Mosques and Bars in the same sentence can make anyone crazy but this notion is very much evident in Dubai, the place were I was raised for 19 years before moving to California.
I read an article by Mona El-Naggar in NYTimes few days back but didn’t get a chance to reflect on it. The whole purpose of the article is to solve a mystery which is Dubai, confusion and amazement but somewhat an inspiration.
The article tries to tackle and solve the mystery of Dubai and does a pretty good job at it. I just felt that the article was little short of substance because it only talked about the issue of non-local Arab workers who are definitely a minority in Dubai’s huge labor market.
Young men made their way to a mosque at prayer time.
Photo: Shawn Baldwin for The New York Times
If you want to see men in Speedos and women in full Hijab covered to head to toe, go to any Dubai beach. It is tolerance of both the western and the Arab cultures all right but how come no animosity towards one another? Answer is simple, happiness and prosperity. Both the sides are being kept happy, local Dubai Arabs have the best jobs, a lot of money and freedom to do whatever they want to (nothing illegal though). On the other hand, westerners feel at home even when they are not exactly at home.
Young people enjoyed a night out at Elegante, a popular Dubai disco.
Photo: Shawn Baldwin for The New York Times
The question then becomes why has Dubai been so successful and has been able to set an example? I would say it is because of security and very tight Government control over every aspect of society. It is a dictatorship that is not interested in brutalizing its own people and other foreign nationals by imposing a certain kind of belief on every individual.
Dubai’s population is mostly foreign nationals but there is more emphasis on Arab culture than there is on Islamic culture. This philosophy doesn’t alienate anyone; there is bar and there is a mosque, drink if you like, pray if you like.
I don’t know if this is how it will stay forever considering the fact that the world is getting smaller every day. My time in Dubai has contributed a lot towards my understanding of other religions and cultures. I guess moving to California wasn’t that big of a shock as people here are as understanding and tolerant as people in Dubai but it feels good to live in a democracy and voice an opinion.
