Dubai's government operates within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, and has been ruled by the Al Maktoum family since 1833. The current ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and member of the Supreme Council of the Union (SCU). Dubai appoints 8 members in two-term periods to the Federal National Council (FNC) of the UAE, the supreme federal legislative body. [1] The Dubai Municipality (DM) was established by the then ruler of Dubai, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1954 for purposes of city planning, citizen services and upkeep of local facilities. [2] DM is chaired by Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai and comprises several departments such as the Roads Department, Planning and Survey Department, Evironment and Public Health Department and Financial Affairs Department. In 2001, Dubai Municipality embarked on an e-Government project with the intention of providing 40 of its city services through its web portal (Dubai.ae). Thirteen such services were lauched by October 2001, while several other services were expected to be operational in the years to come.
Dubai is one of only two emirates that are not part of the federal judicial system of the United Arab Emirates. The emirate's judicial courts comprise the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Cassation. The Court of First Instance consists of the Civil court, which hears all civil claims, the Ciminal Court, which hears claims originating from police complaints, and Sharia Court, which is responsible for matters between Muslims. Non-Muslims do not appear before the Sharia Court. The Court of Cassation is the apex court of the emirate and only hears disputes on matters of law. [3] The Dubai Police Force, founded in 1956 in the locality of Naif, has law enforcement jurisdiction over the emirate; the force is under direct command of Muhammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai.
Article 25 of the Constituion of the UAE provides for the equitable treatment of persons, without regard to race, nationality, religious beliefs or social status. However, many of Dubai has 250,000 foreign laborers live in conditions described by Human Rights Watch as being "less than human" [4] [5]. [6][7] NPR reports that workers "typically live eight to a room, sending home a portion of their salary to their families, whom they don't see for years at a time." On 21 March 2006, workers at the construction site of Burj Dubai, upset over bus timings and working conditions, rioted: damaging cars, offices, computers, and construction tools.[8][9][10] Judicial rulings in Dubai with regard to foreign nationals were broguht to light by the alleged attempts to cover up information on the rape of Alexandre Robert, a 15 year old French-Swiss national, by three locals, one of whom HIV status was hidden by the authorities for several months [11] and by the recent mass imprisonment of migrant laborers, most of whom were from India, on account of their protests against poor wages and living conditions.[12] Prostitution, though illegal by law, is conspicuously present in the emirate because of an economy that is largely based on tourism and trade. Research conducted by the American Center for International Policy Studies (AMCIPS) found that Russian and Ethiopian women are the most common prostitutes, as well as women from some African countries, while Indian prostitutes are part of a well organized trans-Oceanic prostitution network.[13] A 2007 PBS documentary entitled Dubai: Night Secrets reported that prostitution in clubs is tolerated by authorities and many foreign women work there without being coerced, attracted by the money.[14] [15] [16]
- ^ Executive and Legislative Branches. US Library of Congress
- ^ Organizational Chart. Dubai Municipality
- ^ The UAE Court System. Consulate of the United States.
- ^ Human Rights Watch - Building Towers, Cheating Workers: Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers in the United Arab Emirates
- ^ Human Rights Watch - Building Towers, Cheating Workers: Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers in the United Arab Emirates - PDF
- ^ UAE to Allow Construction Unions
- ^ Dubai Fire Investigation Launched
- ^ Labour unrest hampers Burj Dubai work Khaleej Times (AP report), 22 March 2006
- ^ "Burj Dubai workers who protested may be sued" Khaleej Times, 24 March 2006
- ^ LABOUR IN THE UAE Gulf News articles on Labour Law in the UAE, protests, etc
- ^ In Rape Case, a French Youth Takes On Dubai. New York Times. Nov 1, 2007
- ^ Indian workers strike for better deal. Times of India. Times Network. Nov. 2, 2007
- ^ Stoenescu, Dan. "Globalising Prostitution in the Middle East" (PDF). American Center For International Policy Studies. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ Mimi Chakarova. Dubai: Night Secrets, PBS Frontline, 13 September 2007
- ^ New York Times - Fearful of Restive Foreign Labor, Dubai Eyes Reforms
- ^ Middle East Times - Strike rages on at world's tallest tower in Dubai