Dubai is an international city in the Middle East located in the Al Warsan region (Alawadi, 2017). The main religion of people in Dubai is Islam. The Arabic language is spoken by people in the region. Despite being a city in a dry area the current development has improved Dubai city to the caliber of international cities like Washington DC. The growth of Dubai came to the light in the early 1990s (Elmasry, 2018). Dubai started as a business hub, which turned into an administrative center and a world-class city within 10 years.
In the early 2000s, this city in the Middle Eastern desert started booming with major skyscrapers. This is a contrast to the early years of the 1970s, where no one would have thought of Dubai as a potential business city (Akhavan, 2017). In Dubai, the community occupying the largest portion is called Al Garhoud, spreading over an area of approximately 800 hectares (8 million square meters).
In the current era, the Al Garhoud cannot be classified as rural or urban. This is because Dubai has continued to grow, accommodating people from all parts of the globe. It can be defined as a metropolitan city due to its mixed cultures. Additionally, a minority of these arrivals settled in rural areas where they engaged in farming activities.
Despite the hardships they faced in the early years of their immigration into the United Arab Emirates, their lifestyle began to change during the Arab uprisings (Alawadi, 2017). By the end of the nineteenth century, most of them became semi-skilled or skilled laborers and traders, which increased their status in society. Empirical evidence suggests that after World War II, there has been an increase in the number of young, educated, and skilled Al Garhoud.
Since the Al Garhoud community has been present in the Middle East for more than a hundred years, they have created more opportunities as compared to many other groups like Al Dhagaya and Al Buteen. Despite this growth and development, studies have indicated that it is not easy in the current Kingdom of Saudi Arabia society to precisely define an Al Garhoudan identity, due to increased intermarriages and assimilation processes that have occurred in various cities (Elmasry, 2018). However, it is estimated that up to 18,760,000 people in modern the United Arab Emirates are claiming Al Garhoud ancestry.
The community is well represented in law, academia, medicine, and other fields considered prestigious as they carry on with their upward mobility in the United Arab Emirates economic system. Al Garhoud has traditionally continued with its prominence in the Democratic ranks of local politics, religion, and Islamic culture. They have managed to attain high government positions as many have risen to senior levels within the civil service.
Because of that, in the past 50 years, the Al Garhoud community has managed to expand its economic and social status in Saudi society (Akhavan, 2017). Al Garhoud’s acceptability and respect within UAE society have grown in line with the greater heights of development that have been achieved by the Republic of Saudi Arabia over the years.
One of the most appealing factors that make me proud of my Al Garhoud heritage is the Islamic cultural heritage that is carefully preserved by the Al Garhoud people. As a tradition, Islamic culture is pegged on Sharia law and strict adherence to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, the Holiest messenger of Allah. There are diverse customs, folklore, music (taarab and qasida), dance, and mythology that propel the unique culture of the community (Alawadi, 2017).
The culture of Al Garhoud people is considered one of the most distinctive cultures in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as in the Middle East. However, it is sad to notice that due to the continuing modernization and extensive homogeneity in western societies, the heritage is increasingly becoming obsolete. As a result, the general assimilation into Western culture has only managed to interfere with Al Garhoud their native custom (Elmasry, 2018). This can be seen through some of the unique elements within the Al Garhoud heritage since the Oman Arab conquest in the early ages of civilization.
In addition, Al Garhoud music qasida has been one of the best experiences in the art. Arabic music has played a key role in the growth of the Al Garhoud folk as well as country music (Elmasry, 2018). Currently, music is one of the extremely popular genres in UAE society.
The majority of the Al Garhoud music instruments which include the flute, tin whistle, fiddle, harp, and concertina have been fully incorporated in the Kingdom of the Saudi Arabian music industry (Alawadi, 2017). It also promotes a strong sense of community for the majority of the Al Garhoud people who prefer to listen to their songs which is a significant promoter of a sense of belonging. They have continued to be an integral part of the general music industry in the United Arab Emirates.
Several Arabic community organizations in UAE are useful in promoting connection among the Al Garhoud people and the general society at large. The common community organizations within my vicinity are the Al Bashar and Al Buteen Cultural Centres. The organizations mainly focus on the promotion of Arabic cultural heritage within Dubai. They also act as a source of information and a forum where people of Arabic descent can meet and share their perspectives regarding different issues regarding the general society.
My family has continued to deliver a significant role in the preservation of the community organization over the years. During its inception, my great grandfather was one of the key pioneers who became a mobilizer and fundraiser for the building of the center. Together with some key individuals in Dubai, they presided over the raising of funds and the purchase of the land where the community center is built.
Similarly, he became a long-lasting board member of the community center for over ten years before retiring. Later on, another great grandfather was appointed to the board where he served for 4 years before stepping down. Currently, some of my extended family members are still actively involved in various functions taking place in the community.
Al Garhoud has brought significant changes to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in many ways. Their invaluable contributions can be traced in various fields including industry, politics, religion, organized labor, art, literature, and music (Akhavan, 2017). Al Garhoud is considered one of the early immigrants in the Middle East who have spread to major cities.
Reference List
Akhavan, M. (2017) ‘Development dynamics of port-cities interface in the Arab Middle Eastern world-The case of Dubai global hub port-city’, Cities, 60, pp. 343-352.
Alawadi, K. (2017) ‘Place attachment as a motivation for community preservation: the demise of an old, bustling, Dubai community’, Urban Studies, 54(13), pp.2973-2997.
Elmasry, S.K. (2018) ‘Islamic Architecture in Dubai: renewal and contemporaneity’, WIT Transactions on The Built Environment, 177, pp. 221-231