Distant Place Study - Dubai

Question 1

Location of Dubai

Answer 1

Coast of Dubai is situated on the Persian Gulf Coast of the UAE

Forms one of the seven emirates in the UAE

Shares borders with Abu Dhabi, lies directly in the Arabian desert

Question 2

Physical Geography of Dubai

Answer 2

Topography of Dubai is significantly different from that of the southern portion of the UAE

Dubai has no natural river bodies

However Dubai does have a natural inlet, Dubai Creek

Question 3

Land Use of Dubai

Answer 3

In 1833, 800 members of the Bani Yas Tribe settled at the creek and became a centre for fishing, pearling and sea trade

In the 1950s, Dubai strengthened as a major trading hub globally

1980s govt made the decision to make Dubai a tourist destination

Question 4

Demographic of Dubai

Answer 4

Dubai has always been predominantly male environment due to construction workers coming from abroad.

Majority of Dubai population is middle aged since 1975

Rapid population growth, now around 4 million.

Question 5

Economic factors influencing dubai (Endogenous)

Answer 5

Dubai’s economy is well-positioned for its next cycle of growth.

Mining and Quarrying makes up the majority of Dubai’s GDP (29.8%)

Tourist Sector has been growing at a constant rate since 2013

Question 6

Flows of capital affecting Dubai

Answer 6

-Discovery of offshore oil in 1966 gave Dubai the capital to invest in ports, roads, housing and basic services

-Attracting FDI, global banks, multinational HQs through low taxes and business friendly laws and free zones

-Dubai has become a global hub between Europe, Asia and Africa

Question 7

Examples of free zones in Dubai

Answer 7

Jebel Ali, Dubai international financial centre

Question 8

How did Dubai utilise their oil discovery compared to Abu Dhabi

Answer 8

Oil reserves compared to Abu Dhabi are modest, so Dubai used oil money to build infrastructure for trade, services and tourism rather than relying long term on oil exports.

Question 9

Flows of people affecting Dubai

Answer 9

Millions of migrant workers from South Asia, Southeast Asia and other arab states recruited under the kafala sponsorship system to build and service the city

Question 10

benefit of the kafala sponsorship system

Answer 10

Cheap labour

Question 11

Social inequality in Dubai

Answer 11

-Women remained unequal with men under Emirati law until 2019

-The kafala system can exploit migrant workers’ rights, placing them in overcrowded accommodation with poor wages, making them vulnerable to COVID

Question 12

Problem with quantitative data in Dubai

Answer 12

-It is very difficult to access quantitative data about Dubai specifically, most data will be covering the UAE as a whole.

Question 13

Qualitative representations of Dubai

Answer 13

Perceived with a mixture of opinions (Rich, Strange, Tacky, New, Fake etc)

Visit Dubai instagram page - tourism brand run by Dubai’s department of economy and tourism- presents Dubai as modern, global and connected

-Emphasis of “Old Dubai” mixed with modern lifestyle, an attempt to reimage parts of Dubai

Question 14

Continuity of Dubai

Answer 14

-Role as a trading hub: before oil, Dubai was a pearl-diving, fishing trading port, linking India and East Africa. Now has changed but still trading hub.

-Still ruled by the Al Maktoum family as an absolute monarchy within the UAE federation. Still top-down governance and strong state direction

-City is still in an arid climate with extreme heat, limited freshwater and dependence on desalination and energy-intensive cooling

Question 15

How has Dubai changed over the years

Answer 15

-Used to be a small port town in the 1960s-80s

-Port expansion in 1980-00s

-Diversification into finance, tourism, real estate in 2010s-20s

-Growth of luxury hotels such as Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah beach, Atlantis the Palm

-Dubai become increasingly more westernised

-From low-rise settlement around Dubai Creek to a city of skyscrapers and artificial islands

Question 16

Changing Demographics of Dubai

Answer 16

-In the UAE overall, 88.5% of the population are Expats, Indians take up 51% of expats

-Shifted from ageing population to middle aged and very male dominated

Question 17

Dubai Clothing culture

Answer 17

Emirati national dress is a symbol of pride and identity, designed to provide comfort and adhere to religious beliefs

However western culture is becoming more and more prevalent in Dubai

Question 18

Hospitality culture Dubai

Answer 18

Religious beliefs and honouring guests go hand in hand

Marhaba - the word for welcome, used when entering someone’s home

Question 19

Festival/ Music culture Dubai

Answer 19

Music is historically connected with poetry, Dubai now has a thriving scene that includes home grown artists and international superstars.

Question 20

Changing Built environment of Dubai and impact on lived experience

Answer 20

-Introduction to the Burj Al Arab and Jumeriah Beach hotels

-1960 DXB developed, later on opening of T2 and T3

-Dubai mall opening in 1996, attracting consumerism and tourism

-Burj Khalifa opening in 2010 became a staple building, making it a media place

-Jebel Ali port attracting business and industry, SEZ

Question 21

Lived experience for expats in Dubai

Answer 21

BBC documentary shows guy “used to be stacking shelves in Newcastle”, now living affluent life in Dubai - land of opportunity

Workers offered a return flight every year as part of their job package

Question 22

Lived experience for residents in Dubai

Answer 22

-Limited freedom of expression, 25 in jail for peaceful political criticism

-Same-sex activity punishable by min one year imprisonment

-Wealth is more shown off and accepted compared to western culture

Question 23

What does ones lived experience in Dubai depend on?

Answer 23

Depends largely on a person’s characteristics and positionality

Question 24

Lived experience for people on kafala sponsorship system

Answer 24

Unsanitary living conditions in overcrowded accommodations, and violation of their rights.