Thirty-seven years in UAE and looking forward to more
Photo by Eefa Khalid/Dawn.com
I landed in Dubai towards the end of September 1975. That was the time when apart from construction workers, talented young men from Pakistan comprising bankers, insurers, engineers, doctors and other professionals were still migrating from the country in search of greener pastures. Banks and Life Insurance along with several heavy industries had earlier been nationalized by the Bhutto regime leaving behind a large group of talented professionals whose services would be welcome in any country in search of talented manpower, particularly the oil rich kingdom of the Middle East. The Arabs were indebted to Bhutto for teaching them to use their new found oil as a weapon against the West and to face the Western world with dignity and so they were more than happy to reciprocate by offering jobs to Pakistanis in their country.
The Trucial states in the Gulf which had just gained independence from British rule united to form the United Arab Emirates under the dynamic leadership of Shaikh Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi and Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktum in Dubai. The rest of the seven emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Umal Quwain, Ras Al Khaima and Fujairah all had their respective leaders but lacked the financial strength and the vision of Sh. Zayed and Sh. Rashid. Both were actually Bedouins but tribal leaders who loved their country and its people.
Dubai has been my home for the last 37 years and I would love to stay here as long as I can. This country has given a lot of opportunities to the Pakistanis with whom rulers of the UAE have always had a soft corner. All of them had houses in Pakistan and their holidays were spent on hunting trips to Pakistan. Quite a few of them speak fluent Urdu but sadly few Pakistanis have learnt to speak Arabic. Agha Hassan Abedi, founder of BCCI who had a strong influence on the Arab leaders, was clearly instrumental in bringing UAE and Pakistan closer. He taught his people how to deal with the Arabs, how to talk, dress and present themselves to the outside world. As far as I remember, every single Arab had an account in BCCI and always took pride in dealing with the Pakistani bankers. There was so much of Arab investment coming to Pakistan that Indira Gandhi reportedly asked in one of her Cabinet meetings, “If Pakistan can have an Abedi why can’t India have one?”
Those were the days when Saigols, Valikas, Adamjees, Gokals all had prominent offices here. Arabs looked upon Pakistan with pride and Pakistan continued to play an active role in the economic boom in the UAE. Unfortunately this did not continue for long. Bhutto’s departure from the scene greatly upset the Arabs who had no room for the new military regime. This was followed some years later by the debacle of the BCCI which completely shattered the Arab world, which lost all trust and faith in Pakistan. Over the years, the Pakistani work force greatly reduced and was substantially replaced by the Indians and Far Eastern workers.
Could the situation have been corrected? Not by the leaders but definitely by the Pakistanis still living in the UAE. The Pakistani missions in the UAE did nothing to correct the situation as the diplomats were busy only in receiving VIPs coming to Dubai on shopping trips with their families. The Pakistani community always had a serious attitude problem and was looking for short-cuts at every stage. I had been a member of the Pakistani Professional Forum but left it soon as it did nothing to interact with other forums, which was one of its purposes. Having a dual citizenship, I am also an active member of the Canadian Business Council which meets at least twice a month for discussions on various topics particularly on how to bring in Canadian investments to Dubai. We work closely with the Canadian Consulate here who give the forum their full support. Recently we had a joint meeting and a get-together comprising 17 Business Councils from 17 different countries. I noticed several deals being made and visiting cards being exchanged for follow up. The only country missing was Pakistan which deeply saddened me to see the absence of my own country.
Dubai is a wonderful place to live in – I would honestly say the best in the Gulf. My Canadian friends have often asked me what it was like being amongst the Arabs for so many years. My answer to them was to know the Arabs you have to live with them and I have lived them for 37 years. I cannot speak for the rest of the Arab world but can certainly say that local Arabs in UAE are the most talented and wonderful to live with and they interact with the expatriates with open arms. We celebrate Eid, Diwali, Christmas, Nauroz, New Year and even Halloween with great pleasure. I live in a gated community comprising families from several countries and right now as I write I can see the glow of Diwali lights in my neighbours house. Our closest friends are the Indians who have stood by us at every stage. Unless the Pakistanis come out of their shell and learn to mix around and interact with other communities, they will lose their identity.
The writer is a veteran of the UAE insurance industry. He is a member of Insurance Business Group and an active member of the Canadian Business Council in Dubai.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
The best part about this country is the law that is free from all sort of discrimination between the white and black, muslim or hindu, rich or poor. Secondly, the people around are good human beings who indeed know what humanism is all about. I very much agree with the two points of Mr. Iqbal. 1. Attitude Problem and 2. We try to find short-cuts at every stage. This is the time to come out of the nut shell and make our country proud of us in UAE and all over the world by our clear intentions, hard work, and friendship with all communities.
There future is bright. their empire is based on oil which will be replaced by other fuels which will be much cheaper in near future(solar cells, anti matter ect) . soon in 50 years or so they will be on camels and goats again. what a bright future
I am a Pakistani ex-pat residing in Dubai and completely agree to the views expressed in the strongly-worded article above.
I am surprised at the arrogance at display here. Every person who commented on this article would just jump to Dubai if offered an opportunity by a rich-yet perhaps not intellectual, Sheikh. Try to understand the writers experience not super impose your opinions.
No sane Pakistani like Iqbal can stay in Pakistan.
On the other side, If none had left, perhaps Pakistan would have been in better shape than today, Wallahu Allam but as according to Islam migration is only allowed if one cannot practice Islam or being prosecuted and danger to your life as a Muslim. Unless one changes one’s mind to propogate Islam.
Mr. Iqbal is a proud Pakistani who left his country Pakistan, which he felt was not a green pasture and stayed in a country called UAE for 37 years and wants to stay their for some more years.I feel people like Iqbal are true Pakistanis who left Pakistan for the good.The fact is a true liberal and prosperous Pakistani will not stay in Pakistan.
Even Dr. Allama Iqbal (Ramatullah Allay), Quaid Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Rahmatullah Allay left Indo Pakistan Sub-Continent.
It is not what happened to Pakistanis in UAE or anywhere else which is hurting us. It is about what happened to Pakistanis in Pakistan. During the mentioned period, 1st for almost a decade we fought a war for someone… than a period of rampage corruption enjoyed by the two main parties and then another war with another dictator for someone.. .And now the war combined with the Pioneers of corruption hitting the country and its people. Unless our own home is in order we can’t get better no matter how better relations our expats have with natives of their respective countries. If we are good at home we will be better outside.
“Unless the Pakistanis come out of their shell and learn to mix around and interact with other communities, they will lose their identity.”
what
I have now lived in Dubai for 1.5 years. I met a cab driver from Peshawar Pakistan who had spent 40 years in Dubai and was soon returning because his work visa could be extended no more as he was turning sixty something….
The writer has exaggerated things a bit. If he was so happy in dubai why has he taken a candian nationality???
Yesterday I was checking Top dubai brands and out of dozens of companies both multi-national and local not even single company unfotunately had a Pakistani ceo/cfo/cco/cmo… I think in Dubai levels for every nationality is clearly defined. Top management for westerners/mainly british and locals. Second layer can be anyone but mostly its arab speaking/labanese/egyptians/palestinians/ by chance 1 or 2 pakistanis and maybe more indians may show up here. Middle management is totally indians and pakistanis. labour is all indian, bengali, philipino, and pakistanis (e.g 90% of cab drivers are pakistani pathans).
yes dubai is better in terms of living, it has first of all security, and then ofcourse the other necessities of life.. BUT it also has the highest rate of heart attacks in the world among middle aged men. also one can live 50 years in dubai but can one become a citizen?
Also the author forgot to tell that 25% of Pakistani immigrants in canada live below the poverty line. They live in Slums…
I respect the experience of the writer but as someone who was born and raised in the UAE, who left the place with absolutely no desire to visit, the article exaggerates much of UAE’s good qualities. Arabs being welcoming to Pakistanis? Sure, if you look European. And if your visa is yanked away, you become a pariah. No thank you, the writer can have Dubai, I left it and the horrible attitude the locals had towards South Asians and never looked back.
“Arabs in UAE are the most talented and wonderful to live with and they interact with the expatriates with open arms”
I think everyone has missed the sarcasm the writer is trying to convey.
And as far as celebrating Diwali etc, I wonder how many native Dubai Arabs joined in?