ABU DHABI // Residents are happy to mix with other nationalities but are less likely to have friends with different religious beliefs.
The National’s survey found that all nationalities were open to socialising with one another.
“With more than 200 nationalities successfully co-existing in the UAE, it is not surprising to see most residents surveyed supporting the view it is important for people to interact with others from different cultures and backgrounds,” says Alaeddine Ghazouani, of YouGov.
“While this kind of openness was noted in terms of both nationality and religion, respondents were somewhat more likely to agree with the notion that people of different nationalities living in the UAE should interact with each other as compared to people from different religions.”
Almost one in four – 37 per cent – of people say at least half of their circle of friends are from different nationalities.
Westerners in particular had many friends from different nationalities.
The survey found 9 in 10 residents agree that it is important for people from different nationalities to interact. The same number say their experience of meeting people from other cultures has been beneficial to their view of the world.
The poll also found three quarters of those asked believe the UAE is a true cultural melting pot.
“The UAE is a mix of nationalities and cultures,” says Sally Antoun, 32, an Egyptian who lives in Abu Dhabi. “I work in a company hiring more than 36 nationalities. We work together, we are close colleagues and, in many cases, friends.
“Arabs tend to attract each other more, but overall it depends on how you were raised and how open minded you are.”
Ms Antoun says she has friends who are Lebanese, Syrian, Egyptian, Italian, Jordanian and American.
The poll found seven in 10 respondents think residents from certain nationalities self-segregate when living in the UAE, while six out of 10 believe residents from certain religions self-segregate.
“I have noticed that European nationalities prefer to group together,” says Ms Antoun, a mother-of-two who moved here in 2008. “Arabs find it easier to communicate in their native language and because of the culture similarities. Yet there are exceptions and that depends on how they accept different cultures.”
The survey found Asian expatriates are more likely to mix with friends of the same nationality.
Melinda Beremjo, 36, a Filipina who works in sales in Mussaffah, says she tends to mingle with her compatriots in her spare time.
“It is so we can have a family here. Mostly we have our work so when we have time off we want to hang out with family,” she says.
Nick Awad, 33, from the US, loves to mix with other nationalities.
“I socialise with Emiratis as well as people from the East and West at work or in my building,” says the investment banking director.
The poll asked how often people mix with those of other religions.
Almost half of respondents (47 per cent) said that they only have one out of five friends to less who is of a different religion.
Dr Jane Bristol-Rhys said people of different religions often do not know how to behave with other groups and so avoid interaction.
“I think it isn’t that people distrust or dislike other religions,” she says. “It is just that they are not sure about what they should be doing.
“When it come to socialising, for example, the issue between Muslims and non-Muslims might be that non-Muslims might want to drink alcohol. When you invite Muslim friends to your house and you also have Christian friends there, would you or would you not serve drinks?”
Dyala Raoufi, 33, from Turkey, is an architect who has lived in the UAE all her life.
“I don’t see an issue with people meeting and mixing with people from different religious backgrounds. I am a Bahai, and took Islamic studies in school and take my kids to St Andrews Church for a playgroup that meets there regularly,” she says.
“The UAE provides a great medium for people to explore and get acquainted with other’s beliefs.”
jbell@thenational.ae
ARizvi2@thenational.ae
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A survey, commissioned by The National and carried out by YouGov, polled 1,056 Emiratis and expatriates on social integration in the UAE. Results showed that respondents believed expatriates had an obligation to gain a basic knowledge of Arabic culture and Islamic influence before relocating to the UAE. The survey showed that UAE residents are willing to mix with different nationalities however differences become apparent at the workplace where salary disparities exist depending on an employees nationality.
Read more on our social integration survery here:
■ Expats should be more aware of UAE culture, survey respondents say
■ UAE residents stress importance of preserving Arabic language
