In Aristotle's Poetics, an early treatise on dramatic theory, we read that an essential element in any great story, be it tragedy or comedy, is a "reversal". Perhaps it is the radical reversal of economic fortunes that makes the Gulf's recent history so infinitely tellable.
Certainly, many book titles discussing the region - From Rags to Riches, Sand to Silicon, From Pearls to Oil - clearly reflect this "transformation fixation".
Such works generally describe the massive changes wrought by socio-economic transition, either lamenting losses or trumpeting the triumphal tune of regional progress.
The dominant theme, however, is always "change" - changing landscapes, changing lifestyles and changing values. But what of the western expatriates and their lifestyles and cultural values? How have they changed or progressed over the years?
I recently discovered an essay by the celebrated author and founder of the Institute for Cultural Research, Idries Shah. Amongst many other accolades, Shah is famous for his anthropological studies of the British, published in books such as Darkest England and The Natives are Restless. The essay in question was entitled Skiving in the Sun, and it described the British expatriate community of Bahrain in the 1980s. I read it with fascination to see how much - if at all - Shah's description would resonate with my own experience as a British expatriate in the UAE some 30 years later.
Shah describes Bahrain's British expatriates of the 1980s as being overly negative about their homeland; they variously describe Britain as lacking in opportunity or as being in a state of terminal economic decline and social deterioration.
However, in spite of these less than favourable views of the sceptred isle, the British expatriates are also described as displaying an almost fanatical desire to cling to, and recreate, every vestige of their home environment and cultural background.
Shah details how the Britons of 1980s Bahrain imported British foodstuffs, and immersed themselves in local press, radio and TV, all written, produced and performed by Britons for Britons.
At the heart of this community was the British Club, built on the foundations of an earlier British military establishment. The Club is described as an attempt to faithfully recreate the great British pub, complete with authentic Sunday lunch, faithfully served each weekend.
Another notable feature of the 1980s expatriate lifestyle is reported as the tendency to leave Bahrain at any given opportunity, with many families spending almost as much time out of the country as in it, taking several overseas holidays each year. And the summer exodus, of course, was a must for virtually all expatriate families.
Shah's overarching impression of this community was one of listlessness and dissatisfaction, a situation he proposes might be remedied by greater attempts to understand or adapt to the local culture and lifestyle. Finding a Briton with even a handful of Arabic words was a particularly difficult task, he suggests. Arabic of course, is the key to a deeper understanding of Gulf culture and perhaps opens doors to more meaningful connections.
Some of Shah's descriptions still ring true to my ears. We still have a British Club, although the one in Abu Dhabi is now known simply as "The Club". And finding western expatriates who can go beyond shukran and marhaba is still fairly challenging.
That said, I do think that today's expatriates are making greater efforts to learn Arabic (a particularly difficult language for English speakers). I also suspect today's expatriates are generally more appreciative of diversity than their 1980s equivalents. Similarly, for better or for worse, globalisation has reduced cultural differences, and British 20-something's and their Khaliji counterparts have had far more shared experiences than their parents' generation ever did. They have watched the same movies and TV shows and surfed the same internet.
While the British expatriate community has not witnessed massive changes in the past 30 years, there has been slow, steady, positive progress, but none of the rapid reversals that make for a particularly great story. However, the dramatic effect of a "reversal" lies in its unexpectedness. Who knows what fate awaits the Gulf's expatriate communities over the next 30 years?
Justin Thomas is an associate psychology professor at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi
On Twitter: @jaytee156
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
Fight card
Preliminaries:
Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)
Main card:
Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)
Title card:
Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)
Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)
Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
