Did I Abandon Dubai?

I haven’t commented on this situation for awhile, it is deeply personal for me.  I do not take any pleasure in war, no matter who is involved because I believe that war only brings wealth and success to those who never have to fight in it.  Whether the situation concerns the Canadian border, Ukraine or the territorial integrity of China or the GCC region, I’m a firm believer that war is not the answer.  All I can do is hope that those responsible for starting and funding these wars will be restrained because the future of our countries and our children depend on good governance and self-preservation, and finally that all of these conflicts have the potential to reach every corner of the world.

I have a very strong connection to the region, despite not being raised there and of course having no ancestral ties but I do have business ties and call Dubai my second home.  I’ve always had an allure to the Gulf Region which I cannot explain.  Perhaps it was watching shows on the “Travel Channel” featuring the forward thinking UAE and their construction of things like the iconic Burj Al-Arab, I knew back in the early 2000s that Dubai, the UAE and entire GCC were going to be a central part of the world economy in the future.

I argue that future has been here since the late 2000s or by the time my wife and I took a cruise through some of the GCC countries in 2010 and arrived shortly after the grand opening of Dubai Mall.  Dubai was firmly on the map and it has not stopped growing, nor has it stopped innovating.  When people say “I want to go to Las Vegas”, I say go for gambling if you must, but don’t go for the experience.  The Las Vegas of the world is truly in my opinion, in Dubai minus the gambling.  But it still somehow has multiple personalities that suit people like me and arguably almost any legitimate lifestyle (minus drugs).  Do you want an amazing, but safe night out on the town?  Whether you are single, whether you’re a married couple or like myself with a wife and kids, there is something for you.  Dubai didn’t get less exciting after having kids, it got more exciting.  We can talk about all of the “luxurious things in Dubai”, which it does have, but for me it’s not about just the “luxury”.  The luxury for me is in the technology, innovation, peace, in the freedom, excellent healthcare, in the safety, the strong business environment, strong rule of law, efficient government services and preference for families and just living your life.

The UAE government does not wish to impose anything upon anyone aside from some of its core principles, in general my understanding is that it wants to be the best, so it expects the best of everyone who sets up there and lives there.  I have seen people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds thrive and live harmoniously in the UAE, it is truly a multicultural country compromised of on average about 90% foreigners.  They’ve somehow accommodated the entire world’s needs in a relatively small country, while ensuring there are enough resources from housing, to healthcare for everyone.

You can feel excellence in almost anything you do, whether it’s a trip to the grocery store, a trip to the mall or a trip to the restaurant.  If I’d compare the attitude to anything I would probably compare it to China or the US in the sense that people work well, people are proud and they keep innovating and striving.  But there is something distinctly Emirati about its implementation, there is an extra level of kinship there which I can’t explain.  I connect with pure strangers on a level I rarely do in Canada, even if they’re of the same background.  There is something about the quality of people that the UAE attracts.  I haven’t even spoken about the actual Emirati locals, any foreigner I’ve spoken to has said the same as I will tell you.  The Emirati people are among the kindest and warmest people of anywhere in the world and maybe even though they are just 10% of the population, an amazing 10% is enough to drive that same wisdom and energy into everyone who visits and resides in the UAE.

I admit I do have one bias for the UAE and it’s that being Asian there is not only not a disadvantage, I would argue if anything it’s an advantage.  The UAE is truly a Global South country, with BRICS membership and is one of the most international countries in how it functions.  But somehow they’ve brought the best of literally the whole world there.  A lot of Canadians like myself will say “We’d like to go to a better version of Canada” or a “Canada of the 80s or 90s”.  There are very few places in the world in my opinion that check those boxes, but I argue that the UAE is extremely close to how it feels in Canada.

When I drive down the highway in Canada it feels oddly familiar to parts of Sheikh Zayad Road in Dubai, of course though the city view isn’t as impressive in Canada.  But despite being from different cultures and different systems, going back home to Dubai feels so much like being in Canada, in a good way.  It has the exciting feeling that things are developing fast, we’re moving forward like when I was child in Canada.  You have amazing healthcare, you have the best of the entire world’s technology.  The UAE will pivot to Chinese technology products overnight if it needs to (and it largely has), but will also make sure it has the AI options by partnering with US big tech like Nvidia and OpenAI.  It stays neutral and has been able to charm the Global North and South, which is an advantage that very few countries historically and today, have pulled off successfully.

So why I am posting this?  Because I am first of all a proud Canadian citizen, but I’m also boldly aware of the tectonic shift in the world that has been moving.  Canada is trying to catch up now that we’ve realized we need to diversify, perhaps much like the UAE has and that’s why I’m glad the UAE and Canada have been signing more agreements.  I’m posting this because I’m a proud Dubai, UAE resident of the GCC region and it’s a place that is a part of my soul, almost as much as Canada is.  It’s complementary to life in Canada and it’s a place I will never turn away from, or stop loving.

The UAE has faced challenges, perhaps never as ominous as what it is has gone through but it’s done as much as any government can to thrive in this situation.  Life in the UAE has continued as normal and contrary to media perceptions, there is no active war there and the UAE has worked with all parties to minimize future issues which is both admirable, pragmatic and shows that they will always put the interests of their citizens and residents first, at all costs.  The situation is deeply personal to me but there is also the business case for the UAE that has not ceased, but merely changed and quite frankly has not impacted me in any form, just like in Hong Kong when the naysayers said to get out, which would have been a massive mistake.

The GCC isn’t going anywhere, the UAE is still on the map and I predict that there will be a boom once flights resume.