Dear Ali: The term Emirati means someone who is from the UAE, right? But before the country declared independence, where did these people come from? MT, San Antonio, TX, USA
Dear MT: That's right, an Emirati is a person from the United Arab Emirates. The people of the Emirates are the descendants of those who lived here long before the country was unified. Back then, you would have clearly noticed the five different cultures and peoples that inhabited the UAE: the mountain people; oasis people; coastal people; nomadic shepherds and settled Bedouins; and the island people. These five groups used to live within their own communities and tribes and rarely intermarried. With time, however, this changed and the UAE's different groups began to mingle more and started to open up to people from different backgrounds, including those from Persia, India, the Arab world and, of course, the Gulf, which has, in the end, given us our unique identity. In general, most of our ancestors belonged to one of two groups: nomadic shepherds who traversed the Empty Quarter or inhabitants of the Arabian Gulf coast. All these people are considered Arab, even though some mixed with ethnic Persians or Indians.
Eventually, what is now the UAE became seven divided sheikhdoms, and people were known by the sheikhdom in which they lived. Thanks to unification under the guidance of the late Sheikh Zayed, we are now all Emiratis. Long live my country.
Dear Ali: I bought your book and enjoyed reading it. Although I've lived here for several years, it was still interesting. But I found the driving section painful to read. Only a handful of countries have a worse driving record than the UAE. Road users are seven times more likely to be killed here than in the UK. You are a strong advocate for the UAE. Putting your weight behind safe driving might make even one person drive more responsibly, and that person might be the speeding, light-flashing maniac, hidden behind his darkened windows, who might kill me and my children. DC, Tauranga, NZ
Dear DC: I really appreciate your thoughts regarding the driving section of my book. My goal with the guide to Abu Dhabi was to prepare visitors for the way things are done here, not to support these ways. I didn't want pedestrians, used to having the right of way in their home country, walking out into traffic only to be mown down. But I shall do my best to make a difference in this matter. My first step is to print your letter to raise more awareness.
I sure hope that our police department will do more to monitor drivers and enforce traffic laws. At the same time, I am confident our leaders will pass stiffer laws for dangerous driving. After all, we want the world to visit the UAE, and traffic deaths do not project a positive image. I believe things are changing for the better, it's just a matter of time. Please remember, our country has only had paved roads for a few decades and traffic for a few years.
This is not an excuse, it is simply an explanation that our intentions are not to terrorise our visitors. It is important to make sure we don't make this an us-vs-them issue, and aim for understanding. This is the way to best train responsible drivers. In the meantime, I pray that we don't lose any more souls.
Arabic: Fidaat Allah English: Go with God - farewell, but in association with God This is very much an Emirati way of saying goodbye. Whenever someone leaves home to go to work, school or to travel, we say fi, or "in"; daat, "the hands or capabilities"; Allah, "God". It essentially means, "Go with God's protection and blessings". So, until next week, thank you and fidaat Allah o ashoofkom ala khair. You will remember this phrase from a previous language lesson and means "Hope to see you well soon".