Ramadan
Ramadan is an event which takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar year and ultimately sees Muslims banned from eating, drinking, smoking and a number of other activities between dawn and sunset. Ramadan itself is supposed to be a test of Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality as well as being a very concentrated month of prayer. However, as more and more countries around the world have taken in expats and overseas businesses we have seen areas such as United Arab Emirates, and Dubai in particular, struggling somewhat to bring together the Western cultures with the local practices.
There is a post in the Dubai Forum which at first glance would appear to be something of a joke but is in fact an example of what can happen in the month of Ramadan and a potential warning for Westerners and non-Muslims. It also poses a number of questions with regards to Ramadan and the manner in which this is or is not respected by Western visitors.
The Dubai culture
The culture of Dubai is based upon the Muslim faith and as such the vast majority of people in the region will celebrate Ramadan and refrain from a variety of activities, as mentioned above, between dawn and sunset. This also has a significant impact upon businesses, local services and hotels and restaurants in the area and has been known to cause significant friction between Muslims and non-Muslims.
A clash of cultures
There is no doubt that non-Muslim and Muslim followers in Dubai have been at loggerheads on numerous occasions due to the fact that many locals believe that expats and visitors to the region should respect the local culture and local practices. However, many Westerners believe that as they are now part of the Dubai culture and the Dubai economy they themselves should have some respect from Muslims and local authorities in the region. So who is right and who is wrong?
Wherever you move to in the world there will be a different culture to the one you have moved from and there will be issues which will arise on a regular basis. Not only do you need to be aware of potential cultural clashes before you make your decision to move overseas but you also need to be aware of both legal and moral obligations you may have in any country. The vast majority of overseas visitors, whether businesses, expats or tourists, will respect the local culture and specific celebrations such as Ramadan, but many believe this is not fair.
Respecting international cultures
While areas such as Dubai are fairly new on the worldwide economic stage, there has been a significant investment from overseas companies, overseas investors and a mass of expats have moved to the area. It is safe to say that the economy of places such as Dubai is very different to what it was 10 years ago and much of the difference is in the main due to overseas investment and the involvement of overseas companies. As a consequence, more and more overseas visitors to the region believe that not only should local cultures be respected but Western cultures should also be respected in some shape or form.
As a consequence, events such as Ramadan have been known to cause significant friction between Muslim and non-Muslim parties and some overzealous authorities have exacerbated the problem.
Discretion is the name of the game
Even though the post in question has a number of specific events described which would appear to show local authorities and local Muslims taking a very dim view of the actions of some Westerners, there would appear to be some scope for reconciliation. It is also mentioned in the thread that a number of “non-Ramadan” events and activities still appear to go on over the period of Ramadan – very often behind closed doors or in some circumstances behind large curtains.
There would seem to be some middle ground between Ramadan and non-Ramadan followers with many Western companies, Western visitors and Western expats allowed to carry on as normal but out of sight of the local community.
Is it fair to accept investment and give nothing back?
This would appear to be one question on the lips of many people, the very fact that overseas companies, investors and expats have literally injected millions upon millions of dollars into the Dubai economy and appear to be getting very little in the way of respect for their cultures. While this is not normally the case, because the Dubai authorities have been known to be very liberal in their views, the month of Ramadan is very important to many Muslims in the region and is something which the authorities have to take seriously and respect.
It is often the very fact that a certain area of the world, such as Dubai, has a certain culture which will attract overseas investors and is something which is reflected in the growing Dubai economy, the property market and industry as a whole. In simple terms, it is wrong for any overseas visitor and overseas investor to disrespect the local cultures although it is also a grey area where by the authorities will accept overseas investment but “give nothing back in return”.
Turning the tables
While many Westerners will complain about Ramadan and the restrictions this may impose on the region, it is very interesting to turn the table full-circle when overseas investors and expats visit Western countries. Time and time again we hear about overseas cultures being amalgamated with local cultures such as the UK for example and growing anger and frustration at the fact that “local cultures” are being watered down. Whether this is true or not is open to debate, but it does show that many Westerners expect their own cultures to be respected overseas but may not have the same respect for overseas cultures in their home land.
Conclusion
While Ramadan is just one of the religious events which does capture the attention of the masses it is also just one of many cultural differences evident on a regular basis. As we mentioned above, while many Westerners want their own cultures to be respected in foreign lands, they are often not too keen to respect other cultures in their own land. This angle of thought is also relevant for any Dubai nationals moving overseas for example who also expect to be able to carry out their own cultural activities in a foreign land.
Culture and religion are very closely interlinked and differ greatly around the world. However, while many countries have attempted to find some middle ground to appreciate and respect different cultures in the region it is very difficult and can often lead to friction.
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