Shukran - Thank You

Burj Al-Arab from Al Qasr Hotel

Burj Al-Khalifa, tallest building in the world

I've been back home for a few days and I think I'm ready to finally close this blog and give my final thoughts about Dubai. This entire experience has been a whirlwind of adjustments and my mind has been on fire with observing different policy questions and observations about a lifestyle other than one I'm accustomed to.

Burka or bikini, everyone enjoys the sea the same way

Initially, I didn't know anything concrete about Dubai. All I knew was that they had really tall buildings, amazing hotels, and was a hot spot for business and tourism in the world. I remember trying to pack for Dubai and while I knew it'd be weather in the 100+ range, I was still concerned as to the style of clothes that I should pack. I didn't want to pack too many short sleeves or skinny jeans if the people there would find that offensive (I don't really wear sleeveless, skirts or shorts anyways). After my experience there I can confidently say that no one really cares. There are men who dress in their traditional Emirati style clothes and women in burkas but just as equally there are people dressed in shorts and tank tops and women in skirts and halter tops. I saw both styles during Ramadan which religiously and culturally a time of modesty and conservatism and I still saw such broad clothing styles so it really doesn't matter.

The language barrier was something I was worried about. I don't know a lick of Arabic but was told I could get by with English. The words 'get by' left room for some hesitation on my part. It turns out that mostly everyone speaks English and I never ran into any trouble communicating with anyone. I remember that a sales assistant tried to help me pick out a gift for my nephew and he kept talking to me in Arabic a few times but my back was turned so I didn't hear him until I heard him  say some words with "arabia" and an inquisitive connotation at the end. I realized that he was asking me if I spoke Arabic and then I politely said "english only" and he apologized and left me alone. Other than that everyone I communicated with spoke English or was able to transfer me to someone who did speak it.

Gold ATM anyone?

My internship was an excellent experience. I really appreciated learning all the labor laws in that region and I'm interested in learning how our labor laws are here and comparing/contrasting them. As a state and local and economics concentration in my program, labor laws is a huge component of our society. The laws make up the agreement between businesses and the work force and all of the policy changes running through legislation are important to keep up with since they affect that contract. I think the most interesting part of their labor laws was how they guarantee work for all of their nationals. For such a small country with the world's most competitive firms vying for a chance to do business in their cities, its important that the government looks out for its citizens. My host family's son was actually born in Dubai but he isn't an Emirati citizen since he isn't of the heritage. During the Olympics we kept asking him which country he'd compete for (he's 10 years old) and he couldn't decide. He's of Pakistani heritage, but his parent's have US Passports/naturalization while he was born in the UAE. Poor kid!

The internship also verified my interest in State and Local policy here in the United States. While I think it's important to always expand our perspectives and explore the world, I genuinely am interested in US issues. I've always had identity issues because I am of Pakistani heritage, a Muslim and a US born-citizen. Growing up I was confused as to which culture I belonged to but now as a young adult I am able to embrace all aspects of my background and confidently make decisions as an American Pakistani Muslim. I feel pride in being a US citizen and hope to dedicate my career and life towards defining what it means to be from my ethnicity and background. I want to be involved in decisions that effect our communities and integrate myself in order to create awareness for others who may have felt similar confusions.

Morning Shot from the freeway, the only time I saw blue sky!

I wasn't able to really identify much about State and Local policy there. It seemed as if the government made all the decisions and since things worked well and efficiently they were approved and appreciated by the residents. I had asked about taxes and found out that there was no such thing!! The government simply doesn't need it! Instead of taxing the people, the government charged fares through the services that people needed. For example, visas, driving licensees, permits and etc were where the government compensated itself in the place of taxes. It sort of makes sense that you pay the face value of whatever service you require such as a driving license. I also discovered that the government provided housing and gave subsidies to nationals trying to own property. This gave them less incentive to try and say something about the government since they were satisfied in their own lives.

After learning about the labor laws, I realized that all of the state and local policy related or government related positions are probably filled by Emiratis. This would make it difficult for me to try and get my foot in the door to try and do any comparative analysis between the US and the UAE. I recall trying to contact their version of the Department of Transportation for an internship however never got a response from their contact lines.

At the Top of the World - Burj Al-Khalifa

My experiences in Dubai have shown me what its like to be in a small country which was refreshing. Here in the States we sort of live like we are on a cruise liner. What happens in one section of the ship isn't really felt in another. Even the sea current has less of an impact unless its a storm. Whereas these smaller countries are smaller vessels and carefully guide themselves to avoid choppy waters and are more particular about what happens aboard their crafts. In the US, we take a lot of things for granted. We have access to all types of products and services while other countries may not have such access. For example, vanilla extract is very difficult to find in the UAE. Even Coca-cola is imported from a different manufacturer and specialized products like Coca-cola Cherry don't taste the same. This entire trip has been a real eye opener in terms of realizing that we have a lot we take for granted. I hope to use this experience in my future endeavors in order to appreciate what we do have and try to both enlighten others to appreciate it as well.

I'd like to thank the donors who made this voyage a practicality for me and for Pepperdine University's School of Public Policy faculty and administrators from providing me with the skills and opportunity to go to the United Arab Emirates and explore. I would've never imagined going to Dubai of all places for an internship and am very grateful that I had the chance to intern there. I'd also like to thank my host family in Dubai as well as Keller for providing me with the opportunity to work with them and learn about their company and labor policies.

Ibn Battuta

Ibn Batutta Mall - Starbucks anyone?

I've already started to talk about how glamorous Dubai is...so I feel like I have to give just a little bit more information and insight for the whole picture. The previous blog post was just about ONE mall, there are actually quite a few. There is another called the Mall of the Emirates which is also huge and beautiful but without the fountain, waterfall and aquarium..what a disappointment, just kidding!

There is another mall called the Ibn Battuta mall which is themed after a famous Arab explorer and adventurer. The mall is the largest themed mall in the world (as is the ambition for everything in the Dubai) and it features sections themed according to the different nations the explorer visited. Everything is themed according to the country. The architecture, foliage, floor, colors, art and food are catered to Andalusia, Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India, and China. Each section also featured Ibn Battuta's accomplishments with informative sculptures or art themed to honor his achievements. This mall was probably the most astounding one in my opinion. There was great detail in everything. I've never visited a themed mall before but I don't think any other will be able to compare to this one. There were multiple exits and entrances and stores for all types of people. The stores in this mall were also different. They were more practical in my opinion without crazy high end designers but more approachable ones like Lacoste or Tommy Hilfiger, not that those are any less than Burberry or Gucci but still a variant of the designer breeds where my wallet doesn't squeal as I walk through the entrance.

Ibn Battuta Mall - Egypt section

While these malls are fun to admire, I also made sure to notice different infrastructure design features to see how these establishments are able to handle crowds and maintain their beauty. I went during the day in Ramadan and since food kiosks and restaurants were prohibited from selling food, the malls were pretty bare. I noticed the way foot traffic would be routed and saw that some sections of the mall were split in order to create more space for stores as well as guide consumers along different paths. Washrooms were also available in each section and were clearly marked with universal symbols for 'man' and 'woman'. They were also placed separately from each other. I know some places have a washroom area and then the only difference between men's and women's restroom is an arrow indicating the direction - it makes it easy to make a mistake. The furnishings were clean and well kept and had staff attending to make sure that it stayed that way.

Ibn Battuta's interest in flight

The parking structures were designed well in the malls. Here in the US, we have some malls with strategically placed underground parking and others with stretched out parking lots. I saw similar design strategies in Dubai. Malls which expected more car traffic had multi-story parking garages with extended free parking hours. The Mall of the Emirates was very accessible with both multi-story parking as well as a metro-train stop right into the mall. They also provided lockers for those who wanted to store their purchases or bags before entering the mall. These features seem practical and logical but honestly its these type of amenities that streamline any experience and shouldn't be taken for granted. It shows forethought and installations to make the consumer's experience easy and comfortable so that they return.

Ibn Battuta Mall - India, look at the detail

Ibn Battuta Mall - India

Ibn Battuta Mall - China section

Ibn Battuta Mall - Chinese ship

The employees of these places are also important to note. As a place of economic opportunity, many foreigners come to Dubai in order to work. During my internship I learned that Emirati nationals are given preference in jobs before foreigners. This yields a 0% unemployment in the country which is a smart policy for such a small country. This way nationals don't have to worry about competing for opportunity and that households always have the means to support themselves and less services for the government to provide. The foreigners who come to work in Dubai come from all over the world. I wasn't exposed to too many businesses beyond the restaurants and malls that I visited so I want to comment on the retail and food vendor opportunities that I witnessed. Many of the representatives in the retail stores were of varying ethnicity. There were a lot of employees from Sri Lanka, Bengal, Pakistan, and the Philipines. Many of the janitorial and food retail/cash register positions were held by Philipinos which was a surprise to me because I was under the impression that South Asians represented a huge portion of the entry level associate positions. As a south Asian it was interesting for me to see this type of hierarchy. Many of the South Asians were in sales associate positions in the souvenir shops I purchased from. Living in the United States, I rarely get to barter with anyone and in Dubai I felt a small privilege in being able to barter with the sales agent in a language that other people were unable to speak. They could tell I was from the US right off the bat and I knew I could haggle them for somewhat of a better price than listed on the price sticker. It was a small win but a fun component of the experience overall! The hotels I visited hosted more of multi-cultured medley with associates from what seemed to be everywhere. I met people from everywhere including places like New Zealand, Australia, and even Germany.

Ibn Battuta Mall - Persia

The Dubai Mall

Dubai Mall - Three stories of Bloomingdales

Oh boy has it been a whirlwind of a few weeks!! Now while Dubai is most glamorous for its high rise buildings, I have to say the malls are pretty remarkable as well. I feel a little vain writing about them because some of my peers are doing incredible work in other under developed countries but I think it's important to note these developments strictly because it is a huge component of Dubai's thriving economy. The elegance in design and features in these malls is a display of particularity that the Emiratis are trying to show off. When I entered these malls, my first reaction was always 'wow' which is a win for the UAE. With duty free shopping they have created a haven for tourists to shop and purchase goods.

Every mall had a plethora of stores from small local chains to large international department stores. In each store were representatives from diverse origins in order to cater to the different types of clientelle that may shop through their stores. I went into a store called Debenhams, which seems to be a UK department store, and they had multiple reps that came up to me. I thought it was a smart hiring choice because a tourist is more likely to purchase if they find someone they are comfortable with who can help them find the product they want and the associate will have a better chance at making a sale (and probably getting commission).

Dubai Mall - Indoor aquarium

Below are a few pictures from Dubai Mall - one of the world's largest indoor malls. It features its own waterfall, arcade, cinema, water fountain (with Las Vegas Bellagio-competitor water show)..oh and huge aquarium with 360 degree tunnel and shark diving.

I spent a day exploring this mall because I just had to! I personally am not that big of a shopper because I'm more goal orientated when it comes to my purchases. I won't spend money until I feel there is a need for new clothes or accessories and even then I always give myself a budget. Shopping at the Dubai Mall was more window shopping in observing the infrastructure and attention to presentation in the experience. I honestly purchased items from 3 souvenir stores and window-watched the rest of the entire mall. 

Dubai Mall - Indoor aquarium

The aquarium was seriously jaw dropping. It was three stories tall and there were observation decks from each story of the mall. People lined up to take pictures from all sorts of angles and the tank featured thousands of marine life. There were schools of fish, large wandering fish, sharks, small fish, sting rays, plants and scuba divers all interacting throughout the tank. It was stimulation overload! I'm a huge aquarium lover ( I am an aquarius!) and observing the tank was a personal moment of tranquility and inner peace. The creatures were all very majestic.

  

 

Dubai Mall - Indoor aquarium

 Gosh I could keep writing about my experience wandering around Dubai Mall but I feel guilty about putting so much effort into talking about a MALL! I'll admit that it did make me feel a little bit at home. I didn't feel like I was in some foreign land which may be a compliment to the designers of the mall. The people in the mall were from all walks of life and its avenues of entertainment were enough to keep your mind from wandering throughout the day. I felt transported to a universal place where I wasn't worried about where I was in the world but that I was in a safe, welcoming environment.

Dubai Mall - Indoor aquarium

Dubai Mall - Waterfall

Dubai Mall - Fountain Show, Music 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'

Dubai Mall - 3 open levels of shopping splendor

The extravagance in design and store availability is a reflection of the type of consumers that the mall wants to attract. It says "these are the types of people who shop here" even if only a fraction of the daily visitors actually purchase regularly from these stores.

Dubai Mall - Burberry Children..never seen one before!

Working at Keller

I think I should bring things back into the place I'm working. The company is called Keller Grundbau and they are geo-engineers with construction sites all around the world. Dubai is a huge construction hot spot so Keller's need for a Dubai office is rather obvious. They have designed different techniques in stabilizing the earth in order for development to build on the site. 

Palm Island Jumerirah - I do not own this image

I have to say the Dubai skyline is definitely one of its most key characteristics. Since its development is all new everything is built with precision and care. The Dubai skyline is jaw dropping every time I see it and most of the construction is less than 20 years old. Each sky scraper is uniquely designed and elaborate in its own way. They are also spaced out in a specific way so as not to overlap each other and add to the appeal of the skyline.

Keller was also involved in the development of the Palm Island Jumeirah. I've traveled over the island and it is HUGE. If you look at the image, you'll see that there are parts where land is disconnected from the 'trunk' of the palm to higher up on the 'tree;' those parts are actually water and there are tunnels that connect from underneath!! It's crazy!..and beautiful! The Atlantis hotel at the end is gorgeous as well, I tried to see more of it however they have security that allows guests only to the inner features of the hotel - rats!

Click here to see other Keller projects in the area

work station fun

Work has been going well. I've been compiling the existing policies to a draft. Matching up company policies with the country labor law policies. Please do excuse me if I write labour instead of labor, its the British spelling! I have to do a lot of double checking because there are some slight differences between the countries. The setup is similar between Oman, UAE, Qattar and Kuwait. They focus on general work day policies, laws for women and minors, as well as list out protocol for discipline and penalties.

The project is interesting and I'm definitely seeing a new side of things in terms of having a more 'international' mind set. I am an Economics and State and Local Policy concentration in my program and I'm very glad to have been given this opportunity to work in an international setting. The vibe is very different altogether. With people from different regions of the world, different primary languages and personal interests, the discussion at the table is much more straight forward and focused. I personally think that our human qualities should be the first priority between our interactions and I am seeing that here. I  wouldn't have seen that without this experience.

the HEAT

..not Miami! :)

I don't think I've mentioned the weather in any of these posts yet..there isn't much to mention, other than it is grossly hot!!

When I first started looking at Dubai as a possible place to intern, I added the Dubai location to my weather app on my phone to sort of keep an eye on the weather before I headed out here. Ever since May, its always been in the triple digits, so I've been mentally ready to sweat while out here. The heat actually doesn't really phase me that much. It is hot, there is no doubt but since I expected it, I'm not that bothered by it. The irritating factors are probably the humidity and the hot wind. The water close by also doesn't provide any resolution to cool sea breezes because we aren't even near the open sea!

The humidity makes things sticky and that is frustrating. I have very long hair so then my hair just gets annoying and hot. I've never known but here I've discovered that my hair has the ability to emit its own heat..and that's gross!

While the weather is hot, practically every place I've been to has the AC on blast so the only time you are exposed to the elements is when you are walking from the house to the car or the car to your destination. The AC cools everything down really well, so well in fact, that the transition from cold to hot can be an issue for those wearing glasses. The dramatic flux in temperature causes condensation on everything when you step outside. I've had my sunglasses fog up and even once my camera lens!

camera lens fogged up from temperature change

I've enjoyed a few evenings outside in the open air and some nights were bearable while others were icky. The outside cafes have outdoor AC's which is a nice accommodation. Even if you can't have full AC, just the occasional cool breeze offers from reprieve from the weather. 

My first night here, I remember stepping out from the AC, where I was actually even a little cold, into a humid night and my face, neck, palms, fingers, feet and toes were all hit with instant condensation. I almost slipped out of my own sandals because there was so much water! The cool water felt nice for .001 seconds until that heated up...

Dubai Metro

I've taken the metro a few times (my boss picks me up for work since I am staying nearby) to travel to some malls and etc and it's been really convenient and easy!

As a lifelong California native, public transportation has always been somewhat of a mystery to me. I feel like a car is my only way to get from point A to B and relying on any other means is an odd feeling. When I visited New York City a few years ago, I got my first real taste of a metro system and realized the functionality and ease that it provides to its commuters.

Here in Dubai the metro system has two lines. One is the red line which travels from Rashidiya which is the east end of the city to west end at Jebel Ali. The other line is a green line which is a shorter line but travels north and south in the older part of Dubai and connects a few short distance areas including metro stops that go straight into the Dubai International Airport.

I traveled the red line to go back and forth for a few errands. I was a little nervous travelling the first time because I wasn't affiliated with the geography of the city as well as the the layout of where things were. All I knew was to take the Rashidiya train and get off at the Ibn Battuta stop (that's another post to come). There is luckily a metro stop right next to where I am staying so I walked to the station (side note: hot wind with sand = instant sweat, sand in eye and bad hair), crossed the bridge over traffic, passed through the metro card reader and found the train rail. The train is semi-segregated with a women and children cabin at the back and then a general seating area in the first few sections of the train. On my first ride I didn't recognize the symbols and sat in general seating. I was wary because I didn't want to accidently come into the men's cabin and get weird stares for the entire ride. But I found that there were men and women in equal ratios sitting or standing throughout the cabin. I elected to stand near a holding rail because the inner child in me wanted to semi-surf the metro ride but a gentleman pointed out that there was a seat a few rows up so I took the offer and sat down. The rest of the ride was fairly straight forward as the stops were first announced in Arabic and then in English and mirrored with video screens that displayed the same information.

The metro stations themselves are actually what inspired me to write about them. Since they parallel the artery of the city -Sheikh Zayyed Road, which is a 5-6 lane highway, you can see them standing alone a lot of the time and can admire their unique building design. I thought they looked very futuristic and they light up beautifully at night.

The stations are fully air conditioned with escalators and stairs for those who want to move quicker. The floors are all tiled along with glass panels everywhere. All the signs are written in both Arabic and English. The most exciting part for me was when I realized that the escalators were all energy efficient and moved very slow until they detected a person and then would speed up to normal speed. It is such a nice long term design feature that makes so much sense!

A Rare but Empowering Sight..

Yesterday, I saw something that I never really appreciated until it happened. I was a passenger in a car driving back home around midnight when I saw a woman with her head covered driving a taxi with a man in the backseat.

It was a moment of pure enlightenment. This woman was employed in a role typically held by men and many would consider dangerous for a woman. Yet, here she was. Covered elegantly in a white hijab with only her face visible. She was driving a man who was hunched over looking at his cell phone with unkempt and shabby hair.

I've heard of taxis for women driven by women as a safety protocol for those women conscious or uncomfortable driving with a stranger-man; but in this moment this woman was doing the driving and the common roles held universally were reversed.

From what I've seen, Dubai is very modern and a true metropolis. Even though it is Ramadan and there are a few imposed regulations regarding entertainment, the city still has a lot of vibrancy and life. I've seen women covered head to toe in silky black cloth with only their beautiful eyes glimmering through and then other women with their shoulders bare and in tight clothes and heels. No one really says anything to either one.

To see that woman in the taxi, who must have been in her twenties or early thirties, was a moment of pride for women everywhere. She was working in the evening (which according to my research is allowed with special permission) and is making a living for herself in a profession that is semi-risky for women in general. I tried looking for a separation screen but couldn't see it unless it was clear and didn't catch any glare in the quick glimpse that I saw the taxi.

I realized that there is a chance to live in a world where social barriers can be broken and hopefully we can move into an era where we don't treat each other to trivial subjugations such as gender classes, stereotypes or prejudices. We are all human and at the root of our interactions, that should be the most important prioritization in how we function as a society.

Shaukat Khanum Fundraiser Dinner

Last Sunday I volunteered at a charity fundraiser along with my friends here in Dubai. I thought it'd be an interesting and quick way to get some insight into the community here and how charity fundraisers may be similar or different than from the states.

The fundraiser was a for a Pakistani based charity by the name of Shaukat Khanum for the Memorial Cancer and Research Center. The event was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and was a donation based event. A sponsor had paid for the hall and catering and tickets were more like reservations at tables with donations slips. 

Volunteers basically registered all of the entering guests as they filed in before Iftar (sunset - time at which you break your fast) and then lead them to their assigned tables. Since it is a Pakistan based charity, the majority of the guests were Pakistani as well. Everyone was really friendly and easy to talk to, even when there were a few mix ups including filled tables or missing reservation confirmations.

After the event began, the volunteers were able to hang out and eat in their own area (probably to avoid costs of another table and for some exclusivity). The food here has been so-so thus far. The theme at dinner was Arabic food and I'm honestly not that accustom to those flavors and dishes. There are plenty of restaurants here so hopefully I'll be able to try a few of them and find a few that I like. 

 

The event program also included a presentation of the recent accomplishments of the hospital as well as an outline of the present and future needs of the organization. After collections, the evening began to wind down  as people left to go to prayers at their mosques. I was told that the organizers expected around 150k Dhs. but actually received around 200K Dhs which is around $50-55,000!

Abandonment

A few days ago, my friends and I dropped off a friend who was passing through the city to the Dubai international airport and I found a few things worth sharing.

First of all, the Emirates airline has it own terminal and it is ridiculously cool. Everything is very wide and spread out to allow for a large amount of travelers. Indoors the floor is all white w pearl white pillars infused w a hint of glitter to add some sparkle to the experience. The terminal also has numerous check-in desks to expedite the process.

Emirates Terminal at Dubai International Airport (DXB)

The terminal makes me want to fly just for the sake of this experience.

Another interesting event occurred in the parking structure of the airport. When we parked we found a lot of cars that were filthy and looked like they hadn't moved in months!

Abandoned car in parking, there were many of them, note: deflating tires  

We weren't in long term parking that is for sure.

Apparently, when someone quits or loses their job they have exactly 30 days to leave the country and sometimes that includes abandoning your car as you catch your flight out of the country.

Omani Labour Laws

I just read over this excerpt and found the cultural and religious allowances for special leaves incredible! In the US, there isn't as much detail in the types of leaves beyond the death of a family member. Most of the calculation in time-off is a balance between your accrued leave and the cooperation of the administration of your workplace.

Sultanate of Oman, Oman Labour Law, Article (67):
The worker is entitled to a special leave with Gross Wage as follows:
1- Three days in case of his marriage and shall not be granted more than once throughout the period of his service.
2- Three days in case of the death of a son, daughter, mother, father, wife, grandfather, grandmother, bother or sister.
3- Two days in case of the death of an uncle, or an aunt.
4- Fifteen days for the performance of Al-Haj [pilgrimage] once throughout the period of his service, provided that he has completed one year in the service of the employer.
5- Fifteen days during the year for purpose of sitting for examination in case of an Omani worker who is an associate student with one of the schools, institutes, collages or universities.
6- One hundred and thirty days for a working Muslim wife in the event of her husband's death.
The entitlement to the leaves set out in paragraphs 2, 3 and 6 shall be conditional upon the presentation of the proof of death from the relevant authority

According to these Omani laws, you qualify for leaves for significant changes in your life such as marriage, death (different for immediate and relatives), Haj (pilgrimage), examinations, and even a special remark for women who are working. The woman's 130 days off is a religious principle in the event of her husband's death. The woman is to remain at home in order to evaluate whether she is pregnant. It sounds a bit absurd but its actually a really beautiful principle in Islam. The motive behind this clause is to protect the widow and child's name so as to ward off any accusations that the child may belong to any other man. After 130 days, it will be clear whether she is with child or not and after which she may resume to what sense of a normal life she can as best she can without her spouse. 

Labour Laws

I am working at a geotechnical construction company here and am helping streamline their HR policy with UAE labor laws. Since all legal documents here are in Arabic, the translated packets can be confusing. The company essentially wants me to help create an organized 'new employee' packet which employees can easily read and understand.

My projects include reading the labor laws for the UAE, and I've also been assigned to reorganize the new employee manuals for Oman, Qattar and Saudi Arabia. 

Reading the UAE labor laws, or the 'labour" laws, has been really interesting. For example, the laws have special regulations for "Nationals" and "Non-nationals," considering that there is a huge flux of people coming and going to the UAE for business purposes, I understand how there is a need to specify rules between the two groups.

See below:

U.A.E. LABOUR LAW, FEDERAL LAW NO. (8) OF 1980

LABOUR LAW AND ITS AMENDMENTS

Chapter I

ARTICLE (9)

Work is a right of the United Arab Emirates Nationals. Others may not be employed in the United Arab Emirates except as provided for in this Law and its executive orders.

ARTICLE (10)

In the event of non-availability of national workers, preference shall be given to:

1. Arab workers who are nationals of an Arab Country.
2.   Workers of other nationalities.

This stratification of  preference of employment is important to note because it shows the government's preference and consideration in ensuring employment for its own people before passing on opportunities to foreigners. 

Success!

I've now been here for a whole week! I don't know why but it seems like I've been here much longer. I've been catching up with some old friends and they've made me feel like I've always been here so its very homey and welcoming.

So the good news I'd like to report is that I am now CAFFEINE FREE! After a week of trying to adjust an 11 hr time difference and Ramadan fasts on top of that, my body has been so confused but is finally starting to come around. Somewhere in the midst the chaos I was able to kick my caffeine habit which I am SO grateful for! I felt like an addict; needing coffee or tea in the morning everyday. I despise the idea of not having control over myself and hated the fact that I needed something on a daily basis. 

Now I have a few sips of soda or tea here and there but I can at least get through my day without a caffeine headache. Its a small win, but a win nonetheless!

Alhamdullilah! Woohoo!

Respecting the UAE

UAE arrests internet activists

Salam, the above article has been an indirect notice to myself that this blog could potentially come under speculation. This blog is simply a student observation of a new environment and is not meant to disrespect anything or anyone. The questions or analysis found anywhere on this blog is out of a pure intent to learn and understand how the UAE functions.

I am here with the utmost deference and I have no intention as to disrespect any of the customs of this country. Dubai is a captivating and beautiful city and I hope to admire how it has grown so quickly in the past few years.

Wasalam,

Ramadan Kareem,

-V

A Transient environment

Last night, I had the pleasure of dinner with my friend and her coworkers. We met up a restaurant and broke iftar (end of the day's fast) with their buffet menu. The food was plentiful but I've never really eaten much Arabic food so I need someone to kind of walk me through the dishes. Nothing is too crazy or anything, it just something that requires some familiarity.

Anyways, the conversation for dinner was really interesting when we started talking about working in Dubai. The economy here seems to thrive very well however there are many regulations in place which seem to max out or hinder entrepreneurism. It seems built with the idea of laborers and investors will come and go.

First off, if a foreign investor wants to open a branch of whatever hotel, firm, company, retail store here, they will need a local resident to sponsor them. This resident receives a cut  from the profits simply for vouching for the interested party. Its very difficult to actually own your own business completely unless its in the 'free zone' which is an area that is exempt from these regulations. My host family actually operates their own business from this zone.

Another interesting part of the economy here is that there is relatively zero unemployment. Everyone here is working. If you are here for travel, you only have a visa for 30 days. In order to get anything for a prolonged time, you must get a job and your employer will then apply for an extended visa on your behalf so that you may stay. If you are a spouse or child, you will be exempt but you must be registered. Everyone also has identification here.

I went to the Mall of the Emirates, which is basically a larger version of South Coast Plaza, to purchase a phone and SIM card and they asked me for my passport or Emirates ID card. I wouldn't be able to get a phone number without it. I thought it was interesting but it is probably a way to curb illegals (undocumented or pass their visa expiration date) from being able to stay in the country.

One of the people present at our dinner is actually leaving tomorrow for a vacation. He said that he is switching jobs between two sister hotels and he has to take a leave because as his position (and thus visa) expires at one location he has to leave the country until his paperwork comes in for the other position. He's using the time for vacation however for someone who didn't expect the transition, this type of work could be very difficult and hassling.

These regulations are very different from what I am used to and seem to be obstacles in establishing a long term future here. This may be insight as to the underlying attitudes towards foreign investment in the sense that it is purposely difficult and at a high cost in order to attract the best competitors and to deter anyone from permanently staking a claim in the area. This area perhaps is just in such extreme demand that the regulations here may be cumbersome but still worth the return on investment. 

Arrival

I made it!

My travels began in LAX onto Amsterdam and then finally to Dubai! The flights went well except the last flight included plenty of screaming babies which tested my patience a little.

I'm very excited to be here! There are so many things I've learned in the past14 hrs. For one, the biggest summer blockbuster of 2012, The Dark Knight Rises...will NOT be released here in Dubai out of respect for the month of Ramadan. Instead of distracting from the holy month, the release is postponed to the end of Ramadan in order to celebrate. As a movie go-er I'm a little sad because I was excited to see a big movie release here however I do appreciate the prioritization of religious values over sales.

Lifestyle suggestions for Non-muslims during Ramadan in the UAE

I also read the morning paper and there was a quick article for non-Muslims living in the country with suggestions on how to act during this time of the month. (see photo from the Gulf News) I thought it was responsible to provide advice in order to create a respectful atmosphere between people who are observing the month and those who are not. The article also represents an expectation of a change of lifestyle. It made me think about how stores close for Christmas and how spring break conveniently falls around Easter time. As a Muslim in the US, no one really knows when my religious days are unless people already have Muslim friends who inform them. People just compliment me on my nice dress while i'm waiting in line at Albertsons to purchase quick groceries for celebratory foods or picking up treats to take to someone's house. The Albertons cashiers are the only people not already in my regular day-to-day life who really recognize me in some form on a special religious day. It's going to be a treat to be able to appreciate the people around me who are going to change their day to accommodate the special religious time.

Aside from Ramadan in a Muslim country, I'm pumped to start this internship. I will be drafting an initial draft of HR policy for a large construction company which specializes in soil improvement and ground water control in accordance with UAE labor regulations.