For years, many of us who work in the press in the Arab world looked with envy at our peers in the British media. They had the luxury to investigate and report on subjects we were forced to ignore.
Some of us are still struggling in the local environment and writing to 'get the story out' without angering anyone, rather than taking risks.
We tell our young journalists that we should not jeopardise our news organisation or even get it closed down just because we want to act like British reporters do.
But things have changed dramatically in the past few years. The media in the Arab world is increasingly vocal and can report quite freely provided they employ the 'necessary' tricks (such as omitting the names of suspected criminals and underperforming schools or hospitals - often we tend to use initials) on issues that were considered off limits a few years ago.
We now report on corruption in politics and government, the dubious labour practices of influential employers and can question decisions that we suspect could harm the public interest.
One of the most robust presses in this part of the world can in fact be found in Dubai, the second largest of seven emirates that make up the Gulf state of the UAE.
The amazing growth the emirate has witnessed in the past decade led to evolution and competition in the media, the likes of which has never been seen before.
Reporters now go out in the field with the latest gadgets - small video cameras and Blackberry mobile phones - and the story is online in minutes.
They rarely wait for a more cautious editor, like myself, to tell them that we cannot run this or that. Once the story is online, no one can stop the flow of information. Dubai not only understands this but also appreciates it.
Its success story was made possible by opening up to the new and the modern - not just gadgets and expensive towers, but more importantly ideas and concepts.
We live in a conservative neighbourhood in the Gulf. But we managed to build a city that is multicultural, open-minded, tolerant and as modern as you can get.
And that is not because of the luxuries we import from around the world. It is mainly because we believe that the peaceful co-existence of different cultures and minds can do wonders.
But there is a price to pay - occasionally we must suffer columnists like Rod Liddle (admittedly, I would love to meet him).
The Times columnist spent a few days - or perhaps a few hours, he didn't say - in Dubai and then wrote a 4,400 word essay about the emirate (The Sunday Times, July 12, 2009, "Sordid reality behind Dubai's gilded façade").
This vitriolic, racist rant was more worthy of a third-grade tabloid. It was not the professional journalism one expects from an institution like The Times.
He mixed personal anecdotes with facts, so that by the time you finished reading his article, you were confused as to which was which.
Dubai has been the subject of a number of such articles over the past few months, mainly in British newspapers. They tend to portray a city that has fallen apart as a result of the global economic crisis. One article described Dubai as 'a ghost city'.
But none of the other articles was as comical as the one written by Liddle. He narrated the story of Dubai, a city that has attracted thousands of reputed multinational companies and investors, through the eyes of prostitutes, a few disgruntled expatriates and quoted an alleged angry message posted by an Emirati "recently" on a blog.
Of course, since Liddle kept his source anonymous, we have no way of knowing which blog he was quoting, and cannot identify the person who posted this possibly fake message.
Dubai is not perfect. We would like it to be, but as a modern city it has some of the same shortcomings as other major cities around the world. It has a rich class and a large poor class.
It has glamorous night life enjoyed by the well heeled and also agonising daily work performed under the sweltering heat by the less fortunate.
But the emirate, driven by a national vision, has managed to spread its wealth around and has helped millions of needy people in Asia and Africa through continuous humanitarian efforts in education and health care, such as Dubai Cares and Noor Dubai.
The most striking and abhorrent part of Liddle's article is the racist tone of its author when referring to Emiratis. He describes them as "utterly useless, corrupt and indolent".
According to Liddle, even the prostitutes don't want their "business" and a poor hardworking taxi driver would not pick them up - something never heard of here, even by journalists, who would love to get their hands on such a story.
The Dubai described in this bizarre article is very different from the one we know. Liddle tells only part of the story in his highly emotive language.
If he had met with the thousands of hardworking British, South African, Indian and Pakistani expatriates who contribute to and are enjoying the fantastic development of Dubai and other UAE cities he would have got the 'real' story of this cosmopolitan city.
I am sure there is a motive behind running such a one-sided piece, but I don't really want to know. Had I read his article on a blog or even the website of a tabloid newspaper, I would not have taken it seriously. Unfortunately, it was a centrepiece in a prestigious publication I respect.
Your comments
I was in Dubai from May 08, 2009 until 17th of May and, let me say I had a very good time there, the people where nice and courteous, I don't know what is meant as a ghost town, but let me just say the city was always busy and vibrant, sounds like a little envy going on here. I would like to say that I will be back to Dubai in the near future god willing.
I always remember no news is bad news, you all must be doing something right there or they would not be there reporting.
Steven Howard
Maryland,USA
Posted: July 29, 2009, 18:07
I think people stereotype dubai, they go on everything the television programmes say and what is written in the newspapers and they don't come to see here for themselves. I think that Dubai is unique in it's own way. Ok, some people might not like it, but look at the people who choose to come out here. This surely must mean something. Newspapers like the times just want to get readers, so they say what will attract attention. Not the truth.
Sullie Bruce
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 29, 2009, 17:29
A very well written article. I could only hope that Sunday Times prints this as a reply to Liddle's article, or more appropriately a personal blog of his.
Unfortunately for others, and fortunately for us in UAE, the success which has been achieved since 2 December 1971 has been enormous and unmatched. From history of desert rose we have brought this magnificent country to life by Allah's grace
As a pakistani who has spent all my life in dubai, i feel by body and soul part of this country, made from the sands of the desert of rub al khali.
JJ
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 29, 2009, 15:35
I am an Indian lived in Dubai for 12 year long years. now i lived in Banjul Gambia (west Africa) but still i miss Dubai. what ever Mr.Liddle wrote in his artical is baseless. i naver felt any of bad experiance. which he felt during his short visit for just few hours. and specially about emiratis what he wrote (utterly useless, corrupt and indolent)can i ask mr. Liddle where else in world you can find mixed culture living togther peacfully like dubai. and where u can find people like emiratis who welcome everyone to their country and provided every best facilities for every one without any ristriction.Why he didnt write a single word for the charity work. I think Mr. Liddle have to live in Dubai for atleast an year then he will know what dubai is and how Emiratis are!!
Mahesh Nebhwani
Banjul,Gambia
Posted: July 29, 2009, 15:20
Thank you for this article. I think it's a good reply to the author of The Times dirty publication. His article was completely ridiculous and outrageous, not reflecting the objective reality at all. I could not believe that The Times have published something like that. Dubai is a nice place, but as it has grown so quickly, it does have its' shortcomings like any other place in the world. All I can say is that such "journalists" like Liddle have no idea what they are writing about.
Leonora Tomaszewicz
London,UK
Posted: July 29, 2009, 15:13
Hi ..
i would like to comment on this message. A coin has 2 sides. Dubai is like that. There are good facts about it, and bad facts about it. Its upto us, which side we want to see.
When we are happy, satisifed we will look at the good side. When we are angry, disgruntled we look at the bad side.
i request ppl to consider this before reading anyones personal reports or opinions.
JP
-,UAE
Posted: July 29, 2009, 14:39
I agree should never have been printed.
i have lived here for nearly three years met many people and have new friends of various nationalities,these remarks are slanderous,this is safe and pleasent place to live,those comments were totally without merrit.
Keith
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 29, 2009, 14:06
Very well said. I actually blogged about the same topic last week.
Mohammad Zaher
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 29, 2009, 13:25
Thank you for this column. I was also terribly disappointed by the quality of the article in The Times which was one-sided and ill-informed. Dubai is a glowing example of the most progressive and tolerant society in this region, where expatriates are treated with respect and in accordance with the law. It is time we had some impartial journalism in British press.
S. A.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 29, 2009, 12:56
I visit almost every, so as to speak, "Anti Dubai websites" I can find on world wide web but I am yet to see any such comment from an Emarati, as he mentioned in his article. I think even the most amateur journalist know to cite a quoting. Unfortunately Mr Rod Liddle didn't
Sarmad Hassan
Dubai,Pakistani UAE
Posted: July 29, 2009, 12:50
I was myself incensed about this column a couple of weeks ago. For some reason, international newspapers cant seem to grasp a balanced view of our city. Initially it was utopia on earth and more recently evil reincarnate. I myself left a reprimanding comment on their site which did not get printed. Anyhow good job on putting this up and giving me a space to vent.
Hani
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 29, 2009, 12:39
