UAE introduces compulsory military service for high school graduates

While much of the world is abandoning compulsory military service for voluntary armed forces, Al Jazeera announced today that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had adopted a law requiring compulsory military service for adult males.  Male high school graduates between the ages of 18 and 30 will be required to serve nine months, whereas those who are not graduates will have to serve for two years.  Military service for females will be voluntary.  The UAE seems to be following a trend started earlier this year by Qatar, which also introduced a conscription law requiring all male Qataris between the ages 18 and 35 to serve at least three months if high school graduates and four months if not.  Kuwait reportedly is also considering reintroducing conscription.