Foreigners who marry Emiratis should undergo security checks, a member of the Federal National Council has claimed.
Ahmed Al Shehhi said the move would ensure those welcomed into the Emirati society would not be from an extremist background.
“Therefore, a security check must be conducted before the marriage," he claimed.
The issue was raised during a debate about the number of Emirati men, in particular, who married expat women. More than 5,900 Emiratis married non-Emirati women between 2017 and 2019.
The member proposed his suggestion to the Minister of Community Development, Hessa Buhumaid.
“So what is the ministry doing to curb the number of marriages of Emiratis to non-Emirati women?” said Mr Al Shehhi.
“There were 780 divorce cases for such [mixed] marriages within the same year,” he said.
Ms Buhumaid did not comment on security arrangements.
But she said the ministry has launched several programmes to encourage marriage among Emiratis.
“The ministry organises mass weddings to help cut down marriage costs, and regular awareness campaigns are launched to educate young men about making the right choice when picking their spouse,” the minister said.
“More than 1,000 UAE nationals benefited from related workshops and the number of marriages to Emirati women increased by 3 per cent in 2019 compared to 2018.”
Mr Al Shehhi put forward two suggestions to help improve the number of Emirati-only marriages.
“I would like to raise two recommendations: establishing an Emirati Family Council that would combine all concerned ministries,” Mr Al Shehhi said.
He said the council would provide a legal umbrella that deals with family cases, including marriages and divorces before they go to court.
The second recommendation, he said, would be to “activate the role of social counsellors in family cases”.
The minister said the cabinet has issued a decision on establishing a family council and work was under way.
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
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JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
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The specs
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Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
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On sale: now
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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