In a country so new and so grand it is inevitable all the attention it receives by several media outlets, tabloids and other countries. For it is only those countries and those people who are exemplary and stand out and shine that get the most scrutiny. Yet, if modern times add to that the pandemic we are still struggling with has taught us anything at all it is that we cannot always rely nor trust everything we read or even see… With all the new technological advancements today and social media platforms one should always ask him/herself first “does this even make sense?” before adhering to what is being told.

This month I spread awareness over an issue that affects me personally. An issue regarding the misrepresentations and misconceptions circulated about my country the United Arab Emirates by several international media channels and outlets. Media in the West specifically purposely try to demonize, belittle and sensationalize news and facts about my country. The whole world is in awe at how and why we are the great country we are today and cannot comprehend all the hard work and effort that goes on behind the scenes. During my travels I get asked a lot about my country by curious bystanders, and I’m more than happy to share with them how and why my country is so great and so advanced, why it is the leading and safest Arab country in the world and why it is amongst the top most modern, most accommodating and most advanced counties in the world.

So in this months entry I defend my country against ridiculous allegations and portrayals by the media in the West specifically. Yes we are a new country that has reached its milestone in less than a century but it wasn’t as easy as those media channels try to portray. The United Arab Emirates has spent billions and trillions of dollars and has taken many risks while keeping its citizens a priority to ensure the progression into what it is today. We never deny that our great grandfathers lived a humble life in the hot desert sands working as fishermen, or in trade and pearl diving to earn a living. We have paid our dues and still are to achieve this standard of modernity and success. However certain media channels being followed by the masses are unfortunately just sensationalizing our entire community which the majority of today are expatriates and not even UAE nationals. Many media outlets make the United Arab Emirates look like it is the country of easy money and the filthy rich or otherwise the underprivileged and abused. This is a common and ridiculous misconception. We are a proud country and a proud people yet the majority of us just like all other people around the world do work very hard to afford a comfortable life and a lot of people are overworked and live paycheck to paycheck as well just like elsewhere in the world.

So be selective in what you observe, what you read, what you digest and who you follow. For consciously or unconsciously we become what we feed our minds and our bodies. Do your own research before following the masses in any subject and specifically regarding my UAE and understand that a lot of the media is only portraying and exaggerating certain aspects of my country and not the whole… And this is another price we pay for being so famous and so grand.

So watch what you see, read or hear, trust your instincts and do your research. Have a great February and many thanks for taking the time to read my humble entries.

Much love!