UAE to raise wages of state employees by 70 percent

The United Arab Emirates federal government will give state civil and military employees a 70 percent salary hike from January 1, 2008, state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported recently. This follows a cabinet meeting. Spending for next calendar year was set at 9.34 billion dirhams ($2.54 billion), WAM said. This is expected to give a big boost to UAE economy.