In the UAE, there are various radio programs that allow citizens and expatriates to voice issues on air. However, Sharjah’s Direct Line has one dedicated listener: Sharjah’s Ruler.
The program has assisted in resolving a number of concerns that were brought immediately on air. In one such situation, a resident called and stated she couldn’t afford to enroll her disabled son in a specific school stream. She claimed she had no job and no one to support her. Dr Sheikh Sultan, the ruler of Sharjah, then called and agreed to cover the boy’s educational and medical expenses.
Last year, in a call on the programme, the Sharjah Ruler expressed his disapproval over registering and adding foreign words to the Arabic language, saying the practice is becoming prevalent.
In 2021, he stopped a bank from auctioning off a citizen’s home over his inability to pay off his housing loan. This came after the owner called on the program, appealing for help.
More examples of concerns that were resolved directly include some taxi plate owners who were unable to pass their plates on to their families after their deaths, prompting a caller to recommend inheritance rights for family members, which were later enacted.
Another issue was the shortage of drying space for fishermen’s catch, which prompted the ruler to command that lands be allocated for this purpose in each district.
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