DUBAI 20 April 2019: Its 11 pm and I step out for a walk, post rain. I take a stroll in the neighborhood, letting the fresh breeze refresh me. The smell of rain rings in nostalgia of home. The sweet memories of childhoods gone playing in monsoon rains.
But what’s a far cry from possibility is that I would never feel safe walking on quiet streets at late nights in my own country or even in most countries. This privilege of safety is a rare one only because I am in Dubai. The only thing I should miss is not having a #MeToo story to share, but I am glad I don’t have one!
What is most interesting is the starting of a new ethnicity that’s come to be because of marriages between people of various nationalities here. There are new generations of various permutation and combinations of nationalities; Indo- Filipino, Arab-western, Asian-African and even of the countries with the hostile political relations like India-Pakistan. A Joanne Al Humeidi, Radhika Chan or Fathima Kapoor will pass off without a jaw or two dropping or judgement.
It’s only normal here to find the melting pot of cultures that churns out new identities of globalized citizens. There’s a certain feel of open mindedness that the country gives you. It’s the freedom to do what you want; wear what you like in the realms of reasonable decency. I found an oriental looking person speak in Hindi and gave credit to Bollywood’s popularity, only to discover that his father and mother are Indian and Filipino respectively! Yep, Dubai surprises aren’t just limited to the summer and shopping surprises!
When you wake up every day to be reminded of war, tyranny, communal violence across the globe, and when the media screams a consistent theme of racially tinged narratives, UAE seems like a Utopia, far from that maddening crowd. It’s the ultimate solace from the political, economic and social cacophony of the rest of the world. It’s been a welcome place where millions found livelihood, higher standards of living and a safety net from crimes.
There are always new people coming into the Emirates. I imagine them to be like those sailors of ancient times who set out in search of new places and fortune. And the Burj Khalifa lights up into the flags of all the nations on their national and independence days, a testimony of UAE being a stalwart of peace and acceptance.
Note: The author is Blogger and runs a startup.