Take a look around you and be grateful for what you have

The struggles of the region around us should serve as a reminder to be thankful of the bounty in the UAE, writes Manar Al Hinai.

While the rest of the world is worrying about the global financial crisis, the only economic issue that interests many in Dubai is the deals being offered at their favourite retailers. Jaime Puebla / The National
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Like many people in the UAE, you probably spend your weekends eating more than you should, sitting in front of the TV when you ought to be working out, or shopping when you could have saved that extra cash.

You may even have driven to Dubai to get your hands on some great deals at the Shopping Festival, or got caught in traffic on the Emirates Road with all the GCC nationals who come to visit Global Village.

While the rest of the world is worrying about whether the euro will survive as a currency, or rising unemployment or global financial meltdown, the only economic issue that really interests many residents, and especially tourists, in Dubai at about this time is the extent of the deals being offered at their favourite retailers.

If you are one of the sales people at an outlet in Dubai, then you are probably too busy to be thinking about current affairs.

Thank goodness.

Across the Middle East, the news has been unsettling. Ali Abdullah Saleh, the president of Yemen, has given up power. Egyptians celebrated their revolution's first anniversary a week ago. Americans are occupied debating which presidential candidate to vote for this year.

All the while, people in the UAE have been busy shopping.

Dubai's hotels are nearly 100 per cent full. Friends of mine who planned to stay there for a couple of days had to settle for Sharjah and Ajman next door.

For some, the shopping madness will end in some regret as credit card bills come through, but this is the season of thinking of the here and now. Carpe diem - or seize the day -that is the festival spirit.

This year's event marks the fifth time we have faced worldwide economic challenges and uncertainty about the financial future.

In 2007, just when I was getting ready to present my final project and graduate with my Bachelor's degree, the US stock market took a dive from its all-time peak. In 2009, when I had just moved to England, the festival began just after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Dubai's property market downturn.

And last year, the festival started while people in Greece and other countries complained about rising unemployment rates.

This year, however, we are inching back towards the pre-2008 era, slowly but gradually.

The property market is picking up in Dubai. GCC citizens are at the top of the list when it comes to spending on luxury. Leading organisations offered thousands of jobs to Emiratis at the Tawdheef recruitment fair, while unemployed people in the USmust stand for long hours to submit their CVs.

Not only were Emiratis offered jobs at the recent fair, but they were given a chance to continue their education abroad.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, an oil exporter, offers its recruits scholarships to pursue their higher education.

Not only does the company pay the tuition fees, it also offers attractive monthly salary packages. Those who pursue their Master's or PhD degrees receive salaries of Dh25,000 (US$6,806) plus.

During a tough economic time when banks would be reluctant to finance new businesses, the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, which also participated at Tawdheef, took a contrasting approach.

Even though they were looking to hire Emiratis, the fund also encourages them to start their businesses with grants ranging from Dh3 million to Dh5m at zero interest.

If an Emirati has no clue what kind of business he or she might be passionate about, the fund enrols them in an ideas-sourcing class, which can help them to discover the field of business in which they could excel.

And that comes free of charge, not to mention business counselling mentors, and a marketing team that helps them throughout the process.

Despite all global economic uncertainties, people in the UAE are doing pretty well. Many others would do anything to have what we have. We should always treasure that, even if we are too busy to think about current affairs.

Manar Al Hinai is an Emirati fashion designer and writer. She can be followed on Twitter: @manar_alhinai