UAE threatens to punish Disney
United Arab Emirates-Regional-USA, Politics, 9/10/1999

The United Arab Emirates has threatened to boycott all products of the Walt Disney company in the country if the company proceeds in organizing an exposition which concentrates on showing occupied Jerusalem as a capital for Israel.

The UAE called on all Arab states to join this boycott, while Israel launched a strong campaign against Abu Dhabi and accused it of politicizing this matter.

UAE Minister of Information and Culture Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan said his country appeals to all other Arab and Islamic states to join the boycott, if Disney permits this Israeli pavilion in a 15-month exposition organized on the occasion of the new millennium in the US state of Florida, at the end of September.

Sheikh Abdullah added, "If Disney proceeds forward in this exposition no product of Disney will be licensed, a toy, a film or book to enter the UAE." He added that all advertisement relating to Disney in the UAE media would also be banned. He continued, "Hopefully, all Arabs and Muslims will take this matter seriously," adding, "If Disney thinks we are cheating there will be more."

Meanwhile, UAE dailies said the AL will discuss this matter during the visit of the Arab foreign ministers to be held in Cairo on September 12.

Sheikh Abdullah, who is the son of President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahyan, said he had sent a message asking Disney to permit Arab and Islamic sides to visit the exposition to inspect the Israeli pavilion before inaugurating the exposition this month.

Before the threat made by the UAE to boycott Disney, a spokesman for Disney in Florida said that the aim of the exposition is to celebrate diversity rather than provoking political controversy.

However, the spokesman for World Disney resort abstained from disclosing the content of the exposition or whether it will show Jerusalem as a capital for Israel.

Kuwait on Wednesday said that it is reviewing the dispute with the Walt Disney company. A high-ranking official source in Kuwait said in reply to a question asked by Reuters if Kuwait will back the call advocated by the UAE to boycott the US company that, "Kuwait is discussing this matter."

Disney has shops in Kuwait, and its films are very popular in this country of 2.2 million inhabitants.

Any regional boycott of Disney could result in US $100 million in losses for the company every year in the Middle East. By the end of 2005 Disney sales in the Gulf region alone are expected to exceed US $500 million.

Morocco and Saudi Arabia are among the 40 states taking part in the exposition organized by the company on the new millennium in Florida.

Previous Stories:
  UAE protests Walt Disney exposition   (9/8/1999)
  AL threatens to boycott Disney   (9/7/1999)
  Islamic organization campaigns against Jerusalem, capital of Israel stand at Disney World exhibition   (9/4/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search