Visitors at a holographic presentation about the construction process of Palm Jumeirah, a man-made archipelago.
Migrants form essential part of country’s transformation
CLAD in a white robe and a turban, 47-year-old Nazrul Islam could easily be mistaken for an Emirati.
Having migrated to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) several years ago, the Bangladeshi national could not be more grateful.
“I earn up to AED7,000 (RM8,352) a month, enough to support my wife and two children back home,” he said.
A general worker at Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU), Nazrul is among millions of migrants who have helped transform the UAE into what it is today.
Burj Al Arab houses some of the most luxurious hotel rooms in the world.
Since its founding in the early 1970s that saw seven emirates coming together under one federal union, the country has seen an influx of migrant workers to meet its growing demands for labour.
According to the World Population Review, the UAE’s population is approximately 11.2 million, with nearly 90% of these being migrants.
Today, the country has emerged from disparate sheikhdoms into a megalopolis on the Arabian Peninsula.
I visited the country’s largest city, as part of a trip organised by Dubai’s economy and tourism department in partnership with Resorts World Cruises.
The itinerary included landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa, the Burj Al Arab, and Palm Jumeirah, a man-made archipelago.
Standing at 828m, Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world while Burj Al Arab – dubbed a seven-star hotel in the hospitality sector – attracts wealthy tourists with its most premium suites priced at US$54,000 (RM239,773) per night, according to the tour guide.
A cultural market in Al Fahidi historical district in Dubai.
And resembling a palm tree, Palm Jumeirah is a sprawling luxury estate so grand that it is visible from space.
It is clear that the UAE takes immense pride in its engineering feats, going to great lengths to highlight the construction processes behind these landmarks to project its image as an economic powerhouse.
In addition to the push for modernity, efforts have been made to preserve Emirati culture and their links to the past.
At Al Fahidi Historical District, the buildings reflect traditional Emirati and Islamic architectural styles.
Besides the SMCCU, there is also a cultural market here selling various handicrafts and local produce.
One memorable exchange took place when a cashier, who is a migrant, assumed I was a resident and not a tourist.
Sara speaking to tourists from Malaysia during a visit to SMCCU in Dubai.
“There are many foreign workers here, it’s common to assume the people you see are residents,” he said when told I was only visiting.
Sara Yousef, a cultural speaker at the SMCCU and a UAE citizen, highlighted the importance of migrants in their community.
“Some may think that because we have lots of money from oil exploration, we can easily attract talents.
“But without the proper policies and infrastructure in place, no one would want to come,” she said.
Sara was not concerned that the influx of migrants could dilute Emirati culture.
“It is our job to pass down our customs to future generations, no matter how many immigrants come,” she said.
“And just because the foreigners are not UAE citizens, it does not mean this is not their home.”
