The discipline of public employees in the United Arab Emirates : a comparison between the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (G.C.C.)

Abstract

Prior to independence, there were no clear regulations regarding the discipline of "publics office available in the United Arab Emirates and other countries of the Gulf Co-Operation Council. However, the postindependence era has witnessed great developments in political, economic, social and legal fields. Particular attention was accorded to public office as new laws regulating public office were promulgated in which the duties and rights of public servants were defined and a certain disciplinary system evolved. Against this background, the researcher examines the current disciplinary system in the United Arab Emirates with the purpose of pinpointing its deficiencies and limitations and proposing means for rectifying the same, as this would lead to a higher level of performance in the public service. The present thesis, which falls into eight chapters, begins by reviewing the developments that have taken place in the country in various fields. It then examines the Islamic perspective of the public service and reviews the early beginnings of its evolution. The study then discusses the duties and responsibilities of the public servant as per the current Public Service Law. It further deals with the various aspects of disciplinary accountability including disciplinary bodies, penalties and proceedings with special reference to the said law. This theoretical xix background is followed by an investigation of the actual implementation of the said law in particular those provisions pertaining to disciplinary accountability. For this purpose, a questionnaire was administered to a representative sample of 305 public servants of the United Arab Emirates. Personal interviews were also conducted by the researcher with a number of high-ranking government officials. The results of the questionnaire and interviews are then analyzed. Some recommendations and suggestions aimed at improving the U. A. E. Civil Service regulations and practices especially in the disciplinary domain are made in the final chapter.