Westerners in the United Arab Emirates - Essay Example

Westerners in UAE Introduction ‘Westerners in the UAE’ is a topic that needs an extensive research which will help one to reach the conclusion, westerners in UAE exerted a predominant influence in the formation of that country or it has no role in its formation. It is common knowledge that the westerners have left out their marks in the countries to which either they invaded or maintained commercial relations. Arabian countries, especially UAE have a strategic geographical area that could help the westerners to widen their realms to eastern regions of the globe. It is this feature, and many other factors attracted the westerners to UAE and other regions nearby it. It is the paper that analyses the influence of westerners in UAE and how did they transformed UAE natives (if they had), and it also analyses the special features that attracted the westerners to UAE. How the westerners influence the locals and how they change the way the UAE is? United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a nation which attracted a vast number of experts because of employment opportunities, and economic stability. Westerners in UAE concentrate specific areas of the nation. Most of the Westerners enjoy a high standard of living and are engaged in white color jobs. People from America, Australia Canada and Britain find satisfaction in UAE life style. The online article entitled UAE Becoming a Booming Destination for Westerners remarks; “With Dubai offering a wealth of employment opportunities, as well as financial bonuses such as tax-free income and a rapidly booming economy, growing numbers of Westerners (in particular) are heading for the sun drenched shores”(Global Nivas, 2008). A large number of westerners in Dubai enjoyed comfortable office jobs in Dubai and other Gulf nations. They have followed Western culture through implementing various institutions such as schools, educational institutions, and hospitals and recreations clubs. Topic of my choice about the westerners in the UAE Reading through the history of UAE one can see that it has been influenced with many civilizations and people. It is common knowledge that a nation may be influenced in various fields. Many foreigners have been entered to their boundaries making them the carriers of that culture. Such an influence of the foreigners is well expressed with the dating scenes found in Dubai. As dating is a quite common phenomenon, through which men and women find their companions all over the world, it has exerted its influence on the youngsters of Dubai. The dating scenes in Dubai are marked with the modern dating behavior coexisted with Arab life style. As modern Dubai is the meeting place of many people from various nationalities, Dubai comprises many foreigners living in harmony with the traditional Arabs. Dubai information site reviews of the dating behavior under the title, The Dubai Dating Scene, and evaluates,” While the outlook of the Arabs may be more conservative, the American and European influence has kept the practice of dating alive”(Dubai Information Site, n. d. ). It makes clear the influence of the westerners in dating. The site also identifies that dating in Dubai is going on with the help various hang outs, dating agencies, etc. The westerners, especially the Americans and the Europeans in Dubai find dating as a means that provide them consolation in company. The influence of the westerners in dating is too much in Dubai that they have started online dating like other countries. Regarding the youngsters of Dubai, they are keen in affirming their career and participate in dating in a moderate manner in weekends. But majority of Dubai girls took dating as serious and it has helped them to come put from the cocoon of their traditional life style and the same help them to rise to international standards. Thus, all these makes clear the western influence in UAE social life. How the westerners are in the UAE? There have been different reasons that attracted the westerners to UAE. It was the geographical features of UAE— between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, first magnetized the westerners. They had realized the strategic importance of that country and the same caused for the invasion of the Portuguese in 1500s. But later there came other foreigners, being British as the most important among them. Followed with the Portuguese, there arrived the British who dominated this region from the early 1700s until they began their withdrawal in the 1960’s (Swan, Z, Susan, 2009). British regarded the small states of the Gulf as the Trucial states because of the truces that were signed with the local tribes to facilitate peaceful shipping, trade, and later oil exploration. (Swan, Z, Susan, 2009). Analysis of the history of UAE will reveal the fact that the real purpose of these western invaders was to loot the wealth of that country by applying different tactics. In her online article, The History of the United Arab Emirates Susan Z. Swan (2009) observes that the concept of unification or at least mutual cooperation was the suggestion of the British in 1954. Even though there had many objections from many sides, the unification became true in late 1961 when Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, began discussions of a possible union both within his mails (open council) and between himself and other sheikhs of the region. Though it was with the support of the westerners, its progress of unification had been blocked often and the Sheik feltthey they may lose individual power. Later by 1971, the British army retreated from the Trucial States giving them freedom. It makes clear the role of the westerners even in the formation of UAE and it Trucial States (Swan, Z, Susan, 2009). Conclusion To conclude, one can infer that westerners had exerted a tremendous influence in the growth and formation of UAE. To an extent, it was the westerners; especially the British were the chief contriver of that country. After the studies, it is crystal clear that the western influence can be seen in almost all the spheres of UAE social and cultural life. Now it has emerged as a nation that can compete with others regarding wealth and prosperity. Their high standard of living and the imitation of the westerners in dating behavior, and so on are quite convincing of the western influence. Thus, one can conclude that westerners, especially the British and the Portuguese, have a dominant role in the formation of UAE and it forms its culture. Works cited: Global Nivas, "UAE Becoming a Booming Destination for Westerners". 16 Oct 2009 . Dubai Information Site, "The Dubai Dating Scene". 16 Oct 2009 . Swan, Z, Susan. "The History of the United Arab Emirates" 16 Oct 2009 Suite 101.com. http://arab-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_founding_of_the_united_arab_emirates Read More