Design Explorations by Linda Mayoux
Saudi Arabia background from Money Rush
Human Rights Watch updates
Does UK’s lucrative arms trade come at the cost of political repression? Observer Feb 2017
Banning of Unofficial Guardianship Rules May 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCFl81yooqw
Alcohol
Scams
Saudi_women
Shk Yamani
Shaheen
Adnan Khashoggi
Allies
Players
Telexes:
To be done
United Arab Emirates was established in 1971 as a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi (capital), Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. Each Emirate is governed by an absolute monarch, together they jointly form the Federal Supreme Council. One of the monarchs is selected as President of the UAE.
It has a very ancient civilisation – stone tools from archaeological sites show settlement of people from Africa 130,000 years ago. Trade in cooper from Hajar mountains motivated trade with Iran and Mesopotamia around 3000 years ago. There was constant movement of peoples from Bahrain and Oman. The area of the Al Ain/Buraimi oasis (Tu’am) was an important trading post for camels between the coast and Arabian interior. Islam was established shortly after the hijrah.
Peoples were nomadic dependent on varying mixes of aniumal husbandry, agriculture and hunting. Seasonal movements often led to clashes between groups, but also establishment of seasonal and semi-seasonal settlements.
By the 16thy Century came under the Ottoman Empire. Then Portuguese, English and Dutch forces. Al Qawasim tribe practised piracy against the British. Finally 1892 Exclusive Agreement between British and sheikhs – though abolition of slave trade led to some issues.
19th and early 20th century wealth dependent on pearl industry, but this declined early 1930s with invention of cultured pearls. Oil was discovered in early 1950s, and in commercial quantities in 1958.
After Independence UAE was a strategic ally of the US.
100 activists were jailed during the Arab Spring. In November 2012 UAE outlawed on-line mockery of the government, and attempts to organise public protests through social media.
In 2013 of 9.2 million people, 7.8 million are expatriates (27.15% population Indian, 12.53% Pakistani.)
Video 1: 50 minutes (first 42 minutes on UAE) produced 2007. Very interesting overview of history with old black and white photos of boats, old cities and people, and the souq markets. Less romantic than the tourist videos – shows health problems, discussion of impact of oil and situation of immigrants. Sees UAE as very standardised and ‘missing in soul’ except for Fujairah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_npsvtA3nY
Video 2: 8 minute video produced in. Introduction seems a part spoof of the tourist video below ‘Imagine a land where reality actually outstrips fantasy…Imagine a city that has emerged almost over night like a mirage out of the desert built by the sweat of indentured labour. Imagine a place like no other’. Smoochy music. But then rest is a fairly straight history. Airports. Oil and construction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F585Gtp2c0E
Video 3: 26 minute promotional tourist video 2010
‘200,000 man [sic] has lived and thrived’. Desert, fertile oases, nature, industry… Lots of ‘Arabian’ film music. ‘In a world of beautiful places you could say that UAE has more than its fair share…a celebration of the big, the bold and the inspired’ etc etc etc
‘energy and ambition’. Pearl industry declined 1930s because of synthetic pearls. 1950s discovered oil. Zayed is a’visionary’ for rising architectural statements.
Waterway established it as centre of commerce, divides into 2 ‘soul of city’. Use small wooden boats. Development of less than 20 years. Government aimed at new Hong Kong or Shanghai, and attract tourism.
The most historic emirate – but trying to ‘modernise’
From mountains, deserts and ancient cultural sites to beaches, mangroves, water sports and more,Ras Al Khaimah is a truly unforgettable Arabian experience. Tourist board website
Research on players from Money Rush
50 minutes (late 1950s??) Evocative portrait in Black and White film – if a rather patronising and romanticised BBC documentary that shows its age. Provided a lot of material for sketches of Zayed, falcons and desert driving.
Such adulation!!! Born?? Still alive.
Third (or fifth??? is contradiction) wife ‘and most devoted’ of Shkh Zayed ‘mother of the nation’
hosting of Sudanese president’s wife article
“Sheikha Fatima is one of the women rights supporters in the country. She is the supreme chairperson of the family development foundation. She significantly contributed to the foundation of the first women’s organization in 1976, the Abu Dhabi society for the awakening of women. She was also instrumental in a nationwide campaign towards girls’ education”
Shkha Fatima:
Source: Wikipedia article
“My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel”
His son died of a drug overdose amid considerable scandal (see Wikipedia article)
Wikipedia article
Sheikha Sanaa Bint Mana Al Maktoum was the daughter of Sheikh Mana Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, famous for the reform movement in Dubai in 1938–1939. A former education minister described as a “moderniser” by Lienhardt in Shaikhdoms of Eastern Arabia and an “enlightened philanthropist” by Michael Field in The Merchants: The Big Business Families of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. In the 1930s Mani had his young daughter taught to read and write, then an extremely rare thing for women.
Her father, along with key figures from trading families in Dubai, was deported after a civil war with the Ruler Sheikh Saeed II bin Maktum and his son Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (who later became the Ruler). The cause of this civil war in Dubai was their call for more people’s right and more participation in the ruling of the emirate as well as more nationalistic approach to education and commercial management. Many of the key commercial family members were killed and tortured.
After her father was deported, Sheikha Sana was forced, at the age of 10, to marry Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum’s second son, Khalifa. She was the mother of Mana and Rashid. Her son Mana was the head of the Ruler’s Office for more than 20 years during the time of Rashid Bin Saeed.
Sheikha Sana was famous for her love of poetry and support of the local intelligencia. She was, herself, a poet who demonstrated her sadness with repression for what happened to her family. She lived as a key woman in Dubai and her majlis was one of the key gatherings in which, occasionally, men also visited.
Sheikha Sanaa died on 17 June 2006 in Dubai.
23 minute BBC documentary on Abu Dhabi showing new working lives: Emirati woman pilot, eco city, Emirati woman entrepreneur and Indonesian woman taxi driver.
42 minutes US promotional video promoting technology of Dubai construction industry.
Voice of America article
Voice of America 2014 article
13 minute – early (2006?) US investigative video from ABC News contrasting the OTT luxury and prices of the hotels like Burj el Arab – interviews with Western enthusiasts, managers and promoters (including an admiring Richard Branson and consultant was Bill Clinton paid thousands of dollars) – and billionaire autocracy power of Shk Rashid (billion dollars spent on horses) ‘no end to boom town spending’ on ski mountains etc. BUT treatment of people building it all – living in virtual enslavement in labour camps – though after the film were reported attempts to enforce the labour laws.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCaVQeiA2aI
12 minute Frontline World video by Mimi Chakarova about Dubai tax haven – men outnumber women by 3-1’capitalism on steroids’. Starts with harrowing story of sex trafficking by journalist who has worked on this issue worldwide. But then goes on to how some of prostitutes are willing ‘businesswomen’ ‘hypnotised’ by the amount of money they can earn and the lavish environment. Chinese are the cheapest, then African and Eastern Europeans. Middle Eastern most expensive. Some is ‘no sex money’ on Internet. Prostitution is safer than many other places. Unregulated but in government-approved tourist bars. But very sad. And the journalist had been watched and followed, and the authorities tried to take all the tapes.
46 minute British ITV video (2007?) by Piers Morgan about possibilities of impact of credit crunch.
Mariam Hassan Salem al-Mansouri has become the first Emirati woman to hold the rank of fighter pilot in the UAE Air Force and may be the first Gulf woman to enjoy the title.
Players:
Deals:
Oman is the oldest independent state in the Arab world- at its peak in the 19th century the Omani Empire stretched down the east African coast and vied with Portugal and Britain for influence in the Gulf and Indian Ocean. Most Omanis follow the Ibadi sect of Islam – the only remaining expression of Kharijism, which was created as a result of one of the first schisms within the religion.
Under Sultan Said bin Taimur (ruled 1932-1970) was very isolated, run along feudal lines with internal rebellion. After deposing his father in 1970, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said opened up the country, embarked on economic reforms and boosted spending on health, education and welfare. He has moved to increase popular participation in decision making. There is little religious violence. But protests in 2011 demanding reforms were dispersed by riot police, and the government began a crackdown on Internet criticism the following year.
Oman is heavily dependent on oil; but compared to its neighbours Oman is a modest producer. Agriculture and fishing are important sources of income. A diversification drive includes tourism (see the many You Tube promotion videos). Oman’s attractions include a largely-untouched coastline, mountains, deserts and the burgeoning capital Muscat, with its forts, palaces and old walled city. The focus is on modern art and architecture building on the traditional appearance, rather than the futuristic high-rise architecture of many other countries in the Gulf. Oman is developing the health sector. A policy of Omanisation aims to replace expatriate workers with locals.
Oman has a strategically important position at the mouth of the Gulf. It is a long-standing US ally, not least because of its steady relations with Iran. There is a free trade agreement between the two countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn2XLkLUKGk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae1E_6HLw5w
The general assessment of Sultan Qaboos is positive – the main question being how his achievements can be continued, and who might succeed him.
But there are reports of critics being tortured.
An exciting game about the fortunes of oil: From 2 to 7 players compete for the thrills of being an oil tycoon. The object of the game [is] to acquire concessions in the petroleum producing countries, control them and operate them. The player who obtains the largest number of petrodollars is the winner of the game. This “roll the die and move” game is strongly reminiscent of Monopoly, with petrol-producing countries replacing the streets, telex messages replacing “Chance” cards, and oil platforms and derricks replacing houses and hotels. Visually, it is a stunning game, with beautifully crafted components: 1 board; 27 concession titles; 25 telex messages; 7 playing markers; 2 dice; 34 derricks; 14 oil platforms; 390 petrodollar bills.
The Dutch HEMA edition was slightly different – 30 derricks, 12 platforms and 430 bills. According to the Dutch rulebook the game is designed for 3-7 players.
Elaboration of the rules by a blogger
Here are the rules I've discovered [I've edited the form a bit from the comments posting so that it may be easier for you to read]: ********* TAKE OFF/LANDING (=Geneva Airport) is on the midfield and the game goes counter-clockwise! 27 countries are spread over the strong game board, each of them having 1 oil consession to give away. From the airport on the spaces are: RED: Venezuela/Argentine/Ecuador LIGHT BLUE: USA/Canada/Telex/Mexico Go To International Court Refuel/Pay $ 100,000 DARK BROWN: Indonesia/Brunei Malaysia/Australia LIGHT PURPLE: China/USSR/Norway Telex OPEC meeting DARK YELLOW: Libya/Algeria/Nigeria/Gabon YELLOW: Falconry in the desert International Court Telex LIGHT GREEN: Iraq/Kuwait/Egypt DARK BLUE: Sjarjah/Dubai/Abu Dhabi Throw Dice Again Go To International Court BEIGE: Oman/Telex/Bahrein/Qatar BLUE GREEN: Iran YELLOW: Lost in the dessert BLUE GREEN: Saudi Arabia Subject to the number of players the consessions are to be distributed amongst them at the start of the game; the remainder must be bought. The oiltycoons always move over the board by plane. Over or on TAKE OFF you receive P$ 500,000. There are 8 molded "gold" tokens representing: Airplane Tanker Sword Storage tank Bar of gold Barrel Drilling-rig Oil-rig. (The German and Dutch tokens are but plastic "emblems on a base"). They are stored in a black vinyl pouch wilth "gold" draw-strings. There is a black dice shaker felt-lined inside. Typical for this edition is the keychain/timer, to set the game up to 60 minutes. This is a clever item because the game is fundamentally played from time. The course of the game is divided into 3 stages: STAGE 1: The opening, playtime 10 minutes. In this stage those oilconsessions who were not distributed amongst the players in the first instance must be bought from the Worldbank now. STAGE 2: Trade and auction, playtime 5 - 10 minutes. The still unsold oil consessions must be sold or auctioned anyhow. Next the players can trade together in order to complete color groups. STAGE 3: Main match, playtime 60 minutes. The oiltycoons can now open up their properties by building drilling-rigs (instead of houses) and finally oil-rigs (instead of hotels). For the rest the game works out according to the usual rules. All property cards are made of thick vinyl with gold lettering for prices and interest rates. The money consists of clumsy tiny (45 x 75 mm) but good looking plastic laminated Petrodollar banknotes from the Worldbank. In the centre is a circle with a dromedary (or camel?) with "IN OIL WE TRUST" over it! The bills are in the amounts of P$1,000 - 5,000 - 10,000 - 20,000 - 50,000 - 100,000 and P$1,000,000 denominations. Instead of Chance and Community Chest cards there are 25 Telex cards, consisting of black paper with gold lettering. The instructions are like: "The radar of your private jet is out of order. You miss a turn." "You must appear in front of the Tribunal of The Hague - President of the Tribunal." "Heavy storm: important repairs on all the oil-rigs - Pay P$100,000 for each one." The card "Your political influence has helped to prove your innocence. Keep this telex - President of the Tribunal." correspond consequently with "Get out of Jail free". From http://www.muurkrant.nl/monopoly/usa_related_games.htm
The aim of the game is for players to develop strategic alliances to best promote the interests of their country – playing off east and west.
Opening:
STAGE 1: Initial trading of allies and deals – players are given the opportunity to offer money to the other players to increase their team using the money they have. They can also decide to sell deals that they do not think they will be able to take up – bearing in mind that in Stage 2 they may be able to trade up the value. Players can decide at this point what balance of ethics and money they want to aim for.
STAGE 2: Main game – players roll the two dice and move around the board – landing on the squares and following the instructions associated with each square. Some of these involve negotiation and buying and selling of allies and/or contracts. This can be timebound – minimum 2 hours.
STAGE 3: Final assessment – who wins and who loses on money? on ethics? Each player has to justify and explain their final position to the others. In terms of both money and ethics. The others then vote. The player with the most votes from the other players wins.