Encomium
Despite a noticeable gulf separating the elite and their riches from most Emiratis in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), complaints are rarely heard as most Emiratis live comfortably, owing to a bounty of perks and benefits from the government.
Such benefits as: tax-free income, free high-quality health care, subsidized fuel, generous government-funded retirement plans, access to land to build homes with interest-free loans, free higher education, even when pursued abroad, have led economists to warn that the lavish government spending may eventually be curtailed.
The welfare system built more than four decades ago by Abu Dhabi’s Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is responsible for these ‘unthinkable’ benefits enjoyed by Emiratis.
