The road to UAEtopia

I have always been intrigued by the thought of Utopia: the perfect place wherein there is harmony between all systems whether legal, political, social or any other. The idea of having a perfect, content society might seem far-fetched, but I only envision it becoming a reality in a country like mine — the UAE.

It might be quite hard to digest what the UAE has achieved in 41 years. The number of projects that have made international headlines, the state-of-the-art infrastructure, the prosperity that it provides to its residents, it being the happiest of all Arab nations, and countless other traits are a testament to a country evolving positively.

The challenges, however, are also immense. The issue of the demographic imbalance has created adversity, especially given that UAE nationals are a minority. The issue is evident when dealing with matters of national identity. The need to address the lack of understanding and portrayal of values, traditions and culture by nationals in general and the younger generation in particular has become a priority. There were many efforts put in place to enhance citizenship. The latest initiative came from the UAE Cabinet, which approved the Charter of Values and Conduct for UAE nationals in its last meeting in November 2012. The charter that should be embodied by citizens defines citizenship, its annotations and values. In other words, the charter is a membership policy to the country.

Personally, having a charter for a country in modern times is unprecedented. It is a great initiative, establishing a platform for citizens to approach different areas that matter. The charter reflects tradition, culture and religion, and concentrates on three main streams: personal values, family and society, and country. Reading through the charter, I was excited by the thought of a UAEtopia — a country that has perfect harmony in all its domains starting from the individual who is at the core of it.

I find the charter fascinating. Not only does it reinforce the ethics that represent the country, but will also acquaint the new generation with the traditions and values that have been instilled in previous generations. It will communicate the standards that every citizen should meet. It will enhance morale and pride within the communities in the country and promote loyalty and positive social engagement.

Some have viewed it as an extra layer of control over people’s behaviour, some might argue that it doesn’t add any value, and some might simply view it as a waste. I beg to differ. I view the charter as a powerful tool. It delegates the power to the individuals by giving them the responsibility to act according to how the country advises. It is a self-supervising mechanism that will garner a positive image of oneself; it will eventually reflect on society and then on the nation as a whole.

The charter isn’t a legal document but a guideline that sets the standards for all citizens. The charter can become an integral component of the country and it will eventually become the reference point that will help guide citizens to becoming its best unofficial ambassadors. I don’t believe the charter should be confined to the Emirati community. I can see everyone living in the UAE guided by it, whether a minister, a clerk or anyone else. We all make up the nation.

The charter needs to be promoted actively to acknowledge its existence. Awareness about its advantage needs to be shared to gain full engagement and commitment. It can, if executed impeccably, become a solid foundation on which the bricks of our UAEtopia can be laid. Execution in this matter is key. The rollout of the charter in its cultural and educational realms needs to be planned and followed upon to ensure full understanding.

Sceptics will criticise my thoughts by arguing about the impossibility of creating a utopian country. I am not a dreamer; I am a believer. I believe that a UAEtopia is possible because we have the elements needed to make this dream a reality.

Our leadership has reflected the values in the charter since the creation of the country and continues to do so. It has already set the basis for UAEtopia and continues to promote it daily. All we need to do is apply it and abide by it. President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: “Citizenry isn’t about receiving, it is about giving before everything else.” We need to learn to give back relentlessly. The charter will be our starting point.

The UAE has taught the world many lessons by defying the odds. Together we can work towards teaching them something new by making UAEtopia possible. My question to you is: Are you up to the challenge?

Sheikha Al Maskari is an Emirati writer on cultural and social affairs. You can follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/uaeyah