With its full-steam growth, iconic sleek skyscrapers, and world-famous attractions, the countless tourists that visit the United Arab Emirates aren’t a surprise. The UAE is famous for its two giant cities- Dubai as the home of the world’s largest building – the Burj Khalifa, and Abu Dhabi, which serves as the national capital of UAE.
However, scratch underneath the surface, and you will realize that there is more to UAE than these glitzy high-rises, shops, and sandy shores. Before being branded as voguish luxury travel and holiday destination, how does this country look before? From a patch of sand, how did this eminent country gain extensive global power?
Let’s take a glimpse into the United States of Emirates. Beyond what these stunning picturesque this country has to offer, here are the things you should know about UAE:
Incredibly Turbulent History
For centuries, sheikdoms dominate the region, having Pearl Trading as their core business. The pirates scour the vast seas and use the shore as their shelter.
Living off by the see, well, we are pretty sure these people can see what is happening within the borders of their territory. And just like what a typical pirate would do, sheikdoms did their thing and interfered with the British Navy and Indian trade.
So, to safeguard Britain’s deal with India, they fought against these pirates. Later on, it led to the treaty between the brits and the sheikdoms. Britain granted protection to the Trucial States’ emirs for exchange of exclusivity. The truce served as the first step towards the region’s stability, having good trade of pearls and security from the British army.
Later on, Brits are exhausted from being bankrupt financially and politically. Hence, they can no longer hold their army in a desert leading to the abandonment of the treaty.
Good thing, the discovery of oil in 1966 made Sheikdoms work as one to secure their newfound resource. Thus, United Arab Emirates was formed.
Smart Leadership
Just as what the American author mentioned in one of his books, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
Oil fields were discovered one after another, and the city seems to be an online game with cheat codes booming with resources. Now this calls for great leadership.
Pacesetters didn’t want UAE to be just a mere oil-exporting country but a country of a financial and cultural hub. Thus, they use everything they earned from oil, toss it out in building infrastructures, and plow money into every sector there is to be invested.
This vision was the doorway to UAE’s high-rise buildings, excellent roads, hospitals, schools, commercial and entertainment hubs.
Just think of where the UAE would be right now without wise leadership from the past. I guess we can genuinely say that from a smart leader comes a good vision and success.
Minister of State for Happiness
A Minister of State for Happiness was chosen to secure the happiness of Emirati nationals. Many people find it odd, but the designated minister mentioned that it is not a laughing matter for the government. Moreover, question the direction of the government if it’s not working towards the happiness of people.
Driven by purpose, the government works for the Emiratis to savor supported education, fuel, and health care along with free income tax. Imagine earning tons and having it all by yourself. How cool is that?
Life After Oil
Oil supply will not last forever, and Emiratis know it well. With price playing like a yo-yo for years, an oil-based economy in the future is pretty much claptrap for the Emirates. So, what’s the plan?
Among the seven emirates, Dubai is the only city that is not reliant on the oil economy. In fact, the city’s oil contribution is less than 1% of the total gross domestic product. Then, how come it has a good economy? Dubai has a diversified market, unlike other emirates that are reliant on oil revenues.
Guess we should really never depend on a single source of income. As the saying goes, don’t put your eggs on one basket.
A New City
There’s a new city project in Abu Dhabi called Masdar City.
Masdar, the auxiliary of Mubadala Development Company, aims to create a sustainable urban community with low carbon development. This community has a quickly expanding clean-tech cluster, free business zones, and a domestic area along with public green spaces, shops, and restaurants.
Interestingly, you can find no switches nor water tabs in the whole city. Solar panels play their role in promoting a green environment too.
The development started in 2008, but due to the economic turmoil, it faced several hindrances. Now, the new city is expected to be completely operative in 2030.
Weird Laws
Do you have a dirty little mouth? A dirty car? Or do you like eating or drinking on public transport? Perhaps, UAE is not for you. This country has a bunch of rules that may seem weird to you, especially if you are coming from a distant land.
UAE has a lot of lesser-known limitations that often slip upon.
Spreading damaging rumors on social media might be common nowadays, but if you try to do that in UAE, you might not easily get away with it. There’s actually one Australian professor who paid a hefty fine, was jailed, and deported for sharing a photo of a parked car in a restricted parking space.
Culture and laws vary in every country. If you plan to give UAE a visit, make sure to know the local customs and abide by them.
