Sometimes one thinks inventing some sort of a time machine to travel through the history, i.e., Middle Ages, but as a matter of fact, you can visit the UAE and get the authentic experience of living in the 5th-century B.C, where there are no signs of democracy and freedom of speech in this Arab country of 8 million population. Through centuries first male child inherited the throne and with it, the destiny of the whole nation and still this primitive political mechanism practised in UAE and other Persian Gulf littoral countries.
Forty-nine years passed since the establishment of the United Arab Emirates, a tiny Persian Gulf kingdom. Emirates are consisting of seven semi-autonomous fiefdoms, though Abu-Dhabi remains the political capital of the oil-rich Arab nation. Nobody denies that the GDP per capita of UAE is the highest comparing with other Middle Eastern countries. But the facts and statistics released by various American intelligence communities show that fifth of the country’s population lives below the poverty line.
Although UAE saw comparatively less full-scale demonstrations during the Arab Spring; there were serious popular demands for democratic reforms and social liberty but as we know many pro-democracy activists faced unfair retributions for allegedly criticizing the quasi-sacred royal families. Scores of Emirati human right activists have been incarcerated by unfair and show trials, though, as it seems the Emirati officials evince incredible confidence in face of international outcry due to U.S. unwavering support.
It is logical for UAE rulers to tackle with their countless financial crises and less intervening in other countries internal affair. Abu-Dhabi tried from the very beginning of the Egyptian revolution in 2011, to kill democracy in this proud country through pouring petrodollar into the pocket of army generals, namely Egypt’s incumbent dictator Gen. Al-Sisi.
And not so far away in Syria, UAE is a co-conspirator in 8-year-bloodshed happening there, through financing the US-backed insurgents. Nowadays, Emirati wealthy rulers ruthlessly are sending poor Emirati citizens to war-ravaged Libya to kill and be killed.
UAE must renounce its state-terrorism, sever all relations with Israel and reverse the course of its belligerent approach toward its neighbours especially with Iran; otherwise, Dubai’s booming economy which is dependent on financial interactions with Iran will doom to perish, setting aside more dangerous scenarios for oil-sheikhs whose tyrannical regime is weaker than a spider-web.