One of the places on this planet that truly deserves a pat on its back for the wonderful ethos it has crafted for itself is Dubai. Indeed, this “City of Gold” — my stopover for many trips yet never explored in detail, that is till recently — has a charm that is hard to ignore and must be admired.
Standing tall, literally so, amidst all these grains of sand stretched across a sandy coastline, Dubai is a sparkling and admirable testament to human aspirations and achievements. A man-made miracle with a history to fall back on, here in this world rests a veritable potpourri of cultures, traditions, and people and unparalleled human creativity and ability. And when I consider how this transformation played out over only a few decades right before our eyes — a journey that involved Bedouin settlements with only a business in pearls to speak of, to becoming the hub of sorts to the world’s greatest skyscrapers and human ingenuity and ability, the ‘Emirati’ of Dubai is a story to be mesmerised by.
A culinary and hospitality hub courtesy of the giants of the industry hoping to cash in on the mind-boggling count of footfalls in the region, Dubai is indeed one of the cities in the world that has hit overnight development. My readers will recall my narrative on the Taj Exotica in my recent article wherein I shared my insights into what has made this unique and astonishing establishment the ‘Jewel in the crown’ for all things Taj. And I will be sharing some more of my experiences later but for the moment let us return to the emergence and excellence of Dubai and the region.
The journey begins for Dubai…
The history of Dubai can be traced back to 3000 BC and thereafter to the 5th and the 7th centuries AD by which time Dubai had emerged as a significant point in the trade route emanating from the Persian lands, routes that became famous, attracting European and Portuguese adventurers in due course. Those were of course simpler times when the livelihood of the people of the area centred around trading in pearls (a gem that has always been abundantly found in the area), fishing, and building boats.
Down the passage of time, British entrepreneurs and adventurers struck friendship with the gentry here and maritime agreements came into being. The trade in pearls played a significant role in the early days and before long Dubai became one of the principal ports on the Gulf coast. In the early years of the 18th century, Arabs and Iranian settlers descended on the scene, and with that began the flourishing of Dubai’s trade.
Fortunes skyrocketed with the discovery of oil in the 1950s and this led to massive growth in the social, economic, and cultural scenario which eventually transformed Dubai into the metropolis that it is today and placed the United Arab Emirates or UAE — the union of seven Emirati states such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi — into an enviable niche on the world scene. Of course, the contribution of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of the lands during the 21st century must be mentioned.
The wealth and opulence that was showered onto the lands and its people did not instill complacency but rather spurred on a chase for excellence in every sphere and the modern existences amply justify this fact. Be it art and culture, architecture, museums, malls, café’s, galleries, stadiums, and hotels – the region today offers the very best of the best to the world. Of course, the next few lines would read as a tourist brochure but how can I justify my experience without mentioning the many attractions that left me amazed and spellbound.
The list of wonders for me would include the History of Cinema Museum which houses priceless artifacts, equipment, pictures, and videos collected for decades by businessman Akram Minas. My list includes the Museum of Illusions, the Museum of the Future which happens to be a perfect synthesis of traditional exhibition, and immersive theatre in a unique way, along with the Jameel Art Centre which is doing exemplary service in creating a cherished avenue for all contemporary art lovers and researchers and the 3D Art Selfie Museum. Dubai’s art galleries namely Alserkal Avenue, Third Line, Gallery One, and XVA Gallery are unmissable for the connoisseurs of art and its practitioners.
With the presence of such vibrant spaces in the neighbourhood, it is no wonder that the streets of Dubai often stand inundated by artists who draw inspiration from the vibrant scenes all around, loaded as it is with stunning architecture and awe-inspiring installations. I must comment here that getting entry ticket, if you don’t plan well in advance for Museum of the Future, is not easy at all.
Any narrative on Dubai cannot be complete without a focus on the architecture and the bold almost unbelievable man-made creations that have become synonymous with the place. The fishing hub of the past today boasts of jaw-dropping architectural masterpieces spearheaded by such creations as the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building), Palm Jumeirah (the palm tree-shaped cluster of the world’s largest man-made islands), the Cayan Tower (the building that can twist 90 degrees), the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel, the Dubai Frame on the city’s north that stands as a boundary between the city’s older traditional sections and the ultra-modern south with its sky-piercing highrises. Last on the list but the very best to many would have to be the Green Planet Dubai which is a biodome housing an indoor ecosystem replicating a natural forest complete with its flora and fauna.
As an Indian, I must also delve into another ‘man-oriented’ aspect of Dubai and that is the vibrant multihued Indian diaspora which has blended seamlessly with the lands and its people. Perhaps only a few would know that the region is home to around 3.5 million Indians hailing from many states of India leading to them being the largest non-Emirati group of people here. According to recent estimates, Indian expatriates constitute 39.9 per cent of the total population and annual remittances sent home amounted to almost Rs 1.4 trillion in 2019.
The earliest Indian settlers arrived in the early 19th century and constituted mostly traders who bartered in pearls and dates for other products. In the 1960s there were only about a few hundred families that settled around the ports of Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, and Dalma Island. But the ethnic boom coincided with the discovery of oil in the 1970s which set the tone for massive and unprecedented development programmes requiring workers and professionals.
The Indian community was quick to cash in on the opportunity and even though the earliest settlers were Sindhis, large numbers of people from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala as well as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and even Rajasthan moved in. The large no of skill workers from Shekhawati region of Rajasthan initially went there contributed in architect of UAE.
The initial tussles and hostilities were there no doubt, but those all were quickly overcome thanks to the well-meant efforts of the locals and the nobility. Today, I note with pride that about 33 per cent of the total population and over 50 per cent of the workforce in the UAE are Indians and you can find the Indian presence in highly technical and educated fields as well as the skilled and semi-skilled sectors. What began as a community of traders and then began to include skilled and unskilled labourers, today boasts of not only those but of a whole array of knowledge-oriented practitioners.
The abundant business opportunities presented by the contemporary administration have enabled many Indian business houses to set up bases in the UAE and here, as an Indian, I must state that my pride as an Indian swells even more when we read from the Merryl Lynch report of 2005 that around 33,000 Indian millionaires reside in the Emirati shores. Similarly, surprising are the sheer numbers of Indian associations of every hue, state, and ethnic origin that are registered in the region and the large number of cultural activities that they are carrying out regularly. The inauguration of the Middle East’s largest Hindu temple is a testament to the fact of how much progress has been made in the lands for the welcome and intermingling of the world’s communities.
Spurred on by the present government efforts and initiatives, India and the UAE are celebrating the 50th year of their diplomatic collaboration in style with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between the two at an all-time high. It must be said that Sunjay Sudhir, the current Ambassador of India to UAE, has with the help of the Indian Government, been able to create an enviable bond between the two nations wherein both communities of locals and settlers can exist in productive harmony.
(The author is a social activist working for over two-and-a-half decades in the field of welfare, international cultural cooperation and the promotion and preservation of Indian arts. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views)
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