"National Identity" is one of the basic pillars of a state's culture. Without national identity, a society loses its essence, its sense of direction, and its people are side-lined to the margins of history.
The issue of national identity in the UAE is not a new one, but today it takes on different and dangerous dimensions due to the huge and intensified transformations in the country, and the ramifications of cultural globalisation, in addition to the imbalance in the demographic structure, which poses serious legal, political, social and cultural challenges.
The education, information and values provided by the family and educational institutes do not seem to be able to keep its ground in the face of relentless attacks on our identity. This is particularly true for the new generation who live in a fast-changing world that greatly affects their values, perceptions and traditions. This has threatened the very core of their identity and deprived them of viable means to safeguard and consolidate their identity.
National identity is an issue under discussion in most of the countries in the world. As UAE nationals, we have something in common with other countries, namely the deep concern over the specificity of identity, and we have another concern that is specific to us as UAE nationals.
The first is related directly to the ramifications of globalisation on the cultures of nations.
Then there are three specific issues related only to our national identity.
First is the huge and multinational foreign presence in the UAE, and the threat it poses to our national identity.
The second is the UAE educational policy, which is supposed to be the most important pillar on which national identity is built, but which has become one of the main threats because the curricula give priority to foreign languages, at the expense of Arabic, which is considered one the basic principles of identity.
The third is related to economic activity and the catastrophic consequences it has on population, environment and infrastructure. The real-estate sector seems to be the most important factor in unbalancing in the demographic structure.
The support extended by the government to encourage more investments in this sector, seems to further complicate the problem. This is true because this policy has increased demand on the basic infrastructure, which in turn increased investments in the sector and consequently increased demand for construction workers, a cycle that has caught the country in an endless vicious circle.
Worries about the national identity emanate largely from two main factors: demographic and cultural. Demographically speaking, we have become a minority in our homeland. This has seriously threatened the stability of our society, while its values and mother tongue are adversely influenced by these demographic shifts.
Indigenous populations in multi-cultural societies faces tremendous challenges. In the multinational UAE, where Arabic is not so frequently used, the private sector is not even expected to use Arabic as its first language.
Culture, the second aspect, is rather hazy due to the deterioration of the way it is spread, mainly through language and heritage. The inevitable outcome has been unclear thinking.
Taking the above into consideration, the UAE national identity could be promoted through the following:
First: Emphasising its importance in the UAE constitution and federal laws, a crucial principle for state survival.
Second: Achieve a balanced structure of UAE demography and labour market. National identity cannot thrive if indigenous populations are a minority.
Third: Promoting Arabic in daily life: officially and individually; an element viewed as vital to the first and the second ones.
Fourth: A national leadership consistent with deep-rooted constitutional principles. This leadership should take the helm of state organisations and national economy.
Fifth: Promoting national education, media and culture.
There are also some secondary factors such as celebrating national occasions which assert the national sense of belonging in all the political, economic, social and cultural issues.
