Traditions and Culture in Dubai

Introduction

Situated in the heart of a windy-sandy desert, with scorching heat, is a fascinating town with blended mix of extreme cultures from the liberalized West to the conservative East: welcome to Dubai. Characterized by old-age architectural designs and modern day skyscrapers, Dubai skyline is captivating to watch especially during sunsets and sunrise. It is in the scorching heat of the sun that goes up to 45 degrees Celsius that many visitors would be tempted to reduce the load of clothing that they wear hence exposing their bodies or parts of their bodies. However, this is not the case owing to the strict Islamic culture predominant in the area¹. Indecent exposure of ones body or body parts is enough to land one into jail.

Some people say Dubai is country, others say its town; but the truth is it’s one of the seven Emirates that make the United Arab Emirates. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the prime Emirates with veto power to overturn decisions made by the other five. Emirs head these Emirates². Dubai is strictly Muslim country. But it does not shut out other cultures. As accommodative as it may sound, Dubai has a lot of reservations when it comes to strictly following the tenets of Islam.

Dubai as Business Hub

Many people come from across the world to this desert town. Some parts of the town have been reclaimed from the sea. Popularity of the town rises from trade as one of the most active free markets in the world. The port of Dubai is strategically situated in UAE and provides free trade zone for foreign countries and companies to have unlimited import and export of goods and services ³. This forms the backbone of the Dubai economic survival, besides proceeds from oil exports. With close geographical proximity to three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe, Dubai has become central hub in trade. People from three different distinct cultures come to this town for the purposes of trade. It provides an efficient route for traders buying and selling goods and services, across the three continents. Emirate’s model of trade exemplifies one that is from Western countries. This is the paradox. A strictly Muslim country that practices economic ideologies from the West. It is due to its international status that makes Dubai susceptible to vagaries of economic downturn affecting the Western countries. For example during the Great Depression of 1930s, Dubai economic felt the heat; in 1991 during the Gulf War Dubai’s economic status was affected; during the global economic bubble of 2007 and 2009, the economy was not spared either. This shows how interdependent the Dubai economy is to the economy of the entire world ⁴.

Diverse Cultures in Dubai

For a long time, the Western culture and Islamic culture, have been at loggerheads; with war breaking out due to their differences. But this is not the picture one finds when visiting Dubai. It is a town with very warm, hospitable people ready to receive visitors from across the world irrespective of the cultures or religious beliefs ⁵. With strict Islamic culture and economic principles borrowed from the West one can hardly miss to see the unlikely mix in Dubai. With many foreign workers employed in the oil industry, Dubai is host to people of many cultures. While these foreigners from as far as Pakistan and India brought with them their cultures, Muslims maintained their strong hold to their religion.

Dubai came together with other six emirates forming United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971. Dubai is ruled by a monarch from the Al Maktoum family since 1833. Being an Islamic country the, traditions and practices are conservative. In any society there always people with deviant behaviors⁶. It is on this assumption that law courts are set up. In Dubai there are courts that follow Sharia Law and others that follow ordinary law. To settle disputes between people who profess Islamic faith, the Sharia court is used. But due to its cosmopolitan nature, Dubai also has ordinary courts to settle disputes in case one of the parties in the case in not a Muslim.

Language Mix of Foreigners

Culture is defined by among other things the language people speak and mannerisms of day today life. Arabic is the dominant language in Dubai. But for foreigners who may not be conversant with Arabic language, English is lingua franca for foreigners. According to 2005 Census only 15 per cent are natives. Eighty-five per cent of the people in Dubai come from Pakistan, India, Bangladeshi and Filipinos ⁷. The language of communication between these people from different cultures is English.

It would be expected that from this mixture of distinct cultures, there could be effect on the natives living in Dubai. However, from dress code to the kind of food that is eaten, Islamic religion is more of a culture than a religion. People who visit the town must adhere to the rules. While people from more liberalized Western countries make trips to Dubai, it would be necessary to understand the culture and also adhere to it or else, one would be in conflict with law enforcers. Enjoying free trade ports, not everything else is free range. Islamic culture has no room for those people intending to import their behaviors of, for example, imbibing their favorite beer on the terraces or in the open. The intense heat would dictate that people become a little more liberal in what they drink but the traditions of Islamic culture is strict on what should be taken or types of drinks to be served. Courtesy and hospitality, though, are among the most prized virtues practiced and observed by the people from Dubai ⁸. While freedom of individuals is highly upheld, the government warns visitors against any transgression of the law as this is likely to put the foreigners on the wrong side of the law.

Religious Festivities

Unlike practices and conventional behaviors and mannerism of the Western culture, Dubai prohibit people from eating in the open during the Holy month of Ramadhan or even shaking hands with members of the opposite gender. While shaking hands in many Western countries is show of appreciation, this is not the case with Muslim culture practiced in Dubai. Religious festivities are ritually observed with Eid Ul Fitr that comes during the month of August, (period of fasting and prayer) and Eid Ul Adha coming during the month of November (the period of sacrifice and lending helping hand to the less fortunate people in the society) ⁹.

Dubai is one of the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates, with a population of 1.8 million people (according to Statistics Center of Dubai 2009 Census). The other six are not as famous and popular as Dubai: these are Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah ¹⁰. UAE is situated in the Persian Gulf of the Arabian Peninsula. With its strict Islamic culture Dubai becomes one of the global cities that practices local beliefs and practices, but engages in international trade. The country does not lock out foreigners’ visiting the country but expects that their behaviors are in line and in conformity with the Islamic culture. While respecting their human rights, the visitors are advised on the strict culture that they must observe during their trips.

Buildings and Architectural Design

Visiting Dubai for the first time one would expect to find Islamic architectural designs replicated across the landscape. However, due to the integration of different cultures among the people the skyline is defined by skyscrapers. Dubai initially covered only 3900 square kilometers. But now through land reclamation from the sea, the land mass was increased from 3900 to 4200 square kilometers today ¹¹.

Dubai has a hot arid climate. Visitors should not think that there would be any reprieve on the mode of dressing. For ladies the skirts must cover the knees and tops that cover the entire upper body, preferably with head gear. Men should wear decent clothing that do not expose any parts of their bodies including their chests. The dress code must be strictly observed and any indecent exposure could be punished by law. Nevertheless, there is prostitution in Dubai. This is due to rising activity in trade and tourism. The strict adherence to the Islamic doctrines, traditions and beliefs notwithstanding. It is unexpected to find prostitutes in Dubai but that is the reality. However, very few are natives with most of the prostitutes coming from Egypt, India and Russia.

Built on oil business, the $82 billion economy (in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has a lot of developments in real estates, construction, trade and financial services ¹². This ranges from export and import business featuring people from different cultures.

Conclusion

While there are many cultures that are diverse in practice and traditions, the Islamic culture remains unwavering in Dubai. As one makes a trip to the land of emirs, it is necessary to be aware of the constraints that traders doing business in Dubai or doing the trade through Dubai are likely to face. Though the culture and tradition are very rigid, the contrast is that natives are warm and hospitable people; well aware that their economy solely depends on the number and frequency of the visitors coming to trade in their country.

Bibliography

Bennett L. Dubai Traditions and Culture, London: World Cat, 2008.

DCT, Dubai. culture and Traditions retrieved in 2010. Web.

DCR, Dubai. The Complete Resident’s Guide by Explorer Publishing. 2010.

Rao M, Feature Writing, New Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited In Rehman, A., 2008, Dubai & Co. Global Strategies for Doing Business in the Gulf States, New York: McGraw-Hill 2009.

Walker J. et al, Oman,UAE and Arabian Peninsula. London: Lonely Planets Publications, 2007.

Footnotes

1. Walker J. et al, Oman,UAE and Arabian Peninsula. London: Lonely Planets Publications 2007
2. Rehman, A., Dubai & Co. Global Strategies for Doing Business in the Gulf States, New York: McGraw-Hill 2008.
3. Rehman A., Dubai & Co. Global Strategies for Doing Business in the Gulf States, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.
4. Walker J. et al, Oman,UAE and Arabian Peninsula, London: Lonely Planets Publications, 2007.
5. DCT Dubai: culture and Traditions, 2010.
6. DCR, Dubai Culture and Traditions 2010.
7. Walker J., et al, Oman,UAE and Arabian Peninsula, London: Lonely Planets Publications 2007.
8. DCR Dubai: the Complete Resident’s Guide by Explorer Publishing, 2010.
9. Bennett L., Dubai Traditions and Culture, London: World Cat, 2008.
10. Rao. M, Feature Writing, New Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited, 2009.
11. DCR Dubai: the Complete Resident’s Guide by Explorer Publishing, 2010.
12. Rao. M, 2009, Feature Writing, New Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited.