DUBAI, 26 May 2004 — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is to introduce new regulations in a bid to curb prostitution by female tourists and to prevent child trafficking, newspapers reported yesterday.
Maj. Gen. Saif Al-Shafaar, Assistant Under-Secretary for Security Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, said that, under the new regulations, a female tourist, who has already visited the UAE, would only be allowed to re-enter the country after a period of three months. She would also be subject to eye screening on entering the country.
Particular scrutiny would be applied to female tourists from Eastern Europe and China, under the age of 30. “Once approved, the proposed regulations, which have already been forwarded to the Cabinet, will help in reducing the practice of some women who stay for longer periods in the country and are found involved in immoral activities,” said Shafaar. He also said that to prevent child trafficking, particularly in the camel racing industry, DNA testing would verify the relationship.
