The United Arab Emirates federal government will give state civil and military employees a 70 percent pay rise from Jan. 1, state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) said on Tuesday, following a cabinet meeting.

All federal government employees, including civilians and security personnel of the interior ministry, will get 70 percent salary hike with effect from January 2008 salary. Pensioners from the interior ministry also qualify for the raise.

The salary increase was ordered by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE's Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, in line with directives from President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, WAM said.

In its Tuesday meeting, the cabinet also approved the 2008 federal budget of 34.9 billion dirhams, an increase of 6.7 billion dirhams over the 2007 budget, which cabinet sources said is the highest increase in the history of the UAE federation.

*volunteers to join up*

I wonder if they have to work any harder??!

more price rises then........

Well, hopefully the AED will be revalued soon (by 15-20%).....

In reality that is a less than 35% rise (not that this is an insignificant amount)

It will be "up to 70%" rise...
We will feel the after-effects later with new price and service fee hikes and the private sector will have a field day trying to cope with the additional greed the landlords will show...

Most will be lining up at the banks to find out by just how much they can top up their existing loans

You guys giving,or planning on giving, good rates???

hopefully it won't, lol...

MM, xx

You have to ask for a salary pegged to a basket of currencies lol

no idea.... can find out if you want

You'd better find out what your contact details are...
A business opportunity will be coming your way...
(That's what I read in your horoscope...)

I read yours too, you're meeting a loan shark very soon........

sterling is just fine at the moment...!!

MM, xx

None of the sort,thank goodness...
It has nothing about money changing hands...