A lot has been said about the UAE in the past month. A large section of the western media have sensationalized the issue at hand, and are busy writing obituaries on the Dubai business model, if you can call it that.
I wish at least some of them would have taken the trouble to actually spend some quality time here, before writing agenda-furthering op-eds.
One cannot write off a vision that has continued to give, for over 50 years. Nor can one belittle what the country has achieved in such a short span of time. The ‘Dubai model’ is not based on business – it is based on a sense of belonging. Of togetherness, of co-existing in diversity – a model that has no parallel anywhere else on earth.
So, before you let schadenfreude get the better of yourself, come and have a look. Even better, come and live here. Feel it. Experience it. And then let’s see what you have to say.
Here is what I wrote a couple of years back, on UAE National Day. Still resonates with me. Always did. Always will.
We are safe, and alert. And all getting ready to weather the storm, and also bounce back even stronger.
Have a read!
A lot of people get in touch with me seeking jobs in the UAE.
I do try to help whenever I can.
But very few people come to me asking how to succeed in the UAE. Not that I am an authority on the subject, but I came here with nothing and I have done alright…I’ve seen ups and downs, and been fortunate enough to rise again, and again.
All this was not possible if the land itself was not forthcoming, not conducive for success.
The UAE is a place where many have made fortunes, some have lost, and very few have managed to go back with no real value addition.
I believe that like anywhere else, hard work is essential for success. But working in the UAE makes it a little bit easier, provided that you are willing to give it your all. Blood and sweat, and you will be rewarded for sure.
And so it’s time to celebrate this tiny, but unique place on the world map – one that has grown beyond anyone’s imagination, and along with it have grown thousands of individuals from all parts of the world.
Thank you UAE, for giving us an opportunity to prove ourselves, and rewarding us with a lifestyle that is on par with any first-world country.
You have strived hard, and we have strived with you. And will continue to do so. For me personally, it’s not just the UAE, but also India’s name that I carry along with me. I will work hard to keep the flags flying high!