Where the UAE stands today is remarkable — a stark difference to where it started 40 years ago. This is not a matter of fact really, rather it is more a matter of reality.
Today, when Emiratis talk of the UAE, it is with a sincere passion for the union that brought everyone together under one flag. At the same time they are equally passionate about protecting and preserving the peace which the country has been able to sustain since its formation. Living the inspirations of the past and building on the aspirations of the future is surely an uphill task.
At 40, the UAE is still a young nation with the youth making up a significant portion of the population. If one were to take a glimpse of what the future would look like — 40 years later — it is this young generation that would need to be observed and understood.
Emiratis who were born in 1971 would today be 40. In other words, all those who were born after the federation are below that age. This is a group that has been witness to the boom years of the 1990s — the decade that has seen a jump in the benefits offered by the federation.
The only group that perhaps has had the chance to witness as much as live by the conditions of the pre-federation era is now an ageing group, whose role would be constrained as time passes by.
Hence, the significant role would be for those young Emiratis who were born after the 1970s. And to understand what role they will be playing in the future we have to examine the environment in which they have grown up.
Changing environment
The changes that occurred in the UAE in the 1990s and beyond were phenomenal — not only in scale but also in speed. The rhythm of change has been dramatic and one need only see how the cities of the country have expanded in terms of space, activities and population.
Whether we are looking at the bigger cities or smaller places, all have been affected by change, to varying degrees. As a matter of fact, it would be immature to signify the changes only with the material aspects. Norms of life and habits of the day have altered so as to accommodate and weather the onslaught of these changes.
This is the first element that has had the greatest influence of all on the young generation of the UAE. It is one that has exposed them to a global community beyond the geographical boundaries of the country.
In addition, the increase in population — with expatriates accounting for a majority — also has had its impact. This could easily be seen in how accustomed the young generation is to living in a changing environment, which in many cases stands in stark contrast to what their parents and great grandfathers experienced.
And although this is more evident in the major cities, it is still there even in some of the more remote areas, as development has also caught on there as well.
This brings us to the question: what are the aspirations of this particular young generation? What role do they expect or believe they would be playing in the future? After all, those who were born in the 1990s have grown up in a complex surrounding — one that is defined by the speed for everything.
Part of the answer lies in how the changing surrounding has affected this generation. And perhaps the full impact would not be comprehended except when the UAE has completed another 40 years or more. But more importantly though, is the crucial significance of the generation that has been instrumental and witness to the transformation of the UAE. It is this generation that ensures that the hardship and struggle of the past is known and appreciated.
This group upholds the true spirit of the emirates and its people — simplicity in life, belief in the principles that bind an extended family together, and the ethics that bring a whole community together as a single unity. It is these principles that have always been the foundation of the emirates and which have stood the test of time.
Hence, the challenge for the young generation will be to ensure that the foundations remain solid yet versatile so as to accommodate future changes. It is this generation that will determine the extent of future progress and its direction. And if any lesson is learnt from the past, it is that perseverance would require a group's solidarity, commitment to the cause, and a comprehension of what seem at times like shifting sands.
