The Hand That Feeds: A Counter Perspective

There has been some criticism of the GCC’s stance towards the recent tragic refugee crisis that has been unfolding; news and social media platforms across the region and abroad buzzed with posts expressing disappointment with the GCC not hosting refugees, and contrasting such with the more welcoming developed countries.  Granted, the whole world should participate in this process, firstly for the sake of humanity, and secondly because the Syrian crisis has become a global one, with its ramifications visible to everyone.

The GCC is under the microscope now for its conservative policy, yet extrapolating this microscopic perspective historically would reveal that the GCC has been most supportive and generous with its resources and policies towards neighbors, particularly those with humanitarian needs and less fortunate demeanors.

The United Arab Emirates is home to circa 1.5 million Arab expats, mainly from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and other countries. These are ‘legal refugees’ from all social classes that the UAE, like the rest of the GCC has been welcoming for generations since the 1960s. To put that in perspective, the GCC is housing an Arab community slightly less than the population of Lebanon. To put that in further perspective, the United States, with an economy more than ten times the size of the GCC’s is home to roughly 3.5 million Arab-Americans, according to the Arab-American Institute.

It is true that expats have contributed majorly to the development of GCC economies, however they have also benefitted immensely despite some challenges. Expats, Arabs in particular have built careers, families, wealth, legacies, and a relatively tax less quality of life that they would not have acquired in their own countries. They have over the years sent back tens of billions of dollars in remittances and home bound travel that has supported families and native economies.

With the above in mind, some may counter argue with challenges around humanitarian issues and immigration policies in the GCC. The world is not perfect. Without going into the GCC’s humanitarian credits or scores of naturalized residents whose lives have changed to the better; humanitarian records and immigration issues have been and will continue to be universal and controversial around the world, and in context, history spares very few countries when it comes to these matters. The debate is endless and complex everywhere.

From the expats’ perspective, the GCC has also reflected positive values in two ways: first tolerance, and second entrepreneurship. The United Arab Emirates in particular has provided one of the most tolerant social platforms in the world where diversity of origin and faith are not only accepted, but also celebrated. Step into the National Day’s festivities in December and you will notice practically everyone in colorful local gear. Expats celebrate Christmas, Ramadan, Norouz, and Diwali together. They mourn together in challenging times, and cheer together when the UAE wins. The UAE’s leadership has made substantial strides to raise awareness of Emirati culture and traditions. They welcome everyone for days on major national holidays, walk in malls and dine in the presence of all without fanfare.

One cannot but be impressed by President Modi’s recent visit to the UAE. Countries have historically hosted foreign leaders in parliaments and podiums of political significance, however has any country allowed a foreign president to address his fellow countrymen at a stadium packing tens of thousands? That is the epitome of tolerance and social strength built on mutual interest.

Earlier this year, Al Arabiya English’s Editor in Chief, Faisal Abbas wrote that “Dubai is a beacon of hope and enlightenment when we look at what is happening in neighboring Arab and Muslim countries.” His statement can’t be further from the truth. Dubai indeed spawned an Arab renaissance, a viable Arab Spring, in the early 2000s, driven by commercial and economic development that inspired young Arabs everywhere, and pushed them to seek and create better opportunities. A push that also put pressure on neighboring GCC countries to further diversify and grow their economies which in turn created more jobs for everyone.

These values of tolerance and entrepreneurial spirit have not only reflected positively on non GCC Arabs, but have played a major role in integrating these expats into society. It is true there is some disparity in the level of economic and social development across GCC countries, yet in general, when it comes to integrating foreign nationals, they have to a large extent marginalized traditional issues of social integration such as hate crimes and unstable expat ghettos, among others.

Externally, the GCC has been one of the most generous donors and providers of humanitarian aid to neighboring Arab countries for many years. Charitable contributions non-withstanding, the GCC has and continues to provide, in times of peace or adversity, substantial financial and economic aid, be it through governments, NGO’s, or direct campaigns which have benefitted refugee status and underprivileged families. Visit any non-oil producing Arab country and you will likely see the impact of their contributions; on the surface it is manifested in infrastructure projects, rural area nourishment, and support of refugee camps, on the social level the scores of individuals and families that have received education and healthcare benefits. Cumulative accounts of the GCC’s support to neighboring Arab countries are likely in the billions if a historical perspective is considered.

In fact, the GCC’s charitable contributions and interest in development goes beyond the Middle East. Consider Dubai Cares, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai to support underprivileged children in developing countries around the world. The organization has provided support since 2007 running in hundreds of millions of dollars, funded not only by His Highness, but also by the residents and businesses of Dubai. Consider the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development which has since the 70s provided substantial support and concessionary funding to developing countries inside and outside the Middle East. Furthermore, the Saudi Arabia based Islamic Development Bank, a regionally funded ‘World Bank’ of sorts with a capital of USD $150 billion, has since 1973 provided support in infrastructure and education, among other areas.

Earlier this month, and in response to public criticism, the Saudi government announced that it has received in excess of 2.5 million Syrians since the crisis began, in addition to providing free education to one hundred thousand Syrian students. Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to the United States also recently shared the UAE’s efforts in hosting Syrian refugees, in addition to providing in excess of USD $550 million in direct support, asserting that the UAE’s per capita commitment to the Syrian crisis exceeds virtually every other country’s participation.

Besides the broader economic and social context, the GCC’s recent position regarding refugees probably also reflects a subtle message, both to developed countries and the world at large that the Syrian crisis is a global one with pervasive and palpable implications that are shared and should not only be dealt with within the Middle East’s borders. One would also argue that the developed world with its social nets, governance practices, and labor markets is also more institutionally prepared than the GCC to weather an immediate influx of refugees.

The news and social media’s assessment of the GCC’s reaction to the Syrian crisis has been unbalanced and myopic at best, with no mention of responsibility toward other notable stakeholders like Russia and Iran. The truth on the ground is that the world’s response to the tragic Syrian crisis has been patchy at all levels. While Europe and the US have made way for receiving refugees, these have not come without mention of maltreatment, profiling initiatives, and even aggression from some journalists.  Every country has its own context and considerations when assessing a response, and the GCC is no exception. Goodwill and wealth alone are not enough to resolve a crisis of this magnitude, yet combined with global action and serious collaboration, they just might.