Exploring the Nuances of Emirati Identity: A Study of Dual Identities and Hybridity in the Post-Oil United Arab Emirates

Asmaa Al Hameli and Monerica Arnuco ()
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Asmaa Al Hameli: College of Education, American University in the Emirates, Dubai P.O. Box 503000, United Arab Emirates
Monerica Arnuco: Research Centre for Communication and Culture (CECC), Faculty of Human Sciences, Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, 1649-023 Lisboa, Portugal

Social Sciences, 2023, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: In the face of globalization and diversity in the United Arab Emirates, the post-oil generation of Emiratis face unique challenges in navigating their cultural and national identities. Previously published research and scholarly works have engaged in complex discourse around Emirati identities, describing them as a population with similar genealogical backgrounds, ancestry, history, and cultural values. However, the element of heterogeneity among Emiratis remains highly under-examined. This research paper will examine the experiences of Emiratis with dual identities in the UAE, investigating their perceptions, attitudes, and narratives on being labeled as the “other” by their compatriots; exploring the spaces where hybrid Emiratis, locally known as “halfies”, choose to reveal and conceal their multiplicity. In order to examine this complex socio-cultural phenomenon, semi-structured interviews with twenty Emiratis with twin identities were employed for this empirical study. The examination of the interviews uncovered the difficulties that individuals with mixed heritage encounter, as well as their strategies for overcoming these obstacles in order to find acceptance in a society that values a shared national identity. The research findings contribute to the scholarship of Emirati identity construction.

Keywords: Emirati identity; national identity; heterogeneity; multiplicity; identity construction; spaces; halfies; othering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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