In 2008, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amended its judicial law, becoming the second country in the Gulf to allow women to serve as prosecutors and judges. A draft press law under consideration at the end of the year would reintroduce prison sentences for journalists who criticize the government or the country’s economy. During 2008, foreign workers continued to violently protest low wages and poor working and living conditions in the country, although the government took some steps to register the country’s large population of stateless workers