Saturday, February 9, 2013

UAE Cultural Diversity Websites

Use these two sites to research the demograhics of the UAE 
Read the two articles
Then, in teams, change the PowerPoint on Cultural Diversity in the USA to reflect the situation in the UAE.

http://looklex.com/e.o/uae.religions.htm
http://looklex.com/e.o/uae.peoples.htm


Influx of foreigners spikes UAE population to 8.3m

Percentage of Emiratis falls to 11.5 per cent from 15.4 per cent in 2006

  • By Samir Salama, Associate Editor
  • Published: 00:00 April 5, 2011


  • Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News
  • The UAE's population strategy plans to make Emiratis the majority in the country, or up to 40 per cent, by 2021, members of the Federal National Council (FNC) told Gulf News.

Abu Dhabi: The influx of foreign workers and investment in the UAE has resulted in an exponential growth of the population in the past four years.

Figures published this month by National Bureau of Statistics indicated that 8.3 million were living in the country by mid-2010, up 65 per cent compared to mid-2006.

However, the percentage of Emiratis has dwindled to just 11.5 per cent from approximately 15.4 per cent in 2006.

The UAE's population strategy plans to make Emiratis the majority in the country, or up to 40 per cent, by 2021, members of the Federal National Council (FNC) told Gulf News.

Article continues below

<a href="http://adtech.alnisrgroup.com/adlink/3.0/1348/4039071/0/170/ADTECH;loc=300;key=;kvlabel=;kvkeywords=uae:dubai:abu%20dhabi:sharjah:ras%20al%20khaimah:umm%20al%20quwain:fujairah:al%20ain:desert:sky%20scraper;kvpublication=gulfnews;kvsubsection=uae;" target="_blank"> <img src="http://adtech.alnisrgroup.com/adserv/3.0/1348/4039071/0/170/ADTECH;loc=300;key=;kvlabel=;kvkeywords=uae:dubai:abu%20dhabi:sharjah:ras%20al%20khaimah:umm%20al%20quwain:fujairah:al%20ain:desert:sky%20scraper;kvpublication=gulfnews;kvsubsection=uae;" border="0" width="300" height="250"> </a>

Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shahin, a former representative from Ras Al Khaimah, said it would be for the good of the country that Emiratis account for the majority or up to 35 per cent of the population by 2021.

He suggested the population strategy should encourage the natural increase in the Emirati population while discouraging the recruiting of expatriate workers.

Related Links


The UAE has seen its population surge from 5.01 million in 2006 to an estimated 8.26 million in the first half of last year.

Economic growth

The leap was due to a huge influx of foreign workers during years of rapid economic growth, while the number of Emiratis grew only from 851,164 in 2006 to 947,997 in the first half of 2010.

The estimate was based on records for foreign residents provided by the Interior Ministry, in addition to natural population growth.

According to the statistics posted on the bureau's website, Abu Dhabi had approximately 43 per cent of the national population or 404,546 people, while Dubai accounted for approximately 18 per cent or 168,029.

Sharjah had 153,365, while Ajman 42,186, Umm Al Quwain 17,482, Ras Al Khaimah 97,592 and Fujairah 64,860.

A nationality breakdown of foreigners was not provided, and when contacted by Gulf News, officials of the National Bureau of Statistics said the breakdown was not available..

In 2009, South Asians reportedly represented the majority of the UAE population.

Dr Al Shahin also suggested cutting the marginal and low-skilled labourers as well as centralising the issuance of visas into the hands of a single authority.

‘Political decision'

"Emiratis should make up to 80 per cent of the population within 20 to 25 years, a matter which requires a political decision," Dr Al Shahin said.

Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, who also heads the Federal Demographic Council, said in a letter presented to the FNC in January that a strategy to address the country's demographic imbalance was nearing completion and would be relayed to the House, but did not reveal the percentage of Emiratis the government targeted.

Dr Sultan Al Moadhen, a former member from Fujairah, said the target should be making Emiratis 40 to 50 per cent of the population by 2021.

Ethnic clubs as social cocoons

The bodies celebrate national identity and culture but may also cause rifts among students

  • By Tessy Koshy, Special to Gulf News
  • Published: 00:00 June 6, 2010

 


  • Image Credit: Supplied
  • "Unfortunately [joining cultural clubs] can mean that groups do seem to get formed more at the beginning of the course and may stop students from socialising beyond their culture." - Dr Annie Crookes, Professor of psychology at Middlesex University Dubai

As the UAE is home to about 160 nationalities it is natural to expect its campuses to be as diverse as possible. From Syrians to Sri Lankans to Lebanese and Nigerians, there are more than 70 nationalities studying together in most universities here. The ethnic identity of these students on campus is represented by various cultural clubs. These clubs showcase the heritage of these ethnic groups by celebrating national days by performing traditional dances and organising local food festivals throughout the year. But the real question is are these clubs making the campus truly multicultural or are they isolating students in their own ethnic groups?

Comfort zone

The reality according to experts is that students on campus show a tendency to mingle with those from a similar ethnic background and this behaviour then gets extended to the cultural clubs. In that way the clubs actually encourage student cliques from a particular ethnic background. "Though there are students from several nationalities on campus I usually see them socialising with those sharing a similar culture. Even in the clubs you might see an Arab student joining a Lebanese club or a Syrian club but never a South Asian club and vice versa," says a psychologist and student counsellor of a leading university in UAE.

Preeti Mogali, a final year architecture student of American University of Sharjah (AUS), agrees that there is a tendency among students to stick to clubs of their own nationality as they share many common factors and feel that they are part of a group. Barring one instance of joining the Pakistani club Preeti, an Indian by origin, actively participated in the Indian club throughout the five years at AUS. Her university has 34 such ethnic clubs.

Article continues below

<a href="http://adtech.alnisrgroup.com/adlink/3.0/1348/4039071/0/170/ADTECH;loc=300;key=;kvlabel=;kvkeywords=school:education:learning:tuition%20fees:student:teacher:professor:university:educatino:school:university:degree:college:text%20book:tuition%20fees:exam:test:student:pupil:notes:school:student:pupil:teacher:professor:course:program:education:study;kvpublication=gulfnews;kvsubsection=uae;" target="_blank"> <img src="http://adtech.alnisrgroup.com/adserv/3.0/1348/4039071/0/170/ADTECH;loc=300;key=;kvlabel=;kvkeywords=school:education:learning:tuition%20fees:student:teacher:professor:university:educatino:school:university:degree:college:text%20book:tuition%20fees:exam:test:student:pupil:notes:school:student:pupil:teacher:professor:course:program:education:study;kvpublication=gulfnews;kvsubsection=uae;" border="0" width="300" height="250"> </a>

Defence mechanism

From the psychological point of view a student's tendency to be attracted to clubs of their own culture can be attributed as a defence mechanism to counter fears associated with an unfamiliar environment. Psychologists say the ethnic clubs give a much needed comfort factor to students for whom multiculturalism can be intimidating at first.

According to Dr Annie Crookes, professor of psychology at Middlesex University Dubai, when people are in an unfamiliar and new situation they try to find comfort in what is familiar and in the case of students it means that they are likely to be drawn to those from similar backgrounds to gain some comfort and confidence in a new situation. "Unfortunately this can mean that groups do seem to get formed more at the beginning of the course and may stop students from socialising beyond their culture. It is one of the key aspects of personal development gained from universities and the social clubs and activities are a big part of this, as are group coursework and assignments," adds Dr Crookes.

Being far away from their country, family and cultural environment international students join cultural clubs to alleviate feelings of isolation. These clubs then help create an almost home away from home through culturally representative enclaves. "Although the clubs offer support and cultural familiarity in some instances they may also create a case where the student interacts exclusively with people from their own cultural background. However, if that's the case, that student is likely to engage in this exclusivity with or without the presence of the club," says Samineh Shaheem, assistant professor of psychology, Human Relations Institute, Dubai. That suggests that the personality of the student could also be one of the factors in his or her choice of being cocooned in an ethnic group.

However, the good news is that in all the universities students of any origin are free to join clubs of any nationality or culture. In fact, some universities such as American College of Dubai and Midldlesex University, Dubai have consciously designed clubs that are not on the basis of ethnicity or culture.

"Our clubs are based on causes," points out Dragana Symons, student activities co-ordinator, Middlesex University Dubai. Middlesex's clubs are called awareness clubs, student council club, sports club and drama club.

Understanding heritage

On the part of the students joining an ethnic club also means that they get to understand their culture, history and heritage better. It is also a great channel to educate other students about their society and country. As part of the Palestinian Arab cultural club of the American University of Dubai one can learn Palestinian dabkeh dancing, get music band training, read Palestinian books and watch DVDs.

Students also get to understand the diversity of other cultures on Global Days or during multicultural events where each ethnic club hosts stalls with indigenous products.

Usha Goplani, president of the Desi club at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, tells us how she decorated her stall with traditional Indian wares to showcase her country's rich cultural heritage. "I decorated the stall with Indian jewellery, clothes, doli [used in marriages] sweets, spices and the tulsi [basil] plant," says Goplani.

Socialising

Besides learning about one's own culture the clubs provide an opportunity for students to socialise and enjoy the lighter moments on campus. Each club organises and participates in various events throughout the year. There are picnics and barbecues in beaches and parks, singing and dancing performances, sports meets and theatre acts. "If it were not for the clubs students would just attend classes and go back home," adds Preeti.

Organising and participating in student clubs also teaches these youngsters many essential life skills. By interacting with students, professors and dignitaries they acquire communication skills.

Arranging events helps them to learn organisational skills. "During promotions for clubs I learnt marketing techniques," says Abdul Rahman Habbal, president of the Syrian club at AUS.

The clubs not only help students express their diversity but also foster skills that will aid them in their careers. Cultural or non-cultural, clubs are great channels for one's overall development students say.

 

No comments:

Post a Comment