A disco in Dubai exemplifies the emirate's moderating influences.

I read an article today in the New York Times about the lives of young Muslims in Dubai, which is part of a series of articles called Generation Faithful about the lives of youth across the Muslim world.

The writer hits the nail on the head about many different aspects of the lives of many young expats who come to Dubai seeking a better job and a better life. He interviews young men about how living here has affected the way they view life and more important, how it has affected their values and identity as individuals and as Muslims.

He makes an interesting claim saying that people in Dubai have no unified identity or culture; their main commonality is their ambition. This is a common point that comes up in conversation all the time when we speak about life here in the UAE. There are alot of things that we love about living here, which happen to be the same things we hate sometimes – living among different cultures, the fast pace of life, the exciting developments, the wonders of Dubai (the snow in the desert, the Palm, the tallest, the biggest, etc), the individualism, the ‘here for the money’ attitude, the ‘good life’, the contagious materialism and many other aspects of living here. Alot of people feel deep inside that they have lost their soul somewhere because of these aspects and many do not have a clear understanding of their true identity anymore; which like Dubai’s identity, is ever-changing and not constant. I think these youth in question mirror this city they live in as it struggles to find its perfect identity while trying to be modern and cosmopolitan but by also trying to not stray away from its (rather conservative UAE) traditions and Islamic roots.

Anyways, below are my favorite quotes from the article:

• Some speculate that Dubai is like Vienna during the cold war, a playground for all sides.

• Dubai dazzles, but it also confuses.

• There is talk of a new hotel, the biggest yet in Dubai, that will cool the hot sand for its guests.

• Mr. Abu Zanad raised his beer high, almost in a toast, and said he liked being able to walk through a mall and still hear the call to prayer.

• Dubai has everything money can buy, but it does not have a unifying culture or identity. The only common thread is ambition.

And finally:

• “This is Dubai: go to the mosque, it is full. Then go to the disco, it’s also full!” – Abdel Hamid al Agha