Tracy
Glad somebody had some facts!
As I recall, the greatest achievement of the UAE is not only "where it is at" but "where it came from". They've gone from tribal warlord/peasant to stable government/professor in just a couple of generations- a magnificent achievement when you think how long it took our countries. As I recall they have superb maternity leave provisions to ensure that motherhood does not disadvantage educated women- something we might learn from- and first class, practically free healthcare- ditto. A very large expat community thrives without being subject to suspicion or prejudice by the Muslim authorities or citizens. They've also shown that Islam is not about raping, repressing women and bombing. Acknowledging the latter might help reduce the growing tension in the Middle East.
Regards
JR
"... They ne'er cared for us
yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses
crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to
support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act
established against the rich, and provide more
piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain
the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and
there's all the love they bear us."
-- Shakespeare: Coriolanus, Act 1, scene 1