Long-term expats no threat to UAE identity

Abu Dhabi: Long-term expatriates are not a threat to the national identity of the UAE but newcomers have to be educated as to the dos and don'ts of the country as part of efforts to preserve UAE identity, a prominent academic told Gulf News.

"A large number of expatriates who have been living here for a long time - about 10 to 30 years, have already become part of UAE society," said Dr Sulaiman M. Al Jasem, Vice-President of Zayed University.

"As they know the UAE culture well, they are not at all a threat to national identity."

Ignorance

He was speaking to Gulf News on the sidelines of a symposium on "the role of security in consolidating the national identity" organised by the Centre of Research and Security Studies at Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters under the patronage of Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior.

Dr Al Jasem said visitors and new generations of expatriates had to be educated about UAE culture as part of the measures to preserve national identity.

"We cannot blame the newcomers for their ignorance but the authorities concerned such as the Ministry of Labour have to educate them about the dos and don'ts of the country. Moreover, the country appreciates their contributions for its development," he said.

The visitors should not come here as they go anywhere else in the world, pointed out Dr Al Jasem.

"They should know that they are coming to an Islamic and Arabic culture and consider its sensitivities."

Once we develop a culture of respecting each other's culture, the threat to national identity does not arise.

Regarding security, he said every resident in the country has to become a policeman or policewoman.

"When all residents communicate and cooperate with the police, security can be well maintained, after all it affects each and every one of us."

He said he appreciated their efforts of Abu Dhabi Police in taking up the issue of national identity.

"It is a welcome step," he said.