Western resident families in the Gulf: the UAE case study

Abstract

National families in the Gulf make up a minority of the population but they often come across as a model for how non-Arab resident family's structure their lives in the Gulf. The national Gulf family model is frequently portrayed as consisting of more than two children per family. Beyond this emphasis on fertility, the national Gulf family is perceived as having foreign female domestic staff, less conflict between work and family for women, a high value attached to privacy and family value attitudes emphasizing the centrality of the family. As non-Arab families relocate to the UAE to improve their life standard, these resident families aspire to make the family a safe harbour to reinforce private property and preserve interests. Non-Arab resident families in the UAE generally have a highly skilled male sponsor who may be expected to work long hours and travel. These families appear to mould their life on what they perceive as the national Gulf family model. As a result, these families and their choice in how to structure the family unit may reinforce what may be regarded as the national Gulf family model. This presentation aims to give nuanced insights into the implications of non-Arab resident family's adaption of family model, specifically Western families in the UAE, and its importance for understanding contemporary family models in the rapid developing societies of the Gulf. The methodology for this work would be mixed-method approach consisting of primary sources, selected local news analysis and participant living in the UAE interacting through employment and residency.