Sharjah and Dubai, UAE
Between Perception and Reality: Intersections of Society, Culture, Business and Religion in the UAE
Most people associate the United Arab Emirates with oil, great wealth, and rapid real estate development, but behind the glitz is a country balancing modernization with the pull of tradition. What is the reality of contemporary Emirati culture and society? This seminar will focus on gender, youth culture, family, and religion - examining questions of the influence of Islam, the role of women in work and the family, the interaction between media and youth, and the continued importance of the extended family in modern life. Discussions will expand to include a perspective of the larger region of the Arabian peninsula when possible. Taking place in Dubai and Sharjah, the seminar will leave participants with an understanding of the people behind the place and their struggles and successes within the new UAE.