Based on the article: HASSAN M. FATTAH, Memo from Dubai: Beyond Skimpy Skirts, a Rare Debate on Identity, October 19, 2006, New York Times
Dubai is a prime example of a modern “dreamworld” of investment. It is seen as an economic success story in the Arab world; an example of all that can be accomplished in the Middle East. For foreigners it offers a lifestyle most can only dream of. The city now hosts more than 150 different nationalities, all drawn to the promises of luxury resorts, endless sunshine, job opportunities and a safe haven in the United Arab Emirates. But with the expansion of the city, tensions are growing between the local citizens and the rapidly increasing number of expatriates. What are the ethics of building such capitalist playgrounds? Fattah’s article focuses on the question of local identity in the face of such globalisation; what are the limits on multiculturalism?
A miniskirt walking around downtown is offensive, and may even violate a local ban, but such rules have been slackened. Formerly strict rules on public behaviour included fines for skimpy dressing or breaking fast in daylight hours during Ramadan, and the possibility of being arrested for public kissing. Though these laws are seen as part of the culture, they are often not enforced due to the high numbers of foreigners both living and holidaying in Dubai. The tension this brings is felt especially during Ramadan. Locals complain of a “lack of spiritual tone”. Shops now stay open throughout the day instead of closing during the afternoon as was usual during Ramadan, restaurants serve food during fasting hours, and hotels continue to sell alcohol.
In October 2006, an article in the tabloid 7Days, with the headline “Show Some Respect” sparked the debate about Dubai’s cultural identity. It seems that locals fear that expatriates are going to impose their own culture on them, and they are afraid of losing their own identity. Currently, of a total population of 1.2 million people, only about 250, 000 are citizens. The growth of the city has brought with it problems such as inflation, rises in crime and divorce rates and increased traffic. With luxury buildings taking over, and property prices sky-rocketing, many Emiratis have been forced to look abroad, and many have been abandoning their traditions. Whilst the local population hopes to preserve the culture – the “Emiratiness” – of the city, Western investments continue to be endorsed. The presence of Western influences, too, are numerous and obvious, including international department stores, luxury hotels, and even christmas trees. Some expatriates feel that the Westernisation of the city should not be seen as a problem, that it is a means of progress, that, for example, women should be allowed to wear what they wish to, and no longer be seen as second class citizens.
Part of the problem lies in that there remains a firm barrier between locals and expatriates. Foreigners are ineligible for citizenship, and tend to live apart from locals, with the bare minimum of social interaction. They are often encouraged to “stick to their own kind”, as do the locals, and are given few opportunities to learn or assimilate the local culture (there is little exposure to emirate food and clothes for example). Citizens fear that there is only a fine line between tolerance of foreign culture and defaulting on their own. Over bridging the cultural divide should start with increased interaction, hopefully leading to a better understanding of each other.
A more serious, underlying cause for the tensions lies in the socioeconomic stratification of the population. Citizens are typically land owners, with Westerners often having the highest incomes, and immigrants from South Asia often being exploited as a cheap source of labour. These workers may have even paid corrupt recruiters to be able to work on one of the many construction sites, and, on arrival, are made to live in cramped camps in the desert surrounding the city, whilst receiving minimal pay1. As inflation has set in, these economic divides have been deepened, and have in turn strengthened the cultural tensions.
There are some organisations, however, that are looking to reduce the tension and misunderstanding of each other. The Sheik Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, for example, has organized tours and meals in the homes of locals for expatriates, and college students are now organizing booths in shopping malls where expatriate shoppers and tourists can meet and talk to citizens. A new museum built provides exhibitions and events on Dubai’s culture and history. The citizens of Dubai remain proud of their city and their culture, and though this is indeed a rather artificial means of encouraging interaction it is, at least, a start.
1 HASSAN M. FATTAH In Dubai, an Outcry From Asians for Workplace Rights, March 26, 2006, New York Times
