Wealthy Arabs Head West

Wealthy Arabs Head West

By Aladdin Elaasar author of The Last Pharaoh: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of Egypt in the Obama Age.

London is witnessing a flow of many wealthy Arab families after the turmoil in many Arab countries recently. Uprisings from Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia have added to the anxiety of many regimes in the region and ordinary people alike. Many Young Tunisians have been heading to southern Europe, mainly to Italy. The Rich small elite can afford to go where they please, while the majority of Arabs are living under the poverty line.
Still the fate of Libya’s dictator Gaddafi is uncertain as he’s massacring rebels in his country daily. His Ukrainian favorite nurse fled Libya early on. His wife, daughter and other family members are believed to be in Vienna after even most Arab countries refused to give them refuge.

In Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Emirates decided to send their troops to assist the Bahraini government in crushing protesters. The fate of Yemen’s longtime dictator Colonel Ali Abdallah Saleh is also uncertain.

The Mubarak family in Egypt had an initial plan of fleeing to London early on, and they actually did. But a change of plan took place in a hurry. The family assets in London were liquidated and transferred to other safe havens said to be Saudi Arabia and Emirates. The fate of the Mubarak family is still uncertain. Will Mubarak and family members be brought to justice for allegations of corruption and grave human rights abuses?

While London is easing its immigration restrictions especially for millionaire business men, it is witnessing a high demand for immigration law firms representing many wealthy Arab Gulf businessmen. Many Arabs are motivated to go West, not only for safety and stability, but for the very freedom that they do not enjoy back home. One Saudi potential immigrant to Britain said that he wishes to vote for once in his life.

The rulers of Saudi Arabia are bracing to gain control over their young population which is more than sixty per cent. They encouraged their rubber stamp clergy to issue fatwas-religious rulings- that demonstrating is sacrilegious, to be snubbed by the Arab and Muslim masses around the world. Moreover, Saudi foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal threatened that his country “would cut the fingers of those who mess with the stability of the Kingdom”.

Saudi Arabia is also witnessing a succession crisis as the 87 years old King Abdallah has serious health concerns. His 85 years old Crown Prince, Prince Sultan has been suffering from cancer and received treatment in the US and Europe in the last two years.

In London, the West End is bracing itself for an "oil rush" of Middle Eastern tourists ahead of Ramadan - with sales to Arab shoppers already up 50% this year.

Many shop-workers are learning Arabic ahead of the influx, while some shops are widening aisles as Middle Eastern tourists tend to shop in big groups. Arabs stay longer and spend more than other tourists, outspending Americans by 60%, the New West End Company said.

Noel Saunders of John Lewis, Oxford Street said: "Middle Eastern countries are our biggest international customers, accounting for 35.5% of sales. Leading countries include Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates - and for the first time we have seen an increase in Libyan shoppers."

Some analysts see positive signs in the turmoil in the Middle East. Money tends to move west. Even dictators do not trust their systems and keep their money in the West. The West is also having a change of heart towards these uprisings feeling that it could lead to real democracy in the region after decades of authoritarian rule that has been an embarrassment and a great liability to the Western governments dealing with such corrupt and oppressive regimes.

Aladdin Elaasar is an expert on Egypt and the Arab World. He has been a frequent commentator on the Middle East on American and international TV and Radio networks such as CNN, ABC, NBC, NPR, MSNBC, FOX NEWS, BBC radio and TV, and others. Elaasar has been teaching Mid-Eastern studies at several American universities. He was nominated as a candidate for the presidential elections in Egypt in 2005. His campaign gained worldwide media coverage. His columns cover international relations, current events, and Arab/American issues. He was cited in Guardian, New York Times, The Huffington Post, Washington Post, Sunday Times, Paris Match, La Stampa, and the international press. He is the author of The Last Pharaoh: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of Egypt in the Obama Age.He also wrote: For Stars and Stripes: American-Arabs in the U.S. Military, and, Silent Victims: Arab and Muslim Americans Post 9/11.
CONTACT: Aladdin Elaasar
(224) 388 1353 Email: omaraladin@aol.com
For Stars and Stripes: American-Arabs in the U.S. Military
http://www.amazon.com/Stars-Stripes-American-Arabs-U-S-Military/dp/14536...

Silent Victims: Arab and Muslim Americans Post 9/11
http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Victims-Arab-Muslim-Americans/dp/1453633448...

The Last Pharaoh: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of Egypt in the Obama Age
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Pharaoh-Mubarak-Uncertain-Future/dp/061530070...

Barracuda: The Unauthorized Biography of Sarah Palin
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