We are a minority in our own country

When I share the latest statistics of our demographics with people, specifically that we as UAE nationals are 18 per cent of our population, most foreigners are shocked and perplexed.

You can imagine how we as UAE nationals feel. We are neither shocked nor perplexed; we are deeply concerned and determined to ensure that the issue of demographic imbalance is addressed.

Recently, in my capacity as a member of the UAE's parliament - the Federal National Council (FNC) - I participated in a forum, which was organised by the education, culture, media and youth committee of the FNC. Its goal was to gather information, specifically from UAE academics and the general public, on the issue of protection of our national identity, our culture and the development of our society.

As I sat there listening to the speakers and members of the audience, I noticed that emotions were running high, and I could see the emergence of two major schools of thought. One group was extremely critical of the pace of development, and argued that it was the source of our demographic imbalance, and the dilution of our identity and culture.

They suggested that we need to slow down on the pace of development and address the demographic issue before thinking global. The other group was not against the speed of development but called for a greater balance and prioritisation between the pace of development and the needs of our local society.

In the end, none of these groups had any concrete solutions to this issue. However, the common thread running through both these groups was that our heritage, our language, and our culture were slowly vanishing due to the transformation of our society. They raised a number of questions such as: What are a people with no language, culture or heritage? What is the future of an economy that is so heavily dependent on foreign labour?

First, let me say without any hesitation that I am proud of the cosmopolitan and tolerant country that we have built. In 37 years, the UAE in general, and Dubai in particular, have become a global name. Once upon a time, Arab countries were receiving only negative media coverage, linking them to terrorism, wars, dictatorships and human rights abuses. Today, the situation is different. Worldwide, the UAE is praised for its innovative global economic activities, its high standard of living, and its determination to be amongst the nations that contribute positively to human development.

Economic growth

The wheels of economic growth have provided us with hospitals, schools, jobs, some of the best infrastructure in the world, and an overall high standard of living. So for those who propose that we go slow on development: Well, we cannot take a back seat to alarmist views or sentiments that long for the yesteryears of Felix Arabia.

The facts are, we live in a volatile region and we have to be able to negotiate and live with our neighbours from a point of strength. Oil is running out, so diversifying our economy, and making our country a relevant global player is not a luxury; it is a necessity. We are in the business of survival. And what we have achieved in the past 37 years is a testament to the human spirit.

I am no romantic, like most of my fellow Emiratis at that forum. I am aware of the challenge facing our young society, and we need to deal with these issues head on. In this regard, our government has embarked on several major initiatives which include:

- Setting up the National Demographic Authority, which recently passed several initiatives that range from the promotion of the use of advanced construction techniques - to cut down significantly on the number of labourers - to allowing expatriate students to take up part-time jobs. Also companies are rated in accordance with their compliance with labour rules and employment of different nationalities. Also, marginal professions are defined, which can be scrapped or amended according to necessity. An example of this is the recently launched system of self-service petrol stations which will ultimately help dispense with fuel attendants.

- Recently, the Ministry of Interior took a major initiative to resolve the issue of those residing in the UAE for generations with no documents to prove their country of origin. This step was taken to find who amongst them was eligible and entitled for UAE nationality. This will positively impact the UAE demographics.

- Reforming the educational system: A number of steps have been taken, both at the federal ministerial level and local education councils to ensure that the educational output meets our economic and social strategy.

Last, but not least. It is up to us, as Emiratis, to put our own houses in order. Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, spoke of the importance of the family unit, because it is the nucleus of society; family life is the "training ground for life in society".

Being a patriot and someone who loves their country means building good families, raising good children and instilling in them a sense of civic duty and love for their culture and national identity.

Here, I would also ask that we start doing some of our own house work, gardening and driving to cut down on the ridiculous number of household servants, cooks and drivers in our country. If our grandmothers and grandfathers could do without low cost domestics in their homes, can't we ?

There are no fixed solutions. This is a journey, and requires constant reflection, and constant adjustments which should be guided by our ethics and our national interest.

Najla Al Awadhi is a member of the Federal National Council, Deputy CEO Dubai Media Incorporated and General Manager of Dubai One TV.