When I first came to Dubai on a visit to my fiance, I was impressed by the number of different colors/races/cultures that seemed to be present.
Nevertheless, I sensed a sort of tension under the surface (refer to my "disgruntled dutch girl" thread).
There seems to be three major groups of people in Dubai :
1-Arabs (any member of the 21 arab countries that have a population of about 300 million people).
2-South Asians, coming from India/Pakistan/Bangladesh/Srilanka ..etc.
3-Western Expats. (Western Europe and North American/Australia/NZ/South Africa)
There are other groups of course, but they don't seem to be major "players" on the scene, like Africans (non-arab africans), or Eastern Europeans, or Asians.
The persians have shown to be incredibly flexible, so you can find persians with Arabs/Westerners/south Asians. And I think that'd due to the fact of the many currents inside the Persian society as well. Some persians are extremely liberal and view the situation in Iran as catastrophic to the ancient Persian culture. Those would naturally mis with the westerners. The persians which are a bit conservative (not necessarily by religion but by identity) mix better with Arabs and South Asians.
The problem that faces South Asians in Dubai isn't color or anything like that. Since it's evident that back in the day of colonialism and british rule in UAE (and other gulf states), and Indian was only second to the Brit. And a lot of locals marry/married indian ladies.
So I'm more inclined to think of it as a socio-economic problem. The well-brought-up, financially-comfortable, and "cool" Indians seem to have no problem mixing with any group. Although the ones that have not been mesmerized by Western hegemony seem to prefer Arabs because of the common "East vs. West" background.
So it boils down to Arabs (whether muslim or christian) and Westerners.
And those don't seem to mix very well for many reasons. Yet I believe that it's a shame. Because it's a golden chance for both Arabs and Westerners to learn new things about eachother and dump the old stereotypes and bias.
Both parties seem to do little about it. Yet it seems that Arabs are just passive about it. Westerners seem to be pro-active about NOT wanting it. (Refer to my thread again lol).
But all that seems to be melting away slowly, but surely, through schools. (Although, since I work in a school, it is not strange for a western parent to go for another school if he/she sees a lot of Arab or Non-western kids in the class).
Let's hope for the best.
Just for the record. If you're an Arab guy, hot, successful, and intelligent, trust me, the western girls might not chase after you (after the age of 21) in Dubai, but they'd happily indulge you if you approach. Do approach and be nice.
And if you're a western girl. Beautiful, modest, and open-minded, and aware of the compromises you'll have to make , to get the relationship with an Arab to work. That Arab will pick you over any "cousin" or over any culture.
Very little westerners know this. But Arab culture, taught in schools, is filled with poetry and stories of Arab men which chose their loved ones over the world. About altruism. About rebellion. So don't underestimate what that dark and handsome man with the beautiful puppy-brown eyes can do
But that's just my opinion.
