Des Plaines, IL (December 20, 2011) – The URISA Board of Directors recently received a petition from its members in the United Arab Emirates requesting approval to organize a URISA Chapter in the country. The Board unanimously approved organizing status for a United Arab Emirates URISA Chapter.
 
URISA President, Greg Babinski, GISP noted:
 
“The formation of a new chapter in the United Arab Emirates is a significant development in fulfilling URISA’s constitution to ‘…operate as an objective educational organization without political, social, financial, or national bias.’  In its early years (25 to 50 years ago) URISA was hampered in fulfilling this goal by the high cost of international travel, the lack of modern internet and telephony, the division of the planet into assumed First World-Third World regions, and the West vs. Communist Block divide – these factors are all now changed.  While URISA has chapters throughout North America and individual members around the world, the U.A.E. Chapter formation reminds us that URISA can now leverage its educational assets, portfolio of conferences, and 50 year body of knowledge more broadly.  On behalf of URISA I welcome our colleagues from the United Arab Emirates and look forward to meeting, learning, and sharing together in the coming years.”
 
Visit the URISA website for frequent updates on events and organizational activities surrounding the URISA UAE Chapter, www.urisa.org.