Femininity comes in one of my agenda as we are celebrating Women’s month.
I am no expert in Dubai, yet I can share the least that I know base on my personal observations and the exchanged casual conversations I have had. The strong cultural adherence of the locals sometimes confused me as to what is and what is not acceptable.
Whatever the society clamors for what is acceptable is for me highly valued. One, because women particularly are treated with high regards. Be it an emirati or a foreign lady. And second, they value women as they are.
What I like most in Dubai’s culture is that the government strictly practices what they see will promote women’s welfare.
Noticeably, Dubai local women now have found a niche in the open world. They are in the universities to avail of higher education, some went into aviation (a field mostly dominated by men), and most have found jobs and are encouraged to work. In major newspapers, one can see in classified sections that women emirate is preferred and are encouraged to apply for jobs. Unlike their counterparts in the region, Dubai local women enjoy the kind of privilege their government afforded them. What then is the essence of an open city? The significant changes on the role of women have played a vital role in Dubai’s economy and how it is seen by the outside world.
When in Dubai, women enjoy the privilege of being treated like a princess. Well what is good when the first few seats in public buses are reserved for women? Even when getting in the bus. When queuing in postal offices, in the banks and other establishments’ women have either a separate line or being entertained first. Though there are violations to the rule especially among expatriates, but the general rule applies. And this is unlikely violated.
Fashion statement has been a primordial issue in Dubai too. European styles flooded much of the seemingly elite malls. The styles of local women’s “abaya” (the national dress that covers the whole body except the face, feet and hands) have greatly changed accordingly. The traditional one is simple, now it is elegant and stylish in texture and design.
A Muslim-convert lady once told me that if the family walks in public, the wife and children walks behind the husband-father. I sometimes agree, because I noticed some, but not all the times.
Foreign women found respect from the locals as they are now open minded especially treating expatriates in their country. This can be accounted to how locals also respect religion of the expatriates by providing a place of worship (e.g. St. Mary’s for Christians near Rashid Hospital).
Clothing for women expatriates in Dubai is so relax. One can wear anything causal, prim and proper (with due respect to Dubai’s culture) though rules and limitations apply to most four and five star hotels and other significant places.
In terms of safety, there is not much to worry. Dubai is a relatively safe country to live just like Singapore. Modern technology is the answer to it. No one can buy a mobile sim without presenting passport being photocopied and scanned for record purposes. Any threat from the mobile can be monitored. Here in the Philippines, one can have 3-10 sims as one likes.
These are just few things I recalled. I hope in time I can add more.
Summing it up for now: “Wherever we, women are, we always love to be treated the way we should be treated. That is the essence of our existence”.
