According to a representative of Burks, Sinclair & Associates, a British consultant firm that produced a report on workers in the Persian Gulf, there is a mixture of economic and political reasons given for the non-renewal of Palestinian work permits (30 Sept. 1993). The representative added that non-renewal of work permits for Palestinians has been the trend since well before the Gulf War and it has been difficult for the Palestinian work force to even obtain work permits since 1983 (Ibid.). Although the government of the UAE is the main employer of Palestinians in the UAE and this makes it more difficult to distinguish between economic and political reasons for not renewing work permits (Ibid.). However, private employers have also been an important factor in the declining allocation of work permits for the Palestinians (Ibid.). Since the beginning of 1993, it has been more difficult for a Palestinian to obtain a work permit or a renewal if she/he is a non-professional, whereas a professional Palestinian (e.g., a person with a PhD or a Masters degree or a competent technician in sciences like engineering, computers, medicine, communication, etc.) who is married and over 30 years old would have a better chance of obtaining a work permit or a renewal (Ibid.).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Burks, Sinclair & Associates, Dhuram, U.K. 30 September 1993. Telephone interview with representative.