ degrees at 1pm, it’s only the ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’ who enjoy walking around the hot pavements of the city.

While dividing the day into two has been a long tradition in hot countries like the Emirates, the Englishman, Winston Churchill, was a great exponent of this art. He reckoned he got more done by cutting the day into two and he worked late into the night.

Emirati Mathematics

Attending a conference the other day in a Fujairah hotel we broke for a sumptuous lunch. Nearing the end of it someone asked if a rest period was on the programme after lunch. Our hopes were dashed when we were told by one of the organizers that we had only 5 minutes before the next session.

I said, “What a pity. I like the practice of the Emirati siesta when you can have a hearty meal and a sleep.”

To which one of the Emirati delegates replied, “Not just a hearty meal but hearty sex too!”

Dividing the day to subtract the stress and multiply the fun and the family.

Emirati mathematics at its best.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Single People ‘Living Together’ and Being Together in the UAE

The much-publicised legal case of Brisbane woman, Alicia Gali, is raising important questions about whose responsibility it is to inform tourists and those coming to work in the Emirates.

Alicia Gali is suing the Australian Government and her former employer, Fujairah resort, Le Méridien, for failing to adequately inform her about the very different laws in the UAE that led to her twelve month imprisonment in 2008-2009.

These legal processes will probably take months to arrive at a verdict but Gali’s case and others like it are stimulating articles in UAE newspapers about the distinctive features of the UAE Penal Code.

The Gulf News has a helpful article in today’s edition (9 June 2011) about some of these laws in the UAE which relate to issues like these:

  • Living together as an unmarried couple
  • Sharing a house with an unrelated person of the opposite sex
  • Mixed flatting
  • The application of Sharia Law to those who aren’t Muslims
  • Consensual sex between unmarried people
  • Being in a car with an unrelated person of the opposite sex

Link

Living Together in the UAE? Think Twice, Gulf News, 9 June 2011.

Related

Alicia Gali Rape Case Puts Fujairah Back in the Australian News, FIF, 7 June 2011.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Image: Courtesy of Gulf News.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Historic Petro-Chemical Fire-Fighting Exercise in Fujairah

Most fire fighting exercises are simulated events without fire but today’s fight against a burning oil tank was a first for Fujairah and the UAE.

Risk & Competence

Major Ali Juma Al Rashdi, Manager of Operations at the Civil Defence, said that today’s demonstration was about generating awareness in Fujairah about the risks of the growing petro-chemical industry in the emirate but more importantly it was to show that the fire brigades and emergency services were capable and equal to the task.

Combining Forces

Mr. Nabeel Ali, Chief Fire and Safety Compliance Officer for the ENOC Corporation said that while this was a Civil Defence drill there were many other groups giving support. Each of the Fujairah-based oil companies had three to five of their fire safety officers participating in this morning’s exercise.

On the Beach

The exercise took place on the raised sandy platform south of Fujairah’s Umbrella Beach and within sight of the Beach Motel and the Port of Fujairah.

A 7.5 metre high tank with a 5 metre diameter was filled with 80,000 litres of heavy oil and another 30,000 litres were poured outside the tank within a raised band. While the practice tank was not the size of the oil bunkers emerging beyond the port, this fire gave a good idea of how well local fire fighters and Civil Defence personnel could apply their skills to extinguishing the flames.

The Gallery

A ‘Who’s Who’ from the Fujairah Police, the Civil Defence, the Fujairah Municipality and the city’s oil industry rolled up to a tent adjacent to the oil tank. In the shade, sitting in armchairs while sipping fruit juice they prepared to watch the firefighters do battle in the scorching heat.

Shortly after the arrival of His Highness, Sheikh Saleh Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Chairman, Department of Industry and Economy, the tank was ignited.

Spectacular and Toxic

Immediately the dark, toxic clouds bellowed up from the tank and blew towards the port. The soaring flames were aggressive and spectacular. Minutes after ignition, the sirens of the fire engines could be heard and in no time the regular appliances, as well as some engines with telescopic fire booms, were on the site.

'If You Can’t Stand the Heat'

One of the challenges of the exercise was to measure the intensity of the heat at various distances from the raging fire and to evaluate the capacity of the firefighters to withstand this heat and over what period of time. Wearing the fire protection suits in 44 degree heat is a stress for the body let alone doing vigorous exercise around the blazing fire.

The UAE fire brigades are most familiar with civil fires but they have little real experience of industrial fires, hence the value of a fire drill with an oil fire.

Evaluating Success

Mr. Nabeel Ali said that measuring the ability of the firefighters to put out the fire would be obvious during the estimated 30 minute exercise but a thorough evaluation by the key players in the next few days will be helpful for learning how the exercise went and determining how systems can be improved.

Mafi Mushkila

The firefighters used foam to put the fire out in 15 to 20 minutes and they did this with apparent ease. Mr. Nabeel Ali said, “Mafi Mushkila (No problems). I am pleased that the team did such a competent job.”

Mabrook!

Mabrook! Congratulations to the entire team for undertaking an historic first training drill and executing it in extreme heat.

Take a Look

Some photos from the firefighting exercise are posted in this photo album.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

'Drove my Chevy to the Levee, but the Levee was'…Flooded in Fujairah

A meeting was held this week (7 June 2011) at the Fujairah Municipality to discuss the potential impact of flooded levees on the surrounding area.

The engineers of the Ministry of Environment and Water, members of the Environment—Department of Environmental Protection at the Fujairah Municipality, expert consultants and those involved in disaster management discussed possibilities in the event of a major flood or the collapse of a dam in the emirate of Fujairah.

They thought about the movement, the speed and the height of a wall of water and its impact on different sites around Fujairah. They hoped that their outcomes might resource decision makers in urban planning and prepare disaster management teams to establish adequate contingency plans to face the risk of flooding.

The impact of climate change in the UAE was central to this discussion at the Fujairah Municipality.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Images: The experts and representatives of different groups who attended this strategic meeting.

They included Fujairah Municipality HE Salem Marh Director of the Department of Works and Agriculture, Engineer Ali Qasim, Director of Natural Resources, First Lieutenant Rashid Obaid Zouaydi of Police Fujairah, Mr. Salim Mohammed Al Naqbi, Mr. Mohammed Helal Zahmi of the National Commission for Disaster Management, Mr. Salem and Mr. Osama Awad from the Ministry of Environment and Water, Mohamed Osman and M. Ahmed Rashid Ali Abu Bakr Muhammad of the Ministry of Environment and Water in the Eastern Region and a number of departmental directors and heads of departments from the Municipality of Fujairah.

Fujairah Football Club Has New Car Park, Shops and Elephants

For months the Fujairah Football Club has been undergoing renovations both within the main grandstand building and in the car park within the establishment.

About a dozen shops have been created using both the land that fronts onto the road as well as the land down the southern side.

This looks like it will be a good money spinner for the club once the shops have been let and are doing business.

The road outside the football club has gone through a major overhaul with an elaborate speed hump, reddish paving stones all around, new date palms and other trees.

An extensive car park has been created, paved and painted on the south side of the club next to the hotel.

Near the road in this new car park a fountain has been established with a dozen elephants, some of which will dedicate their trunks to spouting forth the water.

Many people have remarked on the elephants wondering what they have to do with Arabia and thinking whether a display of camels might have been more appropriate to the local culture.

This fountain should be a sight to see once the water is flowing and the electricity is connected to light up the frollicking elephants at night.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Images: New shops at the front of the Fujairah Football Club and elephants galore!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Alicia Gali Rape Case Puts Fujairah Back in the Australian News

The next stage in the legal proceedings today by Alicia Gali has put ‘Fujairah’ front and centre in the Australian news.

The Brisbane woman, who worked as a salon manager at Fujairah’s Le Méridien Resort, was jailed for adultery in June 2008 after she reported to the UAE police that she had been drugged and raped by three or four male co-workers at Le Méridien.

Gali v Le Méridien

Ms Gali and her legal team have already been given the go-ahead to pursue legal action against the resort for failure of the company to protect her against assault and the legal consequences of reporting a rape case to the UAE police.

Gali v Commonwealth of Australia

Today’s step (7 June 2011) involved another pre-court procedure in which Gali’s team filed a claim in the Brisbane Supreme Court. Leave was sought to sue the Australian Government for an oversight by an Australian consular official to adequately inform Gali of the local laws that apply in the UAE. According to reports, the consular official told Gali about the drug laws but not the assault laws in the UAE.

Gali’s lawyer, Michelle James, was successful today in being granted leave to sue the Australian Government over Gali’s ordeal. Afterwards Ms James told a media conference in Brisbane that the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had failed in its obligations to Ms Gali which directly led to her being jailed.

“She should have been told, as a bare minimum, of the local laws that apply in the UAE,” Ms James said.

“In the UAE rape is not a crime unless it is witnessed by four adult male Muslim witnesses. Alicia wasn't told this. She certainly wasn't told that if she reported the brutal rape to the police that she ran the risk of being jailed for 12 months.”

The lawyer said DFAT information read by Ms Gali before she left for Dubai provided no warning of the consequences of reporting a sexual assault.

Government Responsibility

It will be interesting to see how this case plays out and what the court determines regarding the alleged failure of the Australian Government to inform Ms Gali of UAE laws.

How responsible is a government for briefing its citizens who travel to different countries? Is the familiarization with the laws of a land as much the responsibility of the person as the making of the decision to travel?

The Australian department currently provides information and ‘travel advice’ on almost 240 countries and the statements on the UAE appear both comprehensive and up-to-date (This information may have been different in 2008).

If in the detailed information provided on the UAE about terrorist threats, local travel laws, extreme temperatures, passports, drugs, rape, homosexuality, preaching, rude gestures and Ramadan rules, there is an omission to state that reporting a complaint of rape could lead to a charge of adultery and imprisonment, is the government guilty of giving deficient information and failing to adequately inform one of its citizens?

Will the Australian Government be spared from a 'Guilty' verdict because it includes in its travel advice such statements as these?

“When you are in the UAE be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you.

You should familiarise yourself with local laws before you travel.”

The Case Continues

All these questions about the culpability of the government, the employer and the individual will eventually be thrashed out in the courts of law. Hopefully the resolution will enable Ms Gali to heal and move on with her life.

The highlighting of this case by the Australia and international media will undoubtedly lead to further allegations of harsh treatment by the UAE justice system toward people who have been raped. The discussion and the verdict about who is responsible for preparing people to visit different countries will hopefully benefit travelers and consulates around the world.

Links

‘She Wasn’t Warned’, Brisbane Times, 7 June 2011 and parallel reports in Melbourne Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, ABC.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Image: Alicia Gali (Photo courtesy of The Sunday Mail, Queensland)

Monday, June 6, 2011

Developing Tourism in Fujairah and the East Coast of the UAE

Survey Findings

Several weeks ago readers of Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page were invited to participate in a market research survey conducted by Asma Ahmed and Khulood Saeed, second year Bachelor students at the Fujairah Women’s College (HCT).

These budding marketers have crunched the numbers and put together a Powerpoint Presentation to explain such things as what they were trying to discover, how they went about doing the survey, the people they were seeking to survey and their findings and recommendations.

What Do You Want to See?

While respondents want to see in Fujairah, animal shows (bull butting, camel racing etc), motor sports, tours of historic sites, beach events and sea activities the outstanding item that people desire is mountain activities (mountain tours, camping, mountain walks and mountain biking).

Exploring the Mountains

While on the mountain theme, there seemed to be good support for the establishment of a cable car in which people could go up and down the mountains and enjoy the magnificent scenery. What next? Bungee jumping?

Further Ideas

Other survey questions revealed what respondents wanted in terms of the quality of accommodation, the average length of stay in Fujairah and the East Coast, whether there should be regular business and entertainment events and the type of restaurants people enjoy most.

Tourism Video

In addition to the survey and the development of a wiki, Asma and Khulood put together a video of Fujairah’s tourist sites, hotels, restaurant and shopping possibilities.

Successful

When asked if she was happy with the project and the results of the survey, Asma said:

“Yes, of course. I’m very happy with the results because in this survey we found out what foreign and local people want to see in the East Coast of UAE. We went on three trips to take photos for the video which were in Masafi, Dibba and Fujairah. We explored different places on the East Coast. This project has helped us to know how to develop the tourism on the East Coast of the UAE and what local and foreign people expect to see.”

Mabrook! Well done to Asma and Khulood! Things are starting to look brighter for the future of Fujairah tourism.

Links

Have a look at the Powerpoint Presentation by Asma and Khulood.

Enjoy the video Asma and Khulood have produced entitled, ‘Tourism on the East Coast’.

Related

One of Fujairah’s Greatest Tourism Assets, FIF, 5 June 2011.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

One of Fujairah’s Greatest Tourism Assets

Much has been made of Fujairah’s status as the UAE’s ‘Getaway Destination’ but one of its greatest assets is the emirate’s proximity to Dubai’s burgeoning tourist gateway (pictured).

Top 10

Congratulations to Dubai for being ranked in the world’s top ten tourist destinations in 2011 (according to research commissioned and published by Mastercard).

Dubai is now #9 in the world in terms of international visitor arrivals after these cities:

1. London

2. Paris

3. Bangkok

4. Singapore

5. Hong Kong

6. Madrid

7. Istanbul

8. Frankfurt.

9. Dubai

10. Rome

Middle East’s Top Destination

Dubai is ranked the top destination in the Middle East and Africa region and is the only destination city in the Middle East that is in the world’s Top 20 by visitor arrivals.

8 Million!

Close to 8 million tourists are expected to visit Dubai in 2011.

This represents an annual increase of 17.3% which is the sixth best growth rate among the global Top Twenty.

These visitors are expected to spend $7.8 billion during their stay in Dubai!

Only 45 Minutes

Fujairah has been tagged as the ‘far-flung emirate’ and the perception that it is ‘out in the sticks’ has made many tourists think that it is too far to travel. The ‘boondocks’ label has made Fujairah appear primitive and rustic so why would tourists besotted with modern skyscrapers and tall towers bother to make the effort?

With the new super highway due to open in July 2011, the 90 minute journey to the east coast will soon become an easy 45 minute trip. For tourists who arrive in Dubai jetlagged after their 4 hour trip from Delhi, 7 hour flight from London or 15 hour over night haul from Sydney, the jaunt to Fujairah will become much more attractive.

The Fujairah International Airport is luring investors to Fujairah by hailing the new highway as being “only a 45 minute drive from a population of 4 million people.”

45 Minutes from 12 Million People

If businesses are making the claim of being “45 minutes away from 4 million customers,” the tourism industry in Fujairah needs to be shouting from the fort that the eastern emirate is only 45 minutes from 4 million residents plus 8 million international tourists!

‘UAE is So Much More’

Dubai has marketed itself so well that many foreigners know ‘Dubai’ better than the ‘UAE’. Fujairah needs a marketing campaign to let these 8 million tourists know that the UAE is much more than Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Much Work to Do

Fujairah needs more than a marketing campaign to grab a slice of the 8 million tourists and capture a chunk of the 4 million residents.

Many top quality hotels and restaurants have been established. The fast highway will soon be opened.

The emirate of Al Fujairah now needs:

  • A Marhaba (welcome) Centre for tourists to relax and plan their stay. The Fujairah Fort seems like an ideal, central location.
  • A performance arena below the Fujairah Fort, surrounded by a heritage village and which caters for the one day tourist.
  • 12-15 tourist sites need to be open 7 days a week and upgraded to an international standard with quality signs, multi-lingual brochures and trained tourist guides. These tourist attractions should represent a diversity of activities including the visitation of ancient sites, exploration of the natural wonderland, ventures into the mountains and the enjoyment of water pursuits, including fun on the beaches.

A Slice of the 8 Million Tourists

Not all the 8 million tourists who arrive in Dubai will have the time available to include Fujairah on their itinerary but it is opportune with the opening of the new highway to target a proportion of these people and tantalize them with the unique attractions that Fujairah has to offer.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Images: Thanks to the Fujairah Observer for the photo of the new Dubai-Fujairah highway, the Fujairah International Airport for the map of Fujairah and the UAE, the Mastercard Report for the tables and Google Images for the photo of the Dubai International Airport.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Arab Proverb: “Live Together Like Brothers…”

“Live together like brothers, do business like strangers.”

More Arab Proverbs—Link.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

The Fight Against Malaria in Fujairah and the UAE

Since 1998 the UAE has been free from malaria transmission so why are there still Malaria Control units in Fujairah city, Dibba, Masafi, Khor Fakkan and Kalba?

The high numbers of expats entering the UAE from countries where malaria is prevalent means that the disease is brought into the Emirates and these people are coming for treatment.

Prevention by Spraying

A variety of measures are currently used to keep the UAE free of malaria. Spraying is one of the major preventative measures. In Fujairah seven men and their drivers undertake weekly spraying of insecticide in more than twenty areas in the emirate.

Water collection areas are potentially the main problem areas for the breeding of the malaria-carrying mosquitoes. 65% of the breeding sites in the UAE are on farms and fewer in wadis which are mostly dry. Construction sites where water supplies are left open to the elements are attractive to mosquitoes.

Larva-Eating Fish

Where mosquitoes are found around a water supply fish are often introduced to eat the larvae and prevent them from developing into fully grown insects. More than 4,000 farms in over 146 localities in the UAE have fish placed in water supplies to eliminate the mosquito larvae.

Fujairah Technician

Mr. Quriakose has just completed 34 years of service as a malaria technician in Fujairah and Sharjah. He says, “I like this job. It has been rewarding to fight against malaria and know that the UAE is now malaria-free.”

Over the years this native of Kerala has spread his time between the different Malaria Centres on the East Coast testing 150-200 people per month. Only 1-2 people turn out to be positive each month, sometimes up to five.

All of the UAE’s East Coast, the Central Area and Ras Al Khaimah were high risk malaria areas until 1982.

Mr. Quriakose said that in his early days in the 1970s he was getting 10-15 positive cases per day in Fujairah and on the UAE’s East Coast.

Those who are tested are usually referred by a clinic and if they are positive they are given medicine and vitamins free of charge.

Success Story

UAE officials are proud of their efforts in fighting malaria and believe their success is due to the effective combination of political commitment, sound scientific and operational planning and the cooperation of the public and private sectors.

This success story has led the UAE to work with GCC neighbours in sharing their strategies to eliminate the transmission of malaria in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, especially in Yemen.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Images: The Fujairah Malaria Unit is opposite the Fujairah Tower on the road leading to the Airport; Mr. Quriakose has worked as the malaria laboratory technician in Fujairah and the East Coast for over three decades.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Keeping Wild Animals in the UAE

Wild Animals on the Loose

Several months ago when an escaped monkey or baboon was terrorizing people in the backyards of Fujairah’s suburb of Faseel the question was raised about the law and the keeping of wild animals in the UAE.

The question has recently been raised again when an injured cheetah was found in the streets of Abu Dhabi.

In today’s Gulf News (1 June 2011), Abdul Rab Al Hameri, the Manager of the Scientific Authority office of CITES (Convention on the Illegal Trade of Endangered Species) in Abu Dhabi, clarified the law.

UAE Laws

Mr. Al Hameri listed three relevant federal laws:

  • The law prohibiting the importing of dangerous animals
  • The law related to CITES prohibiting the importing or trading of endangered animals
  • The law prohibiting the ill-treatment of an animal

Ministerial Decrees

Al Hameria also spoke of relevant ministerial decrees:

  • The decree prohibiting the importing of fighting dogs, poisonous snakes and dangerous animals like big cats into the UAE
  • The decree prohibiting the importing of primates into the UAE

Further

See more detail on these laws and the penalties for breaking them:

Binsal Abdul Kader, Cheetah Owner Has Violated Three UAE Laws, Gulf News, 1 June 2011.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Image: The injured cheetah found in the streets of Abu Dhabi is soon to undergo surgery. (Image courtesy of Gulf News and the Abu Dhabi Wildlife Centre).