Mi

On Mishal Al Gergawi's "Abu Dhabi, too fast, too curious"

Dubai’s nationals, had historically been fishermen and traders - trades that demanded interaction with others- found the emirate’s development bewildering, how will Abu Dhabi’s nationals, who historically were farmers and sheep herders trades that demanded little interaction with others - find their city’s development?

As posted in Kipper.com

Okay I have to start with this: that is total FISH!

LOL seriously Mr. Gergawi? Now your whole interesting article with all its facts, figures and numbers poured down to that very question that shows how improperly educated you are with no awareness and no willingness to research a simple topic as the historical differences between Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Fail.

First of all, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and all of the emirates and cities have similar backgrounds: a tribal system, and people went up and down the map following water resources mainly. This tribal system is extinct but the tribes (families) still exist in case you have not noticed, and each family carries & transcends values to its inheritors, no matter what city they chose to live in after the union.

Secondly, in every emirate, there’s a simple system where people went to the sea for pearlhunting, trading and exporting, e.g. from AD: Albumhair (also in Dubai), Qubaisat, etc.

Most would own a land in the non-coastal cities, like Al Ain, Hatta, and Liwa for summer, and in winter they return to the gulf. For example, a family in Dubai will have a summer house in Al Ain, and will be visiting once per year. Trade & pearlhunting was a winter job for most of the families at the time.

There are big names from both cities who were known for successful trading businesses reaching Iran and India prior to union, like Khalaf bin Abdulla bin Otaiba, coming from Abu Dhabi, and some successful names in Dubai today come originally from Al Ain, like Al Futtaim. Plus more big family names who had been successful in the UAE: Abu Dhabi & Dubai came from Iranian backgrounds.

Thirdly and most importantly, who said that historical terms can determine whether a man will succeed in a trade or not? That is basic naivity Mr Mishal.

“Interacting with others”

Poor Abu Dhabi government, they didn’t consider that.