“We have become a minority. Our traditions are threatened and Arabic is no longer a first language,”
Today, this generation is quickly taking over the running of the country, even though we are criticized and second-guessed in many instances for never having had to face the hardships of previous generations. As we hear many people say, we are born with a silver/gold spoon in our mouth, maybe we are but believe me it’s not as easy as that. I want to bring to your attention that not all Emiratis are spoiled and with too much money or unrestricted freedom, and not all get the best of anything because of who they are, there are things in life which we have to earn and like everyone else Emiratis are the same.
The economic growth of the UAE has led to growth in education, work and the opening of our society. We’ve been exposed to many backgrounds, religions and cultures yet not everything we get exposed to is bad. At the end of the day we are the judges, and we can choose what suits us and leave what does not. Despite all the development, we remain Muslims, Arabs and Khaleejis and are conservative in our traditions.
With all the growth and development we feel that we are being swamped. Before the 1968 oil boom, Emiratis made up some 62 % of the federation’s population but now account for just 16.5 % of an estimated population of six million are Emiratis. We Emiratis feel unwelcome in our own country and feel discriminated against our national dress.
While I see your point, that nationals are quickly becoming a minority, you have yet to explain why you feel unwelcome and discriminated against in your own country? Could you perhaps cite some examples?