UAE Extends Charitable Hospitality to Indigent Businessmen

With Gulf News redefining journalism in Dubai and providing important lessons for all of us in the media, including bloggers, it's time to begin spreading the word.  And thus hopefully the practice.

Here's a rather negative article from The National in Abu Dhabi.  "Debt Ridden Developers Face Prison or Flight".

How much better if the writer had stopped his Emirates bashing and looked at the positive side to this story.

Here's a more uplifting story based on the sound journalist principles in use at Gulf News, the newspaper of record in Dubai.

UAE Extends Charitable Hospitality to Indigent Businessmen

Abu 'Arqala

Last Updated: December 28. 2009 5:12PM UAE / December 28. 2009 1:12PM GMT

Despite heroic efforts, the wise political and economic leadership of the Emirates have been unable to shield the UAE fully from the global economic crisis caused by imprudent and unwise actions of foreign financial markets and financial firms.  If that foreign malfeasance weren't enough, there is sadly foreign perfidy.   Many local businesses have suffered financial reversals due to the foreign media spreading unfounded and unjustified rumors about the local economy.

In this atmosphere, where can a businessman - particularly a foreigner - turn in times of trouble?

The story of the Emirate's assistance and charity is truly remarkable and one hopes an inspiration to other countries around the world.

While there are many cases, this article will relate just a few - the most touching stories.

There's Dirk Sassen, a German citizen who had been a successful real estate developer.  His business suffered and he ran out of money, demonstrated by the fact that he was unable to settle several checks.  Is Dirk out on the street as he would be in New York, perhaps living in the subway?  Remember that the New York subway is not as clean or modern as Dubai's Metro!

No he's not living in the subway or washing car windshields in Manhattan with a dirty squeegee. Currently he's a guest of the Emirate of Sharjah, which is providing him accommodations.  But that's only part of the story.  While a guest of Sharjah, Dirk has seen a dramatic improvement in his health.  He's lost over 10 kg as part of the health regime offered by his hosts.  A new haircut and sartorial style - just the ticket to prepare for a job interview.  Access to the telephone for those all important calls to headhunters.  Not only that, but he's been made part of a twenty-seven strong support and networking group sponsored by the Emirate.   And no doubt making new friends and business contacts to help him get back on his feet.

With the global crisis being of such a magnitude that it may take decades for business to recover, who is providing businessmen with assurance of basic support during this period?  Certainly, not the UK where even the most sacred of institutions, bankers' compensation, seem to be under unrelenting attack.

But the story is different across the UAE.

The Emirate of Dubai has guaranteed Peter Margetts twenty years fully paid accommodations courtesy of Shaykh Mohammed.  Yes, you read that correctly, Peter need not worry about where he will rest his head for the next two decades!  And he too will be given opportunities similar to Dirk's to make new friends and contacts.

Ras Al Khaymah has ensured that Frank Khoie will have a place to stay for the next three years.  What a relief not to have to worry about housing when one's mind is pre-occupied with rescuing one's business!

These three accounts prove that the tradition of bedouin hospitality remains intact to this very day.  And one might say even flourishes in the United Arab Emirates since as you will notice three different Emirates have extended helping hands to those less fortunate.  What's remarkable here is that all three are foreigners.  What other country would show such solicitude to foreigners down on their luck?