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Two modern Arabian tales: Simon Atkinson wrestles red tape in Dubai, finding that the UAE wants your NOC; Daniel Owen finds a quieter Yemen as he visits Al Ghaydah's fish market.

Pascale Harter introduces personal insights, stories and wit from 成人快手 correspondents and writers around the world. In this edition, there are two modern tales from the Arabian peninsula. In Dubai, Simon Atkinson finds that the 'sponsor' system has bred its own bureaucratic habits - including the regular insistence that you produce one particular piece of paper. But why is it so often the case that the UAE wants your NOC? And how on earth do you get one? Meanwhile, in the provincial town of Al Ghaydah, Daniel Owen finds another side to Yemen. It's a country often associated with poverty, lawlessness, political revolt and armed jihadis - at least on the news bulletins. But a night drive with some friends showed him that even here, daily life goes on - and what really matters to some people is the price of fish.

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10 minutes

Last on

Thu 28 Mar 2013 01:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Wed 27 Mar 2013 12:50GMT
  • Wed 27 Mar 2013 23:50GMT
  • Thu 28 Mar 2013 01:50GMT