We have to show cultural consistency to the world

Dubai A clear and persistent stand on public morality is long overdue in Dubai and nobody understands the dire need for this better than Wael Al Sayegh.

As a cultural consultant, this Scottish-educated UAE poet says his job of enlightening people on cultural and religious sensibilities is all the more challenging as more often than not the line dividing freedom and tolerance in this emirate keeps fluctuating.

"We have to display a constant character as a nation. We have these bouts where today we are conservative, tomorrow we are very liberal. This is what causes confusion. It is not the fault of the law but the enforcement, management and communication of the law that needs clarity," said Al Sayegh, founder of Al Ghaf HRC, the cultural consultants based in Dubai.

He established the consultancy in 2005, sensing the need for cultural awareness workshops in the corporate landscape of Dubai where close to 200 nationalities work. According to him, the obscurity on the issue of cultural sensitivity is a classic case of Dubai's dilemma of whether to be a neo-liberal Middle East city or a conservative state that rigorously enforces laws on issues like public displays of affection, indecent dressing and the consumption of alcohol.

"Look at Sharjah. There is clarity on what is permitted and what is not. In Dubai, we do have standards but we do not spell them out. We have our one foot in the door, one out of the door and we keep on shifting. Sometimes we are on the front foot, sometimes on the back foot and we have been doing it for a while,' said Al Sayegh.

Ambiguity

Compounding to the ambiguity is, he added, are companies that market Dubai to the outside world as a Shangri-La of unbridled freedom, but the cultural and legal reality is far removed from this.

Referring to the recent incidents where couples were arrested for indecent behaviour in public, Al Sayegh maintained that public displays of affection are mostly overlooked as long as they are not audacious or "a complete spitting on the face of our culture."

According to him, it is important that there is an honest conversation on how Dubai wants itself to be portrayed. While doing so, he agreed that Dubai cannot afford to ignore its business interests.

In the same breath, Al Sayegh minces no words in reminding the expatriate population that the freedom they enjoy in the country comes at a price.

"The price is respect. How can I be tolerant when freedom is exercised in all contradictions to the very spirit of freedom? I fully accommodate other people's lifestyles if they want to drink alcohol or go to pubs. But the minute you bring it out to the public in a way that upsets the cultural sensitivities, it becomes a problem," he said.