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Public decency law for foreigners in UAE

The Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday recommended the enactment of a federal law on decent behaviour in public places for foreigners, including a dress code that matches the local traditions and customs.

The recommendations were approved after members raised questions regarding these issues in the first ordinary session of the 15^th legislative chapter of the FNC chaired by Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr.

Present were Lt-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and acting Minister of Health; and Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of FNC Affairs.

Lt. General Shaikh Saif commended the actual partnership between the UAE Government and the FNC. He said he was sure that any national accomplishment was through collective effort and spirit.

The FNC endorsed the draft federal law on helping labourers.

In his inaugural speech, Al Murr lauded the continuous initiatives of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for providing good living conditions to citizens.

The Speaker also praised the recent decision of the President to turn the Ramadan rations into a permanent food subsidy nationwide. The subsidy will include new food items with effect from this month. Member Hamad Al Rahoomi raised the issue of some foreigners showing disrespect to the local traditions and customs by their behaviour and dress sense and the measures being taken to spread awareness among the visitors.

Al Owais, who is also the Chairman of the National Council for Tourism and Antiquities, said the responsibility falls on many entities including the National Council for Tourism and Antiquities, which should enlighten the tourists on this issue.

He, however, referred to the concerted efforts made by the government in this regard. Al Rahoomi said: “Priority should be given to the enactment of a law that bans such alien behaviour in the conservative society of the UAE and make it mandatory for the visitors to respect the customs and traditions of the country,” he said. The House endorsed this recommendation.

The House also recommended the setting up of a National Cancer Research Centre, which would be provided with competent personnel to monitor the disease, monitor all cases to find out the real causes, and suggest the solutions including awareness programmes to combat it.

The Ministry of Interior also organised a technological show on the sidelines of the session. It featured the eye scanning system, the electronic club, the Geographic Information System, the Tetra Network System, the Child Protection Centre, the Early Warning System and the Electronic Services.