TGA suspends 2 passenger transport applications and an application for food delivery    South Korean actor Song Jae Lim found dead at 39    There is nowhere safe in Gaza, UNRWA director says    Archbishop of Canterbury resigns over Church abuse scandal    Surge in Russian drone strikes test Ukrainian defenses and devastate families    US says it will not limit arms transfers to Israel    Don't sit on the toilet for more than 10 minutes, doctors warn    Energy minister leads Saudi delegation to COP29 Baku    Saudi Cabinet upbeat about Riyadh summit strengthening joint action to stop Gaza war    "Tilal" launches "Heart of Khobar" project costing SR6 billion at "Cityscape Global" in Riyadh    Saudi Champion Saeed Al-Mouri scores notable feat in Radical World Championship in Abu Dhabi with support from Bin-Shihon Group    Saudi Arabia advances 22 ranks in World Bank's Statistical Performance Index    EXPRO chief: Financial proceeds of expenditure efficiency amounted to SR1.15 trillion    'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' to dazzle audience in Tokyo on Nov. 22    Pakistan PM visits MWL headquarters in Makkah    Riyadh: The hub of wisdom and the pillar of solidarity    Rita Ora is tearful in tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Awards    France to deploy 4,000 police officers for UEFA Nations League match against Israel    Al Nassr edges past Al Riyadh with Mane's goal to move up to third    Al Ahli continues strong form with 2-0 win over Al Raed in Saudi Pro League    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



UNDP: UAE's unequal development a challenge
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 06 - 08 - 2011

UNDP Resident Representative in UAE Dr. Elissar Sarrouh (left), signed last January the Dubai Carbon Center of Excellence Project, with Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group. (File photo)
DUBAI – Economic disparities between the seven-member United Arab Emirates are slowing the development of the Gulf state, the UN Development Program (UNDP) said Thursday.
In an interview, Dr. Elissar Sarrouh, UNDP resident representative, said those gaps showed the need to rethink parts of the economic strategy that turned the country from a sleepy desert backwater in the 1960s into an oil powerhouse with the world's eighth highest per capita income at $47,000.
"The economic development model of the UAE is not unified and this calls for rethinking of the federal development paradigm," she said.
"One of the focus areas of UNDP in the UAE is bridging the regional disparities gap and focus on sustainable human development and poverty reduction in the northern emirates."
The UAE, the world's third-largest oil exporter, which is hoping to be upgraded to emerging market status from frontier by the index provider MSCI , has escaped the popular protests that have rocked nearby Bahrain, Oman and Yemen.
But the concentration of its wealth in Abu Dhabi and trade and business hub Dubai has led to uneven development in other emirates, raising concerns that tensions could be fuelled if the gap between rich and poor widens.
The UAE has pledged to spend $1.6 billion in the northern emirates - Ras Al-Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al-Quwain, which have long relied on richer Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The federation has also introduced bread and rice subsidies and hiked military pensions.
The UNDP had hoped to get $15 million from the UAE government and $1 million from other parties to support its 2007-2011 development program for the emirates, which focused on environment, social and economic development and empowerment of women, among others.
But Sarrouh said the UNDP has so far received only half of that amount.
"We hope that the rest of the funds will be allocated to UNDP in order to develop new programs and initiatives under the current program priorities," she said.
For the program to address disparities between the northern emirates and the rest of the federation, the planned government contribution was marginal, she said, considering the development needs and priorities in these emirates.
The agency said the Gulf state was on track to achieve UN targets for addressing extreme poverty in the world by 2015.
In 2010, the UAE ranked highest among Arab states and number 32 in the world in terms of human development. The UAE's primary education enrolment rate stands at 98 percent and the literacy rate among 15-24-year olds is 99 percent.
Child mortality in the country is 10.6 per 1,000 births.
"The UAE is definitely not lagging behind in terms of development... it has become a major economic and investment force," Sarrouh said. "There is a keenness from the leadership to focus on creating new job opportunities and ensuring employment for young Emiratis who have graduated from universities," she said. Analysts polled by Reuters in June expect the UAE economy to expand by 3.7 percent this year.


Clic here to read the story from its source.