Embarking upon inter-cultural journey

Dubai: Not many people can say that the nationalities of their group of friends is as varied as the United Nations. However, it is the norm in the UAE.

Within this melting pot there are two types of people — cultural learners and culture critics.

According to Wael Al Sayegh, director and founder of Alghaf Human Resource Consultants, a firm that specialises in inter-cultural intelligence education, the former represents the people who embrace the fact that many countries are becoming more globalised and are eager to learn about other people's cultures.

Al Sayegh, an Emirati, explained that in order to move forward in life people need to go through an inter-cultural journey.

This journey starts with emotional intelligence where people get to know their inner self and understand the ways of their culture.

Al Sayegh said: "The young Emirati generation in the UAE is growing up in a globalised society. They have inter-cultural intelligence, which is the ability to deal with the reality of having different cultures."

Al Sayegh has collaborated with Marco Blankenburgh, the international director of Knowledge Workx, to research, promote and develop this way of thinking.

However, not everyone in society is comfortable with this cultural blending.

Easy way

Cultural critics are those who find the easy way out by being quick to stereotype, as they simplify different groups and judge all the people in it based on their conclusion.

He said: "This way of thinking exists everywhere and these people fear the unknown and only stick to their kind. This makes it easy for them to generalise about other groups."

Such people would not succeed in life if they stay in their comfort zone because eventually that zone will only get smaller.

Another issue that arises is the fear of having other cultures and nationalities come in and take what is ‘theirs'. Many would see that as a threat.

According to Al Sayegh, a way to tackle this problem and bridge the gaps between cultures is to have people speak openly about such issues to resolve them and in return the world would open up to them.

He said: "I believe young Emiratis can survive anywhere because they have their cultural values while being surrounded by many nationalities and cultures."

Al Sayegh believes that this is the start to an amazing new chapter for the future.

He added: "Opening your mind and heart is the only way to move forward and if you do not do that then you are not living life."