Urban Gulf
When one thinks of the gulf nations, one of the immediate things that come into mind is oil and petroleum products. This perception is because this is seen to be the most talked and written thing about the gulf nations. Many documentaries and even news reports about the gulf nations always touch on oil. The same goes for articles and books that are published. Many writers choose to write about oil and its subsequent effects on the economy, way of life, development, and even housing. This sort of publication could be seen to be informative but tends to create a misleading notion about the region. Most academic literature published about the gulf region mainly has either of the two themes, modernity brought about by the oil economy or Arab-Islamic identity and how it affected by the oil economy (Fuccaro, p. 175). This type of misinformation tends to overshadow some other important aspects of the region that contribute to the economy, affect the livelihood of the people, and develop the region. Therefore, writers and reporters must expound their information to include not only oil and its effects to the gulf states, but also other aspects in gulf states that affect the economy and lives of the people.
A paper, ‘Vision of the City: Urban Studies on the Gulf’, talks about how oil has affected the culture of the people of the Gulf, how it has led to their displacement, and how it has entirely changed their socio-economic lives. This paper can be deemed problematic as it lays all of the blame for society’s changes to the oil economy. It goes to say that the historical memory of the town has been swept away by the modernism that was brought about by the discovery of oil. It also says that the oil economy’s introduction led to other activities pearling and fishing to be abandoned (Fuccaro, p. 176). This perspective of looking at the Gulf region changes as purely as a result of the discovery of oil, and subsequently, the economy’s growth is wrong. The shift in the socio-economic way of life is shaped by the decision of people living in the region. The pearling and fishing abandonment is either because of a lack of market for the products, or the lack of these products. If both parameters were present, it would make no economic sense to fully abandon producing an available product to a demanding market.
The gulf states’ portrayal as an oil shaped is problematic as it also leads to other economic factors not given much consideration and consequently not as promoted as it should. This little consideration eventually may lead to it not doing very well. Other than oil, yet another thing that the gulf states can offer is tourism. An example of a gulf state that has done well in its tourism sector in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, and more so Dubai’s city. Dubai is leading the Gulf states in restoring the Gulf states’ perception as places that can be a tourism destination. Some of the main tourist attraction places in Dubai include the coral colored islands, the Burj Khalifa, the Restless Planet, the desert road trip, amongst many other (Davis, p.47). These tourist attraction places have led to many people streaming to the gulf region for vacations. I believe that the UAE had initially being generalized as an oil state and economy, and not much thought had been given to other aspects of the country until recently. This neglect is the challenge that other gulf states are trying to go past. Countries like Oman boasts of beautiful nature, such as beaches, canyons, and the experience of being on the edge of the gulf (Baporikar, p. 122). This scenery is something that people know very little about when it comes to tourism in Oman. I believe growth and development can also be gained from exploring these different aspects of the gulf states.
Gulf states being generalized as oil states are also problematic as it does not give room to people to appreciate the predominant architecture in the region. Some of the most remarkable architectural structures around the world can be got in the gulf states. Some of the examples include the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. Another consists of beautiful mosques such as the Shah Royal mosque in Iran. The towering skyscrapers in UAE and Qatar are amongst other architecture that is remarkable (Golzari p. 13). The focus on oil as the center does not give room to view the states as the center of architectural excellence.
Another thing that is observed when it comes to publishing about the Gulf states is looking at oil urbanism as a way of life rather than as an economic forcing that shapes the city. This, however, has something to be gained from as it enables people to grow from the rigid traditional culture that ruled the gulf states to the current relaxed look of life. When oil urbanism was introduced, this society was mainly dominated by the younger generation, who were still moldable when it comes to changing their habits and general way of life. The traditional gulf society is one that is rooted in Islam, thus can be considered very a strict and religious community. The introduction of oil modernism as a way of life has led those in these communities to relax some of the strict rules. One thing that was observed in Bahrain that came with oil modernity is the people shifted to adopting consumption and leisure (Beaugrand, p.741). It saw the community introducing cinemas that showed Arab and Indian films. It led to the introduction of roadside cinemas. Consumables, on the other hand, led to the introduction of outside countries such as Pepsi-Cola. One other thing that came with leisure and consumables is the adoption of western fashion, such as American clothing (Fuccaro, p.60). All these introductions to the oil urbanism made the consumers of open-air cinemas and adopters of western-style more self-aware, forward-looking, joyous, and sensuous. These are qualities that constitute an independent adult. If oil urbanization had been solely an economic force shaping the city, it would have otherwise not allowed for the young generation to differently shape their society into the growth and embrace of other habits and products. It would have also limited the benefits of the oil to the elite in society and the government.
Gulf states have been, for the longest time, been considered as purely as oil states. This perception is based on reports, whether documentaries or articles tying their studies with oil in the region. Many have been seen to focus on the theme’s modernity brought about by the oil economy or Arab-Islamic identity and how it is affected by the oil economy. This focus has led to other things that the Gulf states can boast about be side-tracked and not given much appreciation. Such things include their architecture and tourism. By removing the focus of oil as what defines these regions, one can appreciate other things that define the region. It can also be seen that there are benefits that come to viewing oil urbanism as a way of life rather than an economic pillar of the region. This benefit mainly goes to the younger generation more than it does, the older generation.