The United Arab Emirates and its Subcultures - Research Paper Example

The United Arab Emirates and its Subcultures Introduction The United Arab Emirates (UAE) contains the “seven small emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Qaiwain, and Fujairah, which were united as a federal state on 2 December 1971” (Walsh, 2008). Earlier than the start of the oil market near the beginning 1960s, two key courses formed conventional Emeriati culture: (1) the wandering desert-centric Bedouins with little oasis farming in the wider perspective of the ‘desert financial system’ as well as culture, and (2) the sea-centric culture related with pearling as well as trading through sea. These subcultures were financially, politically, and communally inter-reliant, forming a general culture and social individuality. The UAE shares major features of its culture with adjacent Arab nations. Compared with its size as well as oil riches, the UAE has a small population, approximated at 2,735,000 during 2007. Ahead of 1970, the home population was small and short of nearly all technological expertise considered necessary for a contemporary society. The mass production of oil-centric quick population expansion because of a boost within the nationwide population from enhancements in foodstuff, health care facilities, and standard of living, along with the major induction of generally male foreign labor force. The second aspect has created a reliance on emigrant labor force; the UAE has turn into a multiethnic society, and Emirati people comprise merely about 25 percent of the entire population. More or less two-thirds of the migrants are Asians, largely from India, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. Remaining are from Saudi Arabia, Europe, and United States. Culture and Society Earlier than 1960, the only settlements were little cities as well as rural communities. Oil resources have facilitated enormous innovation. Small cities have been altered from “mud-walled communities” (Walsh, 2008) into profit-making capitals, incorporated within the international financial system. Due to the lesser population in addition to severe desert life, 80 percent of the people reside in the coastal capital cities. Industrialization has been exemplified by unmatched development. Abu Dhabi is among the most contemporary capitals around the globe. The international city style has greatly influenced UAE cities. Leading urban aspects take account of high-rise buildings within the profit-making city hubs, multistory housing projects, big shopping centers, broad roads, an extensive system of main roads, in addition to sprawling fresh communities. The cities possess mixed composition, with separated housing space for nationals and the settlers. Housing is subdivided further in accordance with division, societal authority, traditions, and ethnic group. To form a balance amid their universal and local parts, in cities have implemented strategies showing Arab-Islamic in structural design, mainly “arched windows, gates, and decorative stucco” (Walsh, 2008). Lately, further urban surroundings have showed ornamental designs with neighboring ideas linked with the nationwide tradition. Conservation of the urban tradition as well is observed within the overhaul of “old forts, palaces, souks (marketplaces), and mosques. Date palm trees, symbols of the local culture, have been planted extensively along city roadsides” (Walsh, 2008). Earnings are among the uppermost around the globe, but there exists huge variations between the emirates, with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai generating the largest portion of oil. The other emirates have gained from oil riches by means of the ‘centralized wellbeing arrangement’ in addition to service in state-run organizations. With decreasing oil costs, the administration has tried to expand the national financial system. This has initiated the development of business, manufacturing, trade, free trade zones, shipping, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and infrastructure. The quick growth of these divisions has decreased the country’s reliance on oil. During the year 2008, the GDP was calculated at $ 55,000 million, 70 percent from the nonoil division. Governmentally, UAE is a loose alliance of seven emirates, all with their individual leader. In the provisional bill of 1971, every emirate has significant authorities, together with power on mineral privileges (particularly oil and gas) and profits. In this background, national authorities have expanded gradually. “The constitution established the positions of President (Chief of State) and Vice President, each serving 5-year terms; a Council of Ministers, led by a Prime Minister (head of government); a supreme council of rulers; and a 40-member Federal National Council (FNC)” (Crocetti, 2008). The FNC is advice-giving organizations with half of its affiliates are selected by the emirate leaders and half were designated by an electorate selected by the leaders of every emirate. Despite the fact that there are differences within the quality of life, poor living standards can hardly be seen in UAE. In a short period of more or less fifty years, the municipalities and towns of the country have stocked themselves with every contemporary facility equivalent to the finest of any highly developed country. Although the religion of Islam along with the legacy of conventional society shapes the foundation of a steady as well as traditional social formation, one can notice a mainly liberal and multi-ethnic ambiance in UAE. This reality is proved by the religious autonomy provided to the emigrants as well as the social liberty provided to young females of the country to get the most from the developments of “education and science” (Crocetti, 2008). “The UAE has a federal government that is made up of several organs: the president and his deputy, the Supreme Council, the cabinet, the Federal National Council, and an independent judiciary with a federal supreme court. The Supreme Council has both legislative and executive powers and includes the rulers of the seven emirates. The cabinet consists of ministers drawn mainly from the ruling families of the emirates” (Crocetti, 2008). The truth that the conventional ethnic arrangement of government of every emirate was supported by related political ideology eased the institution of the UAE. Traditional dynastic family ruling still functions within all emirates as a local administration arrangement within the umbrella of the national structure. Associates of the ruling families take up the most vital posts within their political organizations. Despite the fact that the political system carries on to preserve a number of of its conventional principles at official as well as casual levels, it has been capable of being on a par with financial as well as societal modification. The ‘Sheikhs’ are held in high esteem for carrying out the double functions of innovators as well as protectors of the cultural legacy. They still arrange conventional ‘Majlis’ where people can talk to their heads. At the moment, Emiratis have a free contemporary health care arrangement with a large number of hospitals, basic health care facilities, and private consulting rooms operated mainly by migrants. With better diet as well as improved health care, “life expectancy is now 75 years” (Crocetti, 2008), and there has been a significant drop in death of newborns. The extended family network offered its support for ill individuals by means of regular visits to hospital; the customary medicinal practices are still utilized to take care of psychological illnesses. Traditions and Ethnicity Graciousness as well as considerate attitude is very much observable while meeting with visitor from any place. “While enjoying food with other people of UAE one is supposed to eat with the right hand. The aromic and sugarless coffee forms a very important part of the customs of UAE. There are generally two reception rooms in the houses as part of UAE custom. These reception rooms called majlis are separate for men and women. During the Eid special sitting arrangements are made in the majlis and an age hierarchy is generally maintained. As the majlis comes to an end, incense burners are brought and ‘rose water’ is also sprinkled on each guests head” (Lancaster, 2011). Religious Values Islam controls every phase of life. For the most part, Emiratis are from the Sunni sect. Issues relating to wedding, heritage, financial side, political affairs, and individual demeanor are influenced by Sharia (Islamic) regulation. Emaritis are liberal toward other religious convictions, and settlers of other beliefs are permitted to have their individual places of reverence. Nearly all people of Asian as well as Arab side are followers of Islam. Societal Stratification Emirati society is separated into two groups: (1) the citizens - “Al-Muwateneen” (Lancaster, 2011) - and (2) the foreign settlers, known as the incomers or “Al-Wafedeen” (Lancaster, 2011). Citizens are further divided into four key social classes: (i) the ruling Sheikh Families, whose affiliates posses the top-most political posts as well as authority and have enormous riches as well as esteem, (ii) the business class, generally called “al-tujjar” (Lancaster, 2011), conventionally pearling businessmen who now trade in global consumer supplies, (iii) the latest middle class, signified by growing numbers of experts who have gained from free state learning, and (4) the low-income factions, signified by lately established Bedouin wanderers along with previous ‘pearl divers’ as well as oasis cultivators. With the settlers, there exist hierarchical factions that get special financial and public incentives: (1) top-notch experts along with technocrats having international agreements, who get high wages in addition to other perks, (2) middle-range experts, for instance, school instructors, experienced technicians, as well as company’s sales staff, and (3) underpaid semi-qualified and inexperienced recruits, mainly Asian. On the whole, citizens are a fortunate minority, and gain from state regulation and business policies. The growth of the infrastructure has been remarkable. The welfare structure provides “womb-to-tomb free state services” (Lancaster, 2011) to every citizen, together with premium health care services, schooling up to the tertiary level, communal defense, family grants, low-priced electrical energy and water, and accommodation for low-income factions. This is the key method of allocating oil riches between the citizens. The settlers are as well benefitted to a certain level, mainly with respect to health care facilities. Roles and Statuses Contemporary financial positions as well as social standing reveal both modification as well as stability for females. Educational institutions are separated, and “levels of enrollment of girls and their performance are impressive” (Lancaster, 2011). On the other hand, females’ contribution within the work force stays among the lowest around the globe at 9 percent during the year 2008. Regardless of fresh service prospects, a large number of females choose wedding and raising kids. UAE culture puts an extreme significance on those responsibilities. Traditional cultural approaches guide females to try to find professions that do not require interaction with males or travelling far from residence. Consequently, the majority of females are working in teaching, health care system, and civil service. Financial System Earlier than the initial exports of oil during the year 1962, the UAE’s financial system was ruled by pearl invention, fishing, farming, and herding. From the increase in oil prices during the year 1973, however, petroleum has controlled the financial system, totaling for the majority of its export income and offering major prospects for investment. The UAE has enormous confirmed oil reserves, calculated at 98.7 billion barrels during 2011, with “gas reserves estimated at 214.2 trillion cubic feet; at present production rates, these supplies would last well over 150 years. In 2009, the U.A.E. produced about 2.41 million barrels of oil per day” (Rugh, 2007). Most important raises in imports have taken place in manufactured supplies, equipment, and shipping gear, which mutually have summed up to 75 percent of the entire imports. An additional significant foreign exchange generator, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - which rules the reserves of Abu Dhabi, the richest emirate - handles an expected $ 700 billion in foreign reserves. Over 6,000 businesses from more than 120 nations are functional at the ‘Jebel Ali complex’ in Dubai, which takes account of a deep-water harbor in addition to a ‘free trade zone’ for developing and circulating in which every merchandise for ‘re-export’ or ‘transshipment’ get a hundred percent freedom from paying duty. A main power plant with connected water desalination units, “an aluminum smelter, and a steel fabrication unit are prominent facilities near the complex” (Rugh, 2007). Apart from the free trade zone, the UAE needs at least 55 percent local national rights in every business functioning within the country as part of its effort to put Emiratis on management posts. As an affiliate of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the UAE takes part in an extensive range of GCC services that concentrate on financial issues. These take account of standard discussions and growth of common plans including business, savings, banking and finance, shipping, telecommunications, in addition to other scientific parts, together with defense of ‘intellectual property rights’. Foreign Relations The UAE is an affiliate of the United Nations as well as the Arab League and has developed diplomatic links with over60 nations, together with the United States, Japan, Russia, China, and the majority of western European nations. It has carried out a moderate part in the ‘Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’, the ‘Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries’, the ‘United Nations’ and the ‘GCC’ (Humaid, 2011). Considerable growth support has improved the UAE’s standing with beneficiary states. The largest part of this foreign assistance - more than 15 billion USD in due course - has been to Arab as well as other Muslim nations. During the year 2007, the UAE vowed and provided 300 million USD to Lebanon, and was the first nation to complete its guarantee. The UAE has offered important financial as well as material assistance to the Iraqi administration, together with a security of around 200 million USD in financial and re-enactment support, and has as well offered considerable relieve to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Palestinian Authority. UAE is a member of UN and some of its specific organizations, ‘World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Arab League, OIC, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, and the Non-Aligned Movement’ (Humaid, 2011). It is as well an associate of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) with its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Conclusion The United Arab Emirates has a prosperous cultural tradition that has been strongly controlled by the inventiveness of its people who utilized the severe atmosphere of the area to the maximum. This buoyancy in front of tremendous hardship was facilitated by society’s ethnic arrangement, which has united people as one since consecutive signs of immigration, starting more than 2500 years back, carried Arab ethnic groups to the area. The diverse topography that these individuals lived in, such as barren region, oasis, mountains and seashore, stated the conventional ways of life that developed over the centuries (Humaid, 2011). In a very old social arrangement, all family units were conventionally joined by commitments of reciprocated support to their direct relations in addition to to the ethnic group in general. Among the ethnic group, a person’s self-sacrificing generosity was the basis of his reputation and satisfaction. A common religious conviction, Islam, also holds the society as one. References Crocetti, G. L. (2001). Culture Shock! United Arab Emirates: A Guide to Customs & Etiquette. Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company. Humaid, S. (2011). Addressing the Gap in the Culture Industry in the UAE. Foundation for Museum of Modern Art. Lancaster, W. (2011). Honour is in Contentment: Life before Oil in Ras Al-Khaimah (UAE) and Some Neighbouring Regions. De Gruyter. Rugh, A. B. (2007). The Political Culture of Leadership in the United Arab Emirates. Palgrave Macmillan. Walsh, J. (2008). UAE - Culture Smart: the essential guide to customs & culture. Kuperard. Read More