Readers debate the issue of national identity

Make an effort to understand the UAE

With reference to Gulf News's debate on national identity, I think that the UAE is one of the most tolerant countries in the world when it comes to accepting and welcoming people from other cultures and religions. Proof is that 85 per cent of its population is expatriate. However, in being so, the UAE has, unexpectedly, invited many expatriates who have no appreciation, and in some cases no respect, for its language, culture or religion!

To start understanding any culture and its people you have to start by learning its language. It is a shame that in the UAE, the non-Arab nationals have found the lazy way out and decided to make English the first language of the country! It is a bigger shame that the Emiratis allowed it to happen! Could you imagine Hindi being the first language in Britain or Arabic the first language of France? Now, perhaps, others will understand what it feels like to be an Emirati facing an identity crisis.

I think the government's decision to have all official papers written in Arabic is a step in the right direction. However, I think more should be done in the education sector. Yes, schools do fulfil the government's minimum requirement but that is obviously not enough! There need to be more private schools where the standard of Arabic taught is high and done so in parallel with English, from an early age for pupils. Arabic is a beautiful language with very rich literary heritage that needs to be appreciated.

Expatriates must understand that to be part of this society they have to appreciate the culture that has accepted them and learning its language is one way of showing it. I know that if I lived in any country as an expatriate, I would definitely make sure that my children and I learn the language so we could better understand the culture!
From Ms Fatima Saleh
Dubai

Poor selection

Imported TV programmes should be selected in such a manner that they fit into the society's national identity values ("Is national identity being threatened?" Gulf News, May 26). At the moment some TV channels are loaded with foreign programmes, which are not acceptable in a Muslim society. Imported TV programmes are welcome if they are meant to enrich people's knowledge and improve their way of living. I think private education in English is not a threat to national identity. I have two children who go to a private school and study in English, and I am very satisfied with the school's Arabic and Islamic curriculum. My children have learned Arabic very well and they have learned a lot about Islamic culture and the UAE national culture and identity. So, of course, Arabic language is very important to teach at private schools but learning about the national culture and identity can be done in the language that school children understand. From Ms Raoudha S.
Sharjah

No Emirati restaurants

I am an Emirati, and I am concerned as to why we still don't have restaurants that focus on our traditional cuisine. We have restaurants from all over the globe in the UAE, but we don't have one decent restaurant that serves Emirati cuisine. I believe that this is part of the UAE's national identity and must be implemented.
From Ms Hana Shamlan
Dubai

Learn or leave

As a French citizen I completely agree that if the national identity were under threat in France, it would be considered a great offence. I think the government should enforce Arabic, in the school and for newcomers. In Germany all foreigners have to learn German within two years, otherwise they are not granted a residence visa for a longer period. It would be the first step. Another step would be to be more careful with the expatriates being granted visas - give it only to people who "fit" the country.
From Mr Eric
Sharjah

More Asia than Arabia

There is an urgent need to address the weakening of UAE's national identity. Policy makers should do more to encourage foreign nationals to learn the Arabic language, culture, religion and values. UAE to many foreigners is more of Asia than Arabia. The UAE is a great country, very welcoming and secure, we all feel good to be identified with it and be allowed to experience a multicultural environment. The only thing that needs to be moderated is the particular dominance by foreign cultures that upsets the correct demography and hence dilutes the national culture.
From Mr Edward G.
Dubai

No flaws to fill

I think the UAE national identity is not being threatened by the growing number of expatriates. Being a non-Arab expatriate, I love the UAE and its unique culture as much as I love my own country. No one can take away from the UAE its identity, as there is not a single flaw or gap in the culture that can be filled up with any other tradition.
From Mr Farhan
Dubai

Strangers around

Indeed, Emiratis are losing their identity. All responsible entities should look into this issue. I think businesses have a great role in causing this, as they are the ones that build projects to attract and bring in more expatriates. I am an Emirati, but I don't feel that I belong here when I'm out on the streets or shopping because all the people around me are foreigners!
From Ms Munira
Dubai
Full name withheld by request

Unfortunate

All concerns are warranted. Emiratis as Muslims and Arabs should be the majority in their own country. To see the consequences of letting foreign morals and their way of thought dominate is a clear disrespect to the culture and way of life of this region. A good start would be to make Arabic standard in all areas. Hopefully the current imbalance will be rectified.
From Mr Shairoz
Dubai

Left behind

Having spent 15 years away from Dubai, only to return recently, has given me a slightly different perspective probably to those who have lived here continuously. Maybe to move forward certain things have to be left behind, to me Dubai may have gained in many ways, even socially, but it seems to have lost some of the real interaction that existed previously, both within the expatriate community, which was much more tightly knit, and the Emiratis. Would you allow me to largely blame American influence for that, or would it be more easily attributed to a different class of foreign residents?
From A Reader
Name withheld by request
Spain

More push

I have been in the UAE for more than five years. I have been trying to learn Arabic for the past two years but with very little success. The main reason is that there is nobody to speak Arabic with. Everyone either speaks English or Urdu. A strong push from the authorities is needed to force Arabic as a national Language.
From Mr Hussaini Kasim
Dubai

Uphold identity

It is essential to maintain and uphold national identity. Expatriates must learn the language and observe local culture. This is what we all follow when we go to other countries, so why not in the UAE? People should be encouraged to speak Arabic.
From Mr Shan
Dubai

The hardest thing

My brother, sister and I have been born and brought up in Abu Dhabi. I am 30 years old and work to support my family, ever since my father retired. I am an expatriate but have spent all my life in the UAE. I love this country and feel a part of it. However, I do realise that when I reach the age of 60, I will probably have to go back to my country. That would probably be the hardest thing for me to do.

From Ms Ambareen Z.

Abu Dhabi

My daughter and I

I remember my first visit to the UAE in 1998. I loved the country, its unique culture and its kind-hearted, gentle people. Then I made an effort to start learning Arabic by myself. But it was without much result. I continued to buy some Arabic books from stores. Slowly, one of my daughters got interested in learning Arabic. Now she is an adult and works in the UAE. She loves the country, too.
From Ms Roze K.
Dubai

Threatened

I do believe that the national identity is threatened in the UAE. It can be seen in the legal system. If the UAE utilises a jury pool system, who would make up the jury in this system? This would obviously create cultural and religious issues. For example, in Malaysia, which is predominantly a Muslim nation, Muslims in the legal system can request to be judged under Muslim law.
From Mr David
Dubai

Speaking the language

The UAE is an Islamic nation. People from all over the world live here for free without any restrictions. But, if the concern is about national identity, I would suggest that the authorities instruct companies to allow employees to learn Arabic. Speaking the language could help unite people. Activities could be conducted every month to increase interest in the culture of the country.
From Mr Navaresh
Dubai
Full name withheld by request

Give and take

Comparing UAE to France or the European Union is absolutely meaningless. Someone who is born or brought up in these countries gets the nationality and tries to adapt to the culture. In the UAE, and other parts of the Middle East, once you attain the age of 60 or 65, you have to go back irrespective of the number of years you have served. My father lived here for 30 years and went back. Therefore, everyone treats Middle East as a place to earn and move forward. It's all about give and take. People earn because they work and they have skills, which the country needs.
From Mr Omar D.
London, UK

A respectful visitor

It's great to hear Emirati voices expressing the importance of heritage and traditions. It is said that the destruction of Western society came about because these important habits were lost. If the UAE can maintain its roots, the wealth of it as a country will speak for itself. As we know wealth is wisdom and wisdom is history! I am a working expatriate here in Dubai and know for sure that I am a visitor, who will therefore respect the country and its people.
From Ms Mary
Dubai

Be proud

It is a good debate that has started, which took a long time to begin. There are certain Emiratis who insist on not speaking in Arabic, even if the expatriates they are interacting with wish to. In Saudi Arabia, one can see expatriates speak fluent Arabic, irrespective of how long they have stayed in the country. There must be arrangements for free or low-cost lessons to teach Arabic.
From Mr S. Khalid
Sharjah

Increase Arab numbers

Part of the problem is that foreigners who are not Arabs are treated much better than their Arab counterparts. It is easy for them to find work and obtain visas, while Arabs are discriminated against in terms of pay and access to visas. The government should work to make the country more attractive to Arabs from countries such as Egypt, Yemen, Syria and others. They should also curb the growing number of foreigners in the country, and try to boost the percentage of Arabs in the UAE. This will help preserve Arab culture and Islamic traditions.
From Mr Ebrahim Al Yafei
Abu Dhabi

Across the GCC

I think that the national identity problem is across all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, except in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Such a problem should be tackled on a GCC level and then on a country level, as all GCC countries share the same roots, habits and interests. For Arabic language, it was tough for me to find a non-public school that had British or American curriculum and at the same time had good Arabic and Islamic religion courses including teaching of the Quran. However, unfortunately most of the Arab countries are still lagging behind in research and scientific development, so we would be obliged to study all science and mathematics in English.
From Mr Tamer Samir
Dubai

Promote art and theatre

Language is one of the visible faces of national identity, while there are other social and cultural attributes that mark a country's identity. The fundamental issue that has to be understood is that introduction of a foreign language will not destroy the local language. It is rather neglect that brings about the downfall of the national language. The best way to nurture a language is to be constructive, by encouraging literary competitions, providing financial support to theatre in Arabic, offering free education in Arabic and holding Arabic recitals rather than bringing about a compulsory rule on its use.
From Mr Kuppuswamy Thiyagarajan
UAE