The question of identity in a diverse world

Efforts to preserve our identity are needed and so is social cohesion between communities

To rise higher, it’s very important to hold onto our roots, to preserve our unique identity, and at the same time be open to other cultures. WAM

Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, once said that “a nation without a past is a nation without a present or a future”. His words light the way for us today. To rise higher, it’s very important to hold onto our roots, to preserve our unique identity, and at the same time be open to other cultures.

There has been many initiatives designed to achieve this goal. The most recent is the educational programme Haweyati, or "My Identity", introduced by Abu Dhabi Education Council in Abu Dhabi private schools. As The National reported, the new programme aims to foster a sense of national identity in Emirati students at private schools and increase the awareness of foreign students about the identity and culture of the UAE. It will be implemented first in 50 private schools before it's rolled out across the emirate.

Targeting both Emiratis and non-Emiratis will serve the country in two ways. It will help pull young Emiratis closer to their roots, especially those who study in schools where the majority of students come from other parts of the world. School plays an important role in fostering cultural characteristics, such as language, traditions and social values. Their role is as important as the family’s role in the construction of cultural norms. We also have a new moral education curriculum that will be officially rolled out across all schools in September to teach pupils about important concepts, including character and ethics, individual and community, civic education and cultural education.

Haweyati will also play a much-needed role in educating foreign students about their host country and its history and culture. This is very important in order to break stereotypes and bridge the communication gap. These children may go home and discuss what they learn with their families, creating more cultural understanding.

But we should also keep in mind that such processes require more informal engagement between different communities. Formal education could help in teaching the basics but real interaction is still needed to improve social cohesion. The UAE’s unique multicultural environment presents both challenges and opportunities.