Culture can be defined as a lifestyle of a country. It is the sum of beliefs and common characteristics amongst a group of people and the broader society. It includes many societal aspects like language, religion, customs and values. Societies share a cultural bond.
Ethnic cultures are many — African, Indian, Greek and European, for instance — and all are unique. Emirati culture isn't any different. Culture is all about people, and the places in which they live and the experiences that they share with the world.
Culture is also reflected in the customs of a country; the art it produces, the social institutions that represent what is valuable to its people, the achievements of the region, their festivities and celebrations.
Most prominent attributes in any cultural experience are the attitudes and behaviour of its people. A critical part of a culture is the social structure in which it operates. It is ultimately the roles people play. It can be applied to a family as each one will have a culture of its own. It gives you a sense of place.
What predominantly shapes us as people is our individualism. It is what makes us different from the rest.
We can be very different from other cultures but we definitely share some similarities as people. We all communicate, eat and sleep. We speak different languages, we prefer certain foods, and we have different dreams but we are all human — just with cultural deviations.
Learning about a culture is a personal choice, but when we are going to become residents of a certain place, it is very important that we learn the basics. It is about respect for the place you decide to live in. Learning about the culture will teach many residents the sensitivities which they need to be aware of.
Poor awareness
A recent study has shown that many expatriates in the UAE are unaware of the culture and customs of the country. Many didn't take the time to discover what the history, heritage or rules were.
The UAE is home to people of about 200 nationalities who have different backgrounds and upbringing. It is a truly diverse country. The one thing they all have in common is the land they have chosen to make their home; whether permanently or temporarily. In all cases, it is a must that they learn to blend in.
The choice of making the UAE home is simple for many, as it is known to have a stable economy, tolerates all nationalities and promotes peaceful co-existence. It is also a cosmopolitan country and has low levels of crime. Families choose it because it is a great place to raise their children in.
Emiratis are very friendly, respectful, and well mannered but some expatriates find it hard to get a chance to interact with UAE nationals, since they are perceived as being a reserved community.
Some expatriates learn about the culture through their work-related interactions and, most probably, only at governmental agencies issuing permits to allow them to stay in the country. But this is just not enough. Some expatriates stick to their own communities, only befriending people from their own regions.
Hands-on approach
I believe learning about the UAE is a matter of civility. There is so much to share and experience. The objective ultimately is to promote mutual understanding between the UAE culture and others, create lasting friendships through education, humanitarian and cultural activities.
Introducing culture to those who need to learn about it is the responsibility of many. Authorities in the UAE have to come up with a more hands-on approach to teaching visitors and residents about the customs; about what is appropriate and what is not.
Tourism authorities need to create facilities that expatriates in every emirate are encouraged to visit upon arrival. Some of these facilities do exist; there's just a need for better marketing, targeting expatriates. They must start conducting free workshops for residents periodically to take them through the basics and to introduce them to the lovely culture that we are all so proud of.
These workshops and multicultural awareness campaigns can cover all the important topics, including dress codes, learning about the history of the UAE and its heritage, and learning a few sentences in Arabic to promote interaction. The workshop will certainly help to avoid any future mishaps and acts from expatriates that some UAE nationals find obscene.
Introducing a cultural awareness test might be a good solution using different mediums of communication. The workshops and tests can be posted on websites and expatriates who find it hard to leave their homes can take part in the workshops online and test themselves on how much they have learned.
The embassies of countries from which the expatriates come share the responsibility of educating them about the culture of the country. The cultural attaches' role in every embassy should not be restricted to teaching UAE nationals about their home country but should be extended to teaching their people about the country that is hosting them. They should make them aware of the culture and should create a hub of network with UAE nationals, where they can share similar interests with fellow residents.
Local cultural champions do exist in every UAE national, but in some this trait just needs to be discovered. I have yet to come across a UAE national who isn't passionate about his or her country. We all are very proud, but some might need a gentle scratch on their surface to unleash their potential.
Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder and first president of the UAE, said: "Our ancestors have left us culture that is an asset and we are entitled to be proud of [it] and to preserve it and develop it for generations to come."
It is our responsibility as UAE nationals to be our own cultural ambassadors. Interaction doesn't need to be formal. It can take place anywhere. Whether in our work dealings, during grocery shopping or when just spending time at the mall, we are constantly interacting with people of other nationalities.
Much is being done to bridge the gap and there is yet more to be accomplished. It is a responsibility that we all share. Take charge today and start building bridges.
Shaikha Yahya Al Maskari is an Emirati writer from Abu Dhabi. You can follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/uaeyah
