Dubai and the Future of the Arab World

The NYT has a very interesting report on the experience of young Arabs who have descended upon Dubai in search of the economic and social opportunity denied them in their home countries.  Dubai, 80% expats from 200 nationalities, is seen by many as a vision of what the Arab world could become.  The report chronicles the changing nature of religion and personal identity amid Dubai’s economic vitality, social diversity, and permissive cultural landscape.

The story finds that Dubai offers young Arabs a chance to lead a modern life in an Arab Islamic country. Says one, “We like that it’s free and it still has Arab heritage.”  Another: “The Arabs have a future here…Where are we going to go back to? Egypt? Jordan? This is the future.”