Foreigners no threat to national security

NO THREAT: Expatriates are important to the future of the Gulf, respondents said. (AFP)

Foreign workers do not pose a threat to the security of the GCC, according the latest ArabianBusiness.com spot poll.

Almost 58% of respondents said expatriate workers are important for the future of the GCC, disagreeing with Dubai's police chief, who last week said the large number of expatriates in the UAE had to be cut in the name of national security.

Speaking at a conference on national identity in Abu Dhabi on April 16, Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim labelled the situation "truly disastrous" for the future of the Gulf state.

Over 20% of those surveyed said they disagreed with Tamim's comments, but felt authorities needed to protect the GCC's local culture and heritage.

Close to 14% of respondents agreed foreigners represented a threat and that their numbers should be reduced so no nationality represented more than 25% of a country's population.

The remaining 8.6% agreed the situation with foreign workers was "truly disastrous" and that their numbers must be reduced.

Foreign workers comprise nearly 40% of the GCC's total population of around 37 million, although the percentage of expatriates in places such as the UAE and Qatar is more than 80%.

A proposal set to be discussed at this year's GCC summit in Muscat could cap the number of years expatriates can live in any one Gulf state in an effort to cut their numbers and stem the erosion of local culture.

Foreigners pose 'risk' to UAE security
Police chief urges demographic shift so no nationality represents more than 25% of population.

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Foreigners pose threat to prosperity
Posted by Mafakher, Dubai on 21 April 2008 at 19:35 UAE time


I think the truth is that prosperity is more important and without foreigners prosperity in the UAE would be under threat.

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