Ramadan has just passed and now things are returning to normal. In so many areas of our daily lives, we do not realise it, but we place emphasis on things being done with urgency — whether it is to do with a task being set, an appointment fixed, a project being planned or simply just to travel from one place to another.

Over the last month, we have been able to take a step back and reassess our lives, even for those who are non-Muslims. During this time, most expatriates take the time to follow the local practices adopted during Ramadan, which include fasting and Ramadan specific routines. Perhaps there are more lessons which we can learn in the UAE as a whole than just business practices and shopping cycles.

We should reflect on our lives and by doing this possibly reveal that our character behaviour often shows a sense of urgency and impatience which often goes unnoticed by one's self. On the other hand, we are all guilty of being too quick to pass judgement on those around us who are merely doing the same reactions as we are. This cannot be right.

At this point we should take a minute to look at those people around us and the environment we are in and it becomes clearer to see.

There are great examples of this which are both macro and micro in type, affecting individuals and the greater population to varying levels.

For example, the recent downturn in the market has forced many residents to commute daily from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. Anyone who is reading this will know that it is the prime example of how the meaning of patience seems to be forgotten.

We have all been ‘flashed' by vehicles which see the fast lane as a one-way ticket to getting to Abu Dhabi 10 minutes faster. But honestly, when you see some of the accidents that do happen, even at lesser speeds, it does make you wonder — is it worthwhile to save those few minutes?

These could be achieved perhaps by planning to leave for your office earlier. But it is not just on the main Dubai to Abu Dhabi Road that this happens.

You see people cutting queues as and when they perceive it's OK to do so, or even when they think it's their prerogative and right. Did it ever occur to those "queue-cutters" what the other nine people in front would perceive of him/her and that they have as much, if not more right, to be served first?

If everyone thinks like a queue-cutter, then this world would become very messy indeed. No one can say they deserve to be first or ahead of anyone else in today's society.

These situations are often created by an overstretched daily schedule. We all live in a world where we really need 28 hours in a day, and time is so invaluable that we must make the most of what we have. But this can be transposed onto a bigger canvas, if we just take a look at the skyline of Abu Dhabi. What we see is a city which is in a mass state of transition to create a modern and vibrant city environment for the 21st century.

Is it not true that the patience and restraint adopted by the city has been the major factor on avoiding a meltdown in the property market as has been witnessed elsewhere locally and globally?

The property market is one which without realising demands a higher level of patience from all sides of the market — be it developers, end-users, government agencies, investors, media and even the general public.

Perhaps we should take more from the recent month than we think.

 

The writer is director of valuations and advisory at Chesterton International.