Foreign Emirati residents, comprising around 89% of the total population of the nation, saw their personal information in access to Israeli services. UAE officials provided Israel with the sensitive information shortly before the start of Dubai Expo 2020.
According to a leaked document, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided Israel with the personal information of around 9.4 million Emirati residents. Israel officials got access to the data through an official letter by the UAE Director of Department of Diplomatic Affairs.
Hamad Matar Al Shamsi’s letter, and the attached information, enables Israel to control Dubai Expo 2020 in a planned and facilitated way.
The leaked document reveals that the Emirati residents information supplied to Israel includes their pictures, identities, nationalities, and copies of their passports. Sensitive data like addresses of the group’s residence along with the number of their phones are in the list.
UAE is a country with a major population of expats who have moved there for various reasons. Over 89% of the Emirati population are nationals of other countries. The original UAE nationals comprise less than 11% of the total population, meaning 1.15 million people.
42,472 Chinese, 49,535 Americans, 162,405 Pakistanis, 13592 Turks, 17,434 Russians, 28,120 French, 100,766 British and 75408 Palestinians live in the United Arab Emirates. There are also 34.084 Canadian, 448,111 Egyptians, 64,201 Lebanese and more than 3 million Indian among them. The document totals the number of foreign Emirati residents to more than 9,4 million people of various nationalities from all over the world.
A few weeks ago, UAE officials announced that the Israeli Supercom company will supervise the security of Dubai expo 2020. Supercom has introduced electronic bracelets to tracks the movement and conduct of attendees from a Muslim background. The decision received sharp response for Islamic nations.
Emirati Residents As Victims
UAE and Israel have made attempts to normalize relationships under the Abraham accord brokered by Trump administration. Local dissatisfaction along with evidences of Israeli efforts to misuse the compromise for its regional interests has overshadowed the agreement.
Israel’s weird involvement in Dubai Expo has been controversial through the past weeks. At the first step, Israel’s participation in the expo was subject to harsh criticism by regional nations. This is the first time Israel takes part in an official event in an Islamic country.
Various countries, groups and corporations boycotted Expo 2020 due to Israel’s presence in the event. They believe Israel shall not be acknowledged by Muslim nations due to its conducts against residents in Palestinian territories.
The second phase started when part of the security measure at Dubai expo was granted to an Israeli company. The controversies exacerbated following clarifications about Islamophobic plans of Supercom at the Dubai Expo.
According to the plan, nationals from six Muslim countries were the target of excessive security measurements. They are forced to wear an electronic bracelet during their visit and reside in a small number of hotels with security controls.
The third phase seems to be a complementary step for its previous one, which it is. However, it goes beyond that with providing Israel with the data of 9.4 million Muslim and non-Muslim Emirati residents.
Supercom president, Ordan Trabelsi, confirmed the schedules to receive the Emirati residents information, along with the attendee data, in a meeting with UAE Minister of Economy. Undocumented evidences indicate that Mossad, Israeli Intelligence service, is the target user of the data.
Israel is using the program to reinforce its foothold in a key Middle East nation and a to-be ally. En route, the Emirati Residents are victims of Abu Dhabi’s compromise and negligence.
