Tadamun/ Solidarity

TADAMUN/ SOLIDARITY

Having been a resident of UAE for the last 37 years, I have seen it grow from its humble beginnings to a land of dreams for millions, which it has now become. And all along the way, it provided.

We all have taken from this land and given back to it as well. We are a family of a 200+ nationalities – and we are all here to secure ours and our children’s future. We need UAE as much as the UAE needs us.

With the current Global slowdown, I see some negative sentiment around us at the moment. I have noticed from the 2008 episode, that at the first sign of a slowdown, we panic and we look for safer prospects abroad. We start spending less and our ‘saving for a safer future’ mentality kicks in. We close our wallets. This puts an even bigger strain on the economy.

I feel this happens because, the majority of us being expats here, we are yet to embrace this country as our own. How is this fair? Isn’t this us being selfish? Shouldn’t we show some solidarity here and help the economy that provided us, a fighting chance to brave this storm. As with other countries where citizens far exceed the expats, we need to stay put and go on with our lives as usual, keeping the ball rolling. Let’s call upon all the expats and citizens alike to stand together and do the same here.

We need to open up our wallets and spend – for anything from grocery, home appliances, eating out, shopping, night outs and theme - anything that might excite you. Just like how we used to. Lets do this for 3 months – and this should be enough, I feel, to recover from this global lull. Let’s live it up for the next 3 months – consider it as pampering ourselves while at the same time, aiding the economy.

Don’t you feel this is our responsibility as inhabitants of this splendid nation?

Here are some suggestions. Let us pick three for ourselves, things that we will do more of in the next 3 months, every month.

1. A visit to a theme park/ museum/ zoo

2. Buy a home appliance

3. Go lavish on the grocery the next three months – buy the things you have been restricting on.

4. Buy new clothes/ shoes/accessories for yourself and your family

5. Buy that car that you always wanted

6. Upgrade your furniture at home

7. Do some adventure sports – sky diving, desert safari, dune bashing

8. Dine out/ night out with family friends at least twice a month

9. Staycations – spend a weekend, every month, for the next 3 months, at one of the many beautiful resorts in UAE.

10. Invest in Mutual funds or savings certificates every month for the next 3 months.

11. ———— add your own suggestions and let the others know what it is

You could also

• Invest in a business license and run your own show

• For corporates – invest in people – hire, promote, give a small bonus, eat out/ stay out as a team building initiative. Invest in upgrading your office space.

Forward this to everyone you know. Spread the word. Together we can make a difference. Mark the suggestions you intend to do and make a plan for it.

When you forward this, mention your plan for each the month, if you can. Or add your own ones. Let us hear it.