This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine September 2011 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1375
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar echoing from the minarets all around the globe, happiness and joy on the faces of young and old, and humble generosity being witnessed around us. Yes, Eid has finally arrived and Muslims have bid farewell to the beloved month of Ramadan. A new beginning is at the footsteps and a fresh start to people’s personal and professional lives is anticipated.
As with every journey in life, the fasting and good deeds of Ramadan have a precise purpose, and that is to attain piety and be conscious of the actions we perform.
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may attain piety” -The Holy Quran [2: 183]
That said, it should be of no surprise that the fruit of the time and effort invested in Ramadan should be evident throughout the year. Let us take a step back and assess if Ramadan truly allowed its participants to attain the year round piety mentioned above. First of all, allow me to define piety as the state of “God-consciousness” that brings forth self-restraint; fear of displeasing the Almighty, and as a result, conscious behavior. Second, let us split piety into the realms of worshiping the Most Merciful and good conduct towards others.
In the realm of worship, Ramadan has taught Muslims many lessons through its rituals. Through the act of fasting, Ramadan has taught Muslims to be patient (restraining oneself from food, water and desires). Furthermore, through the repeated nightly prayers, Ramadan has taught Muslims persistence in achieving their goals, commitment to specific deadlines, and abiding by specific rules of fasting and prayers. As we transition into the post Ramadan period, the traits of patience, persistence towards achieving any kind of goals, prompt timing, and abiding by regulation can and should be maintained throughout the year. This could be applied to all areas of Muslims’ daily lives and is not restricted to worship alone.
I believe an excellent way to keep this segment of piety alive throughout the year is to practice some Ramadan rituals regularly. These include praying late at night as well as fasting certain days of the week or the month.
“Deeds are shown (to Allah) on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like my deeds to be shown when I am fasting.” – Prophet Muhammad- Peace be Upon Him (al-Tirmidhi :747)
In the realm of good conduct towards others, Ramadan has taught many to be gentle and wary of others’ concerns in an effort to seek the All-Knowing’s pleasure. Acts of charity, gift-giving, visiting family members, controlling temper, and encouraging good behavior have been typical in the holy month. Again, as we transition into the post Ramadan period, these acts can and should be preserved and regularly performed.
“Those who spend (freely in the path of Allah), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) people;- for Allah loves those who do good” – The Holy Quran [3:134]
However, as Ramadan passes by every year, a lot of the piety that was attained disappears along with it. Therefore, failing to achieve its purpose as explained above. In order to maintain this piety and ensure Ramadan’s success, it is incumbent for Muslims to learn from this holy month and evaluate themselves throughout the year by feeding their piety via consistent acts of worship and acts of good conduct towards others. As a result, Muslims celebrating this Eid should base their happiness and joy on the achievement of a lasting level of piety that will fuel the year ahead.
In summary, the purpose of Ramadan is to attain piety. This piety is achieved through the lessons Muslims have learnt in Ramadan in patience, persistence towards achieving goals, and abiding by timelines and regulations. In addition, this piety is reflected in Muslims’ actions of kindness towards others. The piety achieved in Ramadan is intended to persist throughout the year and only then is Ramadan’s effectiveness validated.
“To proceed, if anyone amongst you used to worship Muhammad, then Muhammad has passed away, but if (anyone of) you used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die.” – Abu Bakr Al Siddique, 1st Caliph of Islam, Sahih Al Bukhari [vol 5, book 59, 733]
Similarly, if anyone amongst you used to worship just Ramadan, then Ramadan has passed. But if anyone of you used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die. Let us ensure that our efforts and time contribute towards a bigger goal. Let us keep the fruits of Ramadan alive throughout the year. Let us attain piety.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
A Balanced Nation
This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine August 2011 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1267
While enjoying a Johnny Rockets burger in Riyadh last month, I could not help but notice the different types of people sitting all around me. There were women who were not allowed to talk to the waiter and there were others who were dressed as though they were participating in a beauty pageant. There were couples who did not say a word and others who would not stop talking. There were families respectfully having a meal and there were girls flirting with boys in the “singles’ section”. Observing the vast differences in people made me think of a greater phenomenon the Muslim region is witnessing; a phenomenon that has become more and more evident in the past few years, and that is the phenomenon of extremism. While extremism is something that is becoming evident globally and across different cultures and religions, I would like to shed light on the topic through perspectives that pertain to Islam.
“Thus, have We made of you a Nation [that is] justly balanced …”
–The Holy Quran [2:143]
Although it is contrary to Islamic ideals, in today’s Muslims’ societies, extremism has begun to surface in every aspect of life. Muslim terrorists are killing innocent civilians, Muslim women are being banned from education or driving, and other Muslims are diving deep into spirituality or deifying popular figures. In addition, “moderate” Muslims have also been affected by the extremism they have witnessed. Some of them have rebelled and abandoned Islam in its entirety and others have modified Islam to suit their perceptions of the modern world.
A multitude of factors could have caused this phenomenon; however, I believe these extreme pursuits or habits may have been the subsequent results that occurred while the society was adapting to the modernization and development of their respective regions. I believe that extremism, whether in openness or in intolerance, can be detrimental to any society. Hence, for our societies specifically, extremism needs to be eradicated in order to preserve the Islamic essence emphasized in the Quranic verse above.
In my opinion, Muslims can easily achieve that and return to the state of being a “Balanced Nation” by following 3 main principles.
First, Muslims should know and have faith in their religion based on evidence, not human logic that may at times be affected by current circumstances leading it to be fallible. This evidence could be found in Quranic verses, authentic accounts of the Prophet Muhammad’s life (May Peace be Upon Him), accounts of the lives of the Pious Predecessors, or the consensus of Muslim scholars.
“Had the truth followed their desires, the heavens and the earth and all those therein would have fallen in total disorder. However, We have brought to them their advice, but it is their advice that they are averse to.” –The Holy Quran [23:71]
Second, Muslims should acknowledge their religion in its entirety. Since Islam is a total way of life, it requires its followers to conform to it as a whole.
“O Ye who believe! Enter into Islam wholly,,” –The Holy Quran [2:208]
It is important that when accepting Islam as a whole, its true form should be considered rather than the altered forms as conveyed by extremists. Needless to say, accepting parts of the Quran and omitting others can lead to extremism and corruption such as the killing of innocent civilians, self inflicted pain for the sake of religion, and extreme rebellion.
“…Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you…” –The Holy Quran [2:85]
Last and most importantly, Muslims should make an effort to learn, practice, and teach religion to themselves and their families. They should constantly strive to evaluate themselves and improve their surroundings as much as possible in order to avoid the birth of extremist ideologies in Islamic societies and to preserve the Islamic essence of balance.
“…Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves…”
–The Holy Quran [13:11]
In summary, the Islamic societies have begun witnessing extremist ideologies in different aspects of life whereas Islam calls to being a justly balanced nation. In order to tackle extremism, Muslims should know their religion based on evidence, accept Islam in its entirety, and strive to learn and teach their families the balance, moderation, ease, and good character of Islam.
“…Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you..”
–The Holy Quran [2:185]
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1267
While enjoying a Johnny Rockets burger in Riyadh last month, I could not help but notice the different types of people sitting all around me. There were women who were not allowed to talk to the waiter and there were others who were dressed as though they were participating in a beauty pageant. There were couples who did not say a word and others who would not stop talking. There were families respectfully having a meal and there were girls flirting with boys in the “singles’ section”. Observing the vast differences in people made me think of a greater phenomenon the Muslim region is witnessing; a phenomenon that has become more and more evident in the past few years, and that is the phenomenon of extremism. While extremism is something that is becoming evident globally and across different cultures and religions, I would like to shed light on the topic through perspectives that pertain to Islam.
“Thus, have We made of you a Nation [that is] justly balanced …”
–The Holy Quran [2:143]
Although it is contrary to Islamic ideals, in today’s Muslims’ societies, extremism has begun to surface in every aspect of life. Muslim terrorists are killing innocent civilians, Muslim women are being banned from education or driving, and other Muslims are diving deep into spirituality or deifying popular figures. In addition, “moderate” Muslims have also been affected by the extremism they have witnessed. Some of them have rebelled and abandoned Islam in its entirety and others have modified Islam to suit their perceptions of the modern world.
A multitude of factors could have caused this phenomenon; however, I believe these extreme pursuits or habits may have been the subsequent results that occurred while the society was adapting to the modernization and development of their respective regions. I believe that extremism, whether in openness or in intolerance, can be detrimental to any society. Hence, for our societies specifically, extremism needs to be eradicated in order to preserve the Islamic essence emphasized in the Quranic verse above.
In my opinion, Muslims can easily achieve that and return to the state of being a “Balanced Nation” by following 3 main principles.
First, Muslims should know and have faith in their religion based on evidence, not human logic that may at times be affected by current circumstances leading it to be fallible. This evidence could be found in Quranic verses, authentic accounts of the Prophet Muhammad’s life (May Peace be Upon Him), accounts of the lives of the Pious Predecessors, or the consensus of Muslim scholars.
“Had the truth followed their desires, the heavens and the earth and all those therein would have fallen in total disorder. However, We have brought to them their advice, but it is their advice that they are averse to.” –The Holy Quran [23:71]
Second, Muslims should acknowledge their religion in its entirety. Since Islam is a total way of life, it requires its followers to conform to it as a whole.
“O Ye who believe! Enter into Islam wholly,,” –The Holy Quran [2:208]
It is important that when accepting Islam as a whole, its true form should be considered rather than the altered forms as conveyed by extremists. Needless to say, accepting parts of the Quran and omitting others can lead to extremism and corruption such as the killing of innocent civilians, self inflicted pain for the sake of religion, and extreme rebellion.
“…Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you…” –The Holy Quran [2:85]
Last and most importantly, Muslims should make an effort to learn, practice, and teach religion to themselves and their families. They should constantly strive to evaluate themselves and improve their surroundings as much as possible in order to avoid the birth of extremist ideologies in Islamic societies and to preserve the Islamic essence of balance.
“…Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves…”
–The Holy Quran [13:11]
In summary, the Islamic societies have begun witnessing extremist ideologies in different aspects of life whereas Islam calls to being a justly balanced nation. In order to tackle extremism, Muslims should know their religion based on evidence, accept Islam in its entirety, and strive to learn and teach their families the balance, moderation, ease, and good character of Islam.
“…Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you..”
–The Holy Quran [2:185]
Our Way with a Sprinkle of Change
This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine July 2011 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1222
Although politics has never been my cup of tea, there have been few incidents over the past few weeks that made me feel obliged to address an issue of relevance to our region. In light of the current events in the Arab world, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have witnessed many different opinions arise on the need for social and political reform. Mainly driven by global media, these opinions seemed to lack an important element since they all brought forth ideas that have been designed for peoples and places other than ours. These ideas, I believe, could be detrimental to our nations’ stability, development, and overall welfare.
So what can be done to address this? The ruling families of the GCC region have all in one way or another responded by forms of generous stimulus packages (increased salaries, increased benefits, subsidies, education scholarships, and increases in budgets for healthcare, education, and services). Albeit, a wonderful short term solution for earning citizens’ loyalty, in the long run this could affect the GCC’s development and ability to compete internationally while still not targeting the main issues. While many reasons exist for the spread of ideas that are not tailored to our dynamics, in my opinion, the main reason is the reduced involvement of GCC citizens’ in managing their affairs. As with every nation, certain policies or political decisions can act against the interests of a few. In the absence of involvement in these decisions, certain groups may feel left out.
In the past, elected tribe leaders would make sure that citizens’ concerns are communicated clearly to the ruling families through clear and simple access routes. However, with the development of society and the detachment of families from the larger tribal structure, that tribal system may have became slightly inefficient. Not all information is accurately captured and conveyed to the ruling parties. In addition, due to the lack of a structured opinion voicing system that is clearly defined as a citizen’s right, many citizens are hesitant to voice their concerns. This could be because of fear, pride, social norms of modesty, and many more reasons.
I believe that the system previously in place may still fit the current GCC societies provided certain factors are tailored to the newly evolved social structures of the region and that the citizens take a more responsible approach in conveying their concerns. The following 2 points are brief suggestions.
First, GCC countries could begin institutionalizing congregational structures into official bodies that represent the people in certain localities rather than tribal affiliations (i.e. areas within cities such as Jumeirah, Adliya, Olaya, etc). The representatives of these bodies do not necessarily have to be elected by the people and can be appointed by the ruling parties. However, they should be responsible and accountable for conveying the concerns of people within their areas. GCC Citizens need to have access to these official bodies defined as a right that can be practiced should they desire to and they should be educated in matters pertaining to this right. This is currently being done at a less organized level. Some GCC countries have begun hosting radio talk shows that manage the daily affairs and act as a body for conflict resolution. Other GCC countries have established publically elected bodies but access sometimes is still restricted or difficult.
Second, GCC citizens need to be civil and maintain some basic principles in conveying their concerns to the people who manage their affairs. Some principles are so basic and generic and are even defined as Islamic principles such as: adherence to the governing law, respect and diligence while conveying information, offering criticism and advice secretly and with respect rather than publicly, and having patience. Furthermore, I believe GCC citizens should try and make the best of the current channels available to them and take a more pro-active approach rather than ridicule or complain aimlessly.
In addition, I believe that public figures and religious scholars can facilitate the creation of a handbook of guidelines that explain the manner of ideal communication, and advice people on the correct channels to voice their concerns.
In summary, although I am not a political expert, I have offered my observations based on my keen interest on society. I believe that if GCC countries allow citizens to have the right to voice their concerns through efficient institutions by locality and GCC citizens take a more responsible approach in doing so, many concerns will be heard and addressed if possible. This would reduce the amount of open-ended bad-mouthing or extreme foreign opinions from arising in society and in turn would maintain our nations’ stability, development, and overall welfare.
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1222
Although politics has never been my cup of tea, there have been few incidents over the past few weeks that made me feel obliged to address an issue of relevance to our region. In light of the current events in the Arab world, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have witnessed many different opinions arise on the need for social and political reform. Mainly driven by global media, these opinions seemed to lack an important element since they all brought forth ideas that have been designed for peoples and places other than ours. These ideas, I believe, could be detrimental to our nations’ stability, development, and overall welfare.
So what can be done to address this? The ruling families of the GCC region have all in one way or another responded by forms of generous stimulus packages (increased salaries, increased benefits, subsidies, education scholarships, and increases in budgets for healthcare, education, and services). Albeit, a wonderful short term solution for earning citizens’ loyalty, in the long run this could affect the GCC’s development and ability to compete internationally while still not targeting the main issues. While many reasons exist for the spread of ideas that are not tailored to our dynamics, in my opinion, the main reason is the reduced involvement of GCC citizens’ in managing their affairs. As with every nation, certain policies or political decisions can act against the interests of a few. In the absence of involvement in these decisions, certain groups may feel left out.
In the past, elected tribe leaders would make sure that citizens’ concerns are communicated clearly to the ruling families through clear and simple access routes. However, with the development of society and the detachment of families from the larger tribal structure, that tribal system may have became slightly inefficient. Not all information is accurately captured and conveyed to the ruling parties. In addition, due to the lack of a structured opinion voicing system that is clearly defined as a citizen’s right, many citizens are hesitant to voice their concerns. This could be because of fear, pride, social norms of modesty, and many more reasons.
I believe that the system previously in place may still fit the current GCC societies provided certain factors are tailored to the newly evolved social structures of the region and that the citizens take a more responsible approach in conveying their concerns. The following 2 points are brief suggestions.
First, GCC countries could begin institutionalizing congregational structures into official bodies that represent the people in certain localities rather than tribal affiliations (i.e. areas within cities such as Jumeirah, Adliya, Olaya, etc). The representatives of these bodies do not necessarily have to be elected by the people and can be appointed by the ruling parties. However, they should be responsible and accountable for conveying the concerns of people within their areas. GCC Citizens need to have access to these official bodies defined as a right that can be practiced should they desire to and they should be educated in matters pertaining to this right. This is currently being done at a less organized level. Some GCC countries have begun hosting radio talk shows that manage the daily affairs and act as a body for conflict resolution. Other GCC countries have established publically elected bodies but access sometimes is still restricted or difficult.
Second, GCC citizens need to be civil and maintain some basic principles in conveying their concerns to the people who manage their affairs. Some principles are so basic and generic and are even defined as Islamic principles such as: adherence to the governing law, respect and diligence while conveying information, offering criticism and advice secretly and with respect rather than publicly, and having patience. Furthermore, I believe GCC citizens should try and make the best of the current channels available to them and take a more pro-active approach rather than ridicule or complain aimlessly.
In addition, I believe that public figures and religious scholars can facilitate the creation of a handbook of guidelines that explain the manner of ideal communication, and advice people on the correct channels to voice their concerns.
In summary, although I am not a political expert, I have offered my observations based on my keen interest on society. I believe that if GCC countries allow citizens to have the right to voice their concerns through efficient institutions by locality and GCC citizens take a more responsible approach in doing so, many concerns will be heard and addressed if possible. This would reduce the amount of open-ended bad-mouthing or extreme foreign opinions from arising in society and in turn would maintain our nations’ stability, development, and overall welfare.
The Strive for Quality Healthcare and Education in the UAE
This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine June 2011 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1139
During this past month, I have come across many articles, tweets, and other publications that ridicule the standard of healthcare and education in the UAE. Although for the most part the criticism may be valid, I believe there is also a lot being done to combat the lagging standards of education and healthcare in the UAE. However, the effectiveness of what is being done is still questionable. In this month’s article, I will attempt to give a very high level summary of the situation as I see it and offer some recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the efforts to harbor quality products & services.
In the past few years, the UAE has been trying to tackle the identified issue of low quality healthcare and education by employing several methods. Some attempts included changing the government officials responsible for those industries, creating stricter guidelines and regulations, providing interactive online services, and incentivizing the private sector to take a lead role in developing these areas.
Although these improvements were hoped to drastically alter the efficiency and quality of services provided, I believe the upside effect was minimal in terms of impact on quality. In reality, what the new services introduced was a rigid and strict system that posed as an obstacle towards improvement of quality rather than simplifying its introduction into the UAE. For example, very recently, the UAE could not register a specialized surgical nurse to assist in surgery due to the lack of such a classification in the system, even though the use of such a nurse would increase efficiency of surgeries and secure safety measures for the patient. Many similar non-value added situations can be witnessed, whether it be attesting your college degree, admitting children into school, or even simply getting a medical check-up. These inefficiencies tend to impede quality improvement due to the level of complexity they add to the process.
In my opinion, the efforts exhausted to improve healthcare and education have not been effective for simply the reason of not understanding the industries’ requirements. The introduction of quality is not merely putting in stricter guidelines but requires an understanding of the situation and ability to adapt to each on a case by case basis. Based on my experience, the following two general rules of thumb would open doors to drastic quality improvement in the realms of healthcare and education.
First, it is crucial to maintain a high quality workforce that is competent enough to understand the challenges of each health/education provider as well as the requirements for delivering high quality. This implies the need to increase the salaries of policy makers and regulators to attract the best talent. However, high salaries are not enough to attract and retain such talent. It is crucial that their driving forces be identified and investments be made to foster them. These could include personal research funds, membership to global societies of policy makers, regular training, and travel to benchmark standards and share results. It is important that every employee be focused on.
Second, flexibility.. flexibility.. flexibility. In order to facilitate change, it is very important that processes and regulation be flexible enough to accommodate innovative techniques that may not be industry norms but proven to be effective and safe. For example, a new teaching method or surgical technique should be approved although it is not the industry standard as long as it can achieve outstanding results. Without flexibility, the ability to innovate or improve quality provision would be impossible. Innovation and change needs to arise from a flexible system where not only the rules can be created based on requirements but also where the employees have the flexibility to think outside the box.
In summary, although many efforts have been put into improving the quality of healthcare and education provision in the UAE, the efforts have not been successful. A major contributor to the failure in quality improvement in these areas is the mere lack of understanding of the industries’ requirements. I believe that with the employment of a competent workforce and a flexible environment, the UAE can achieve a better understanding of these industries’ and accelerate quality improvement.
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1139
During this past month, I have come across many articles, tweets, and other publications that ridicule the standard of healthcare and education in the UAE. Although for the most part the criticism may be valid, I believe there is also a lot being done to combat the lagging standards of education and healthcare in the UAE. However, the effectiveness of what is being done is still questionable. In this month’s article, I will attempt to give a very high level summary of the situation as I see it and offer some recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the efforts to harbor quality products & services.
In the past few years, the UAE has been trying to tackle the identified issue of low quality healthcare and education by employing several methods. Some attempts included changing the government officials responsible for those industries, creating stricter guidelines and regulations, providing interactive online services, and incentivizing the private sector to take a lead role in developing these areas.
Although these improvements were hoped to drastically alter the efficiency and quality of services provided, I believe the upside effect was minimal in terms of impact on quality. In reality, what the new services introduced was a rigid and strict system that posed as an obstacle towards improvement of quality rather than simplifying its introduction into the UAE. For example, very recently, the UAE could not register a specialized surgical nurse to assist in surgery due to the lack of such a classification in the system, even though the use of such a nurse would increase efficiency of surgeries and secure safety measures for the patient. Many similar non-value added situations can be witnessed, whether it be attesting your college degree, admitting children into school, or even simply getting a medical check-up. These inefficiencies tend to impede quality improvement due to the level of complexity they add to the process.
In my opinion, the efforts exhausted to improve healthcare and education have not been effective for simply the reason of not understanding the industries’ requirements. The introduction of quality is not merely putting in stricter guidelines but requires an understanding of the situation and ability to adapt to each on a case by case basis. Based on my experience, the following two general rules of thumb would open doors to drastic quality improvement in the realms of healthcare and education.
First, it is crucial to maintain a high quality workforce that is competent enough to understand the challenges of each health/education provider as well as the requirements for delivering high quality. This implies the need to increase the salaries of policy makers and regulators to attract the best talent. However, high salaries are not enough to attract and retain such talent. It is crucial that their driving forces be identified and investments be made to foster them. These could include personal research funds, membership to global societies of policy makers, regular training, and travel to benchmark standards and share results. It is important that every employee be focused on.
Second, flexibility.. flexibility.. flexibility. In order to facilitate change, it is very important that processes and regulation be flexible enough to accommodate innovative techniques that may not be industry norms but proven to be effective and safe. For example, a new teaching method or surgical technique should be approved although it is not the industry standard as long as it can achieve outstanding results. Without flexibility, the ability to innovate or improve quality provision would be impossible. Innovation and change needs to arise from a flexible system where not only the rules can be created based on requirements but also where the employees have the flexibility to think outside the box.
In summary, although many efforts have been put into improving the quality of healthcare and education provision in the UAE, the efforts have not been successful. A major contributor to the failure in quality improvement in these areas is the mere lack of understanding of the industries’ requirements. I believe that with the employment of a competent workforce and a flexible environment, the UAE can achieve a better understanding of these industries’ and accelerate quality improvement.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The Detrimental Side of Emiratization
This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine May 2011 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1064
If you are a UAE national or an expatriate resident of the UAE, you must be very familiar with the term Emiratization, a topic that has received a great deal of positive hype in the media ever since its inception. Never specifically defined, Emiratization is generally any initiative by organizations (both public and private) to employ, develop, and retain Emirati employees.
Over the years, Emiratization has manifested itself in companies in the form of diploma programs, intensive classrooms, and on-the-job training for the “fresh-graduate” employees that are “fit” to be placed in the work field. In addition, some Emiratization programs have also secured entry-level positions for Emiratis giving them exclusivity and priority over non-nationals.
So you must be thinking, why does the title here say “detrimental”? Although Emiratization may have been very helpful to some fresh graduates and new employees, it has had the opposite effect on young Emirati professionals and middle managers, specifically those who have undergone the highest standards of education as well as gained foreign and local experiences. Below are some of my observations with regards to this matter.
First, for organizations to establish these development programs, enormous efforts and significant monetary investments had to be made. Some of these efforts include making the commercial case, developing processes, allocating space, and much more. As a result, like any private educational institution, a minimum number of Emirati enrollees has to be met to prove the success of these programs. Keep in mind that in most cases, the same people who devise these programs are the people who hire Emiratis. Therefore, many talented and experienced Emiratis, who are qualified to join at more senior levels, get placed in entry-level positions.
Second, having exclusivity of entry-level positions for Emiratis causes Emiratis to remain in their positions for longer periods of time without any clear progression. This is mainly due to the fact that higher employee positions are filled with expatriates to introduce diversity and experience into the team. In many cases, these expatriates are less qualified and less experienced! Then why does this happen? With a high paced work environment and a shortage of skilled employees in the region, it is incumbent to hire an expatriate workforce. However, due to Emiratization, the organization has no choice but to employ them at higher levels, which sometimes comes at the expense of qualified and experienced Emiratis.
Third, I believe that all of the above causes Emiratis in organizations to be viewed as “special” cases that require “special” attention. The entire nature of the programs creates a perception that Emiratis are not qualified and cannot be trusted with real tasks. Qualified and talented Emiratis are then given trivial administrative tasks and deprived from responsibility they deserve in building their own nation. This in turn can lead to severe demotivation and as a result a lack of performance from Emirati employees.
Last but not least, I believe that with the current educational infrastructure and foreign exposure of Emiratis, Emiratization programs should cease to exist in their present nature and Emiratis should be given the opportunity to compete side by side with expatriate talent. However, Emiratization can take an alternate form. For example, Emiratis who feel they require enrolling in training programs should have the option to do so in the areas of their choice.
In summary, although I may have used extreme examples and generalizations to prove some points, I believe that Emiratization has proven to be detrimental for young, qualified, and talented Emiratis. Not only has it slowed their career progression through lengthy training programs and grounding in entry level positions but also it has led to severe demotivation. I believe this can be reversed by allowing Emiratis to compete with expatriates equally and giving them the option to enroll in development/training programs should they deem it necessary. This would not only save organizations millions of Dirhams annually but also create a more competitive, collaborative, and productive workforce.
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1064
If you are a UAE national or an expatriate resident of the UAE, you must be very familiar with the term Emiratization, a topic that has received a great deal of positive hype in the media ever since its inception. Never specifically defined, Emiratization is generally any initiative by organizations (both public and private) to employ, develop, and retain Emirati employees.
Over the years, Emiratization has manifested itself in companies in the form of diploma programs, intensive classrooms, and on-the-job training for the “fresh-graduate” employees that are “fit” to be placed in the work field. In addition, some Emiratization programs have also secured entry-level positions for Emiratis giving them exclusivity and priority over non-nationals.
So you must be thinking, why does the title here say “detrimental”? Although Emiratization may have been very helpful to some fresh graduates and new employees, it has had the opposite effect on young Emirati professionals and middle managers, specifically those who have undergone the highest standards of education as well as gained foreign and local experiences. Below are some of my observations with regards to this matter.
First, for organizations to establish these development programs, enormous efforts and significant monetary investments had to be made. Some of these efforts include making the commercial case, developing processes, allocating space, and much more. As a result, like any private educational institution, a minimum number of Emirati enrollees has to be met to prove the success of these programs. Keep in mind that in most cases, the same people who devise these programs are the people who hire Emiratis. Therefore, many talented and experienced Emiratis, who are qualified to join at more senior levels, get placed in entry-level positions.
Second, having exclusivity of entry-level positions for Emiratis causes Emiratis to remain in their positions for longer periods of time without any clear progression. This is mainly due to the fact that higher employee positions are filled with expatriates to introduce diversity and experience into the team. In many cases, these expatriates are less qualified and less experienced! Then why does this happen? With a high paced work environment and a shortage of skilled employees in the region, it is incumbent to hire an expatriate workforce. However, due to Emiratization, the organization has no choice but to employ them at higher levels, which sometimes comes at the expense of qualified and experienced Emiratis.
Third, I believe that all of the above causes Emiratis in organizations to be viewed as “special” cases that require “special” attention. The entire nature of the programs creates a perception that Emiratis are not qualified and cannot be trusted with real tasks. Qualified and talented Emiratis are then given trivial administrative tasks and deprived from responsibility they deserve in building their own nation. This in turn can lead to severe demotivation and as a result a lack of performance from Emirati employees.
Last but not least, I believe that with the current educational infrastructure and foreign exposure of Emiratis, Emiratization programs should cease to exist in their present nature and Emiratis should be given the opportunity to compete side by side with expatriate talent. However, Emiratization can take an alternate form. For example, Emiratis who feel they require enrolling in training programs should have the option to do so in the areas of their choice.
In summary, although I may have used extreme examples and generalizations to prove some points, I believe that Emiratization has proven to be detrimental for young, qualified, and talented Emiratis. Not only has it slowed their career progression through lengthy training programs and grounding in entry level positions but also it has led to severe demotivation. I believe this can be reversed by allowing Emiratis to compete with expatriates equally and giving them the option to enroll in development/training programs should they deem it necessary. This would not only save organizations millions of Dirhams annually but also create a more competitive, collaborative, and productive workforce.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Manners? What Manners?!
This article appeared in my column "To the Point" in Sail e-Magazine April 2011 Issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=975
On a recent rafting excursion in Nepal, my friend and I met two flight attendants who had remembered us from our flight the day before. What surprised me though is that the reason they remembered us is because we were of the few UAE Nationals they had met who actually said “please” and “thank you”.
Although this did not come as a surprise, it did however stir resentment, given that the region was known for its hospitality and good conduct. I could not help but think why is it that we have lost our good manners and esteemed moral conduct. Is it because of a language barrier or is it simply a result of negligence and lack of importance?
Why does it matter? Well, manners are the set of guidelines that determine the methodology of communication. They are usually the first line of interaction and consequently the first base of judgment on individuals as well as societies. Through manners a society’s dynamics are greatly affected. For example, politeness and tolerance can harvest creativity, whereas rudeness and disrespect can bring out negativity. In addition, relationships, whether between companies or people, are also governed by manners. Families are built on relationships and societies are built on families. Therefore, manners, to an extent, could influence a country’s success or failure.
After a lot of observation and understanding the driving forces of the UAE’s society, I came to the conclusion that good manners may have slowly eroded due to a lack of emphasis by members of the society. However, I believe that they can be restored if the following 3 dimensions are properly understood.
First of all, it must be known that good manners and moral conduct are from Islam’s main objectives for mankind.
“And indeed, you are upon a noble conduct, an exemplary manner” -The Holy Quran (68:4)
“I have been sent to perfect righteous and honorable manners (noble virtues)” -The Prophet Muhammad (Al Bukhari, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, No.273)
Islam has supported good manners as well as pleasant qualities and described those who are characterized by them as being of the highest caliber of believers. Islam has reiterated, in multiple divine commands, the use of ease and politeness in preaching, acts of kindness towards the young, and respect towards elders. It has also promoted uttering the truth, showing appreciation, serving a neighbor, and even simply smiling at a fellow citizen.
“The best among you are those who have the best manners and character” -The Prophet Muhammad (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 56)
Not only has Islam encouraged good character and manners but it has also condemned the opposite (rude and immoral behavior). It has prohibited cursing and foul language, cheating, hypocrisy, backbiting, acting in anger, lying, and causing any form of inconvenience to a fellow citizen.
“ Those who avoid vain talk” (speaking of traits of the believers) -The Holy Quran (23:3)
“… And surely Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.” -The Prophet Muhammad [Tirmidhi]
Second, being characterized by good manners and noble virtues should be seen as a social responsibility and duty towards the nation and the religion. The UAE has over 202 nationalities living and working in different sectors that make up above 80% of the nation’s population. This consequently makes every UAE national an ambassador to his/her culture and nation. Given the high level of Emiratis’ patriotism, it is important that the effect of bad manners on people’s perceptions of them and their country is vividly understood. I believe that this will instill a sense of representation that will drive people to better conduct and nobler virtues.
Last but not least, I trust that none of the above can be achieved if it is not supported at a family level. Many good traits and noble virtues are engrossed in one’s character at a personality development stage in one’s life (usually early years and upbringing). At this stage, an individual’s observations can influence his/her values and as a result their manners. Parents should be mindful of how their conduct is portrayed. In other words, parents should lead by example and take a proactive approach in shaping their children’s moral awareness.
Although there are many variables that can affect the manners of an individual from the region, I believe the main reason for the absence of good manners is a lack of importance and interest towards a proactive approach. However, with understanding the Islamic significance of good manners, viewing it as a social responsibility, and making sure it is carefully taught to our children, there may be hope to bring back what once made us the best of nations.
“….Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves…” -The Holy Quran (13:11)
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=975
On a recent rafting excursion in Nepal, my friend and I met two flight attendants who had remembered us from our flight the day before. What surprised me though is that the reason they remembered us is because we were of the few UAE Nationals they had met who actually said “please” and “thank you”.
Although this did not come as a surprise, it did however stir resentment, given that the region was known for its hospitality and good conduct. I could not help but think why is it that we have lost our good manners and esteemed moral conduct. Is it because of a language barrier or is it simply a result of negligence and lack of importance?
Why does it matter? Well, manners are the set of guidelines that determine the methodology of communication. They are usually the first line of interaction and consequently the first base of judgment on individuals as well as societies. Through manners a society’s dynamics are greatly affected. For example, politeness and tolerance can harvest creativity, whereas rudeness and disrespect can bring out negativity. In addition, relationships, whether between companies or people, are also governed by manners. Families are built on relationships and societies are built on families. Therefore, manners, to an extent, could influence a country’s success or failure.
After a lot of observation and understanding the driving forces of the UAE’s society, I came to the conclusion that good manners may have slowly eroded due to a lack of emphasis by members of the society. However, I believe that they can be restored if the following 3 dimensions are properly understood.
First of all, it must be known that good manners and moral conduct are from Islam’s main objectives for mankind.
“And indeed, you are upon a noble conduct, an exemplary manner” -The Holy Quran (68:4)
“I have been sent to perfect righteous and honorable manners (noble virtues)” -The Prophet Muhammad (Al Bukhari, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, No.273)
Islam has supported good manners as well as pleasant qualities and described those who are characterized by them as being of the highest caliber of believers. Islam has reiterated, in multiple divine commands, the use of ease and politeness in preaching, acts of kindness towards the young, and respect towards elders. It has also promoted uttering the truth, showing appreciation, serving a neighbor, and even simply smiling at a fellow citizen.
“The best among you are those who have the best manners and character” -The Prophet Muhammad (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 56)
Not only has Islam encouraged good character and manners but it has also condemned the opposite (rude and immoral behavior). It has prohibited cursing and foul language, cheating, hypocrisy, backbiting, acting in anger, lying, and causing any form of inconvenience to a fellow citizen.
“ Those who avoid vain talk” (speaking of traits of the believers) -The Holy Quran (23:3)
“… And surely Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.” -The Prophet Muhammad [Tirmidhi]
Second, being characterized by good manners and noble virtues should be seen as a social responsibility and duty towards the nation and the religion. The UAE has over 202 nationalities living and working in different sectors that make up above 80% of the nation’s population. This consequently makes every UAE national an ambassador to his/her culture and nation. Given the high level of Emiratis’ patriotism, it is important that the effect of bad manners on people’s perceptions of them and their country is vividly understood. I believe that this will instill a sense of representation that will drive people to better conduct and nobler virtues.
Last but not least, I trust that none of the above can be achieved if it is not supported at a family level. Many good traits and noble virtues are engrossed in one’s character at a personality development stage in one’s life (usually early years and upbringing). At this stage, an individual’s observations can influence his/her values and as a result their manners. Parents should be mindful of how their conduct is portrayed. In other words, parents should lead by example and take a proactive approach in shaping their children’s moral awareness.
Although there are many variables that can affect the manners of an individual from the region, I believe the main reason for the absence of good manners is a lack of importance and interest towards a proactive approach. However, with understanding the Islamic significance of good manners, viewing it as a social responsibility, and making sure it is carefully taught to our children, there may be hope to bring back what once made us the best of nations.
“….Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves…” -The Holy Quran (13:11)
Aligning Interests in the UAE’s Diverse Environment
This article appeared in my column "To the Point" in Sail e-Magazine March 2011 Issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=872
Watching a promotional video about Dubai in an Emirates Airlines flight gave me goose bumps to say the least. From breathtaking views of the modern skyline of Dubai to smiling faces portraying traditional hospitality as well as diversity, the message was impactful. To the outside world, the UAE is a place where diverse people from all parts of the globe work together efficiently. The UAE’s success in establishing a robust infrastructure, foreign direct investment, tolerance of different religions, and diverse demographical population, are used as evidences of that very statement. In addition, promotional videos, written media, and global forums repeatedly portray that this diversity acts collectively towards the shared goal of the country’s progress
While this statement may be true in many cases, the UAE also faces a unique challenge in achieving certain objectives due to its diverse nature. The latter may often lead to an inability to act as a single body towards shared goals; this has created a level of inefficiency that comes at a significant price. In reality, records have showed that the UAE has witnessed a great amount of inefficiency in processes, decisions, and as a result in growth. This is realized on a daily basis by entrepreneurs, employees, policy makers, as well as social servants.
Whether it be different nationalities, organizations, or contracted parties working together, there will always be some factors contributing to the resistance of each party to work with the other. Some examples of the inefficiency that has negatively impacted progress in the UAE include lost revenue from licensing delays, brand weakening due to inappropriate customer care, and disregard for local processes and customs. Although the list can continue forever, what is important to focus on is transforming these inefficiencies to productivity and managing the UAE’s diversity wisely. In my opinion, the inefficiency in businesses may be caused by the country’s diversity and it can be addressed through aligning the interests of all involved parties. In order to do so, 3 factors need to be met:
First, there needs to be a clear goal defined by the parties working together and roles should be explicitly defined. When the goal is unclear, the sense of creating value is lost. In a diverse environment, this lack of clarity and absence of a common drive can create different perceptions of what the end result should be. Therefore, having a shared clear goal and explicitly defining roles can significantly transform inefficiency to productivity.
Second, after the goal has been established and clearly defined, there needs to be clear incentives that motivate individuals to work towards the goal. These incentives can be pertaining to personal beliefs or preferences or the incentives can be financial. I recently witnessed this when working with the health authorities to establish a medical center in the UAE. At first, the employees I was interacting with were unwilling to cooperate with me. However, after I highlighted the projects’ benefits to the nation and as a result to their families and friends, I had their full commitment. Furthermore, financial incentives can also be a good way to ensure compliance and timeliness. For example, if licensing authorities or government entities were responsible to reimburse companies for the lost revenue caused by delays, the situation would be very different. Having such fair incentives or disincentives helps align diverse environments’ interests hence transforming inefficiency to productivity.
Last but not least, there needs to be recognition. This is often forgotten about by most corporations or individuals trying to achieve team work. The effort put in by each individual needs to be appreciated and the appreciation needs to be shown. This factor is especially valid in diverse environments where Fair appreciation needs to be maintained to avoid the perception of prejudice. Appreciation can be expressed in the form of a simple thank you or tokens such as gifts, promotions, etc. It is crucial to maintain a standard level of recognition. The existence of such a system may ensure the maintenance of productivity.
Although the UAE is a place of opportunity that attracts people from all around the world to its fruitful environment, we have witnessed that the diversity could also be a serious cause of the expressed above inefficiency. We can choose to either live with this inefficiency and proceed or strive to improve to produce even greater results that will benefit not only companies but also the society and the nation. In order to improve, I believe this inefficiency can be transformed to productivity through aligning interests by clearly defining the goal, placing the correct incentive schemes, and recognizing efforts.
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=872
Watching a promotional video about Dubai in an Emirates Airlines flight gave me goose bumps to say the least. From breathtaking views of the modern skyline of Dubai to smiling faces portraying traditional hospitality as well as diversity, the message was impactful. To the outside world, the UAE is a place where diverse people from all parts of the globe work together efficiently. The UAE’s success in establishing a robust infrastructure, foreign direct investment, tolerance of different religions, and diverse demographical population, are used as evidences of that very statement. In addition, promotional videos, written media, and global forums repeatedly portray that this diversity acts collectively towards the shared goal of the country’s progress
While this statement may be true in many cases, the UAE also faces a unique challenge in achieving certain objectives due to its diverse nature. The latter may often lead to an inability to act as a single body towards shared goals; this has created a level of inefficiency that comes at a significant price. In reality, records have showed that the UAE has witnessed a great amount of inefficiency in processes, decisions, and as a result in growth. This is realized on a daily basis by entrepreneurs, employees, policy makers, as well as social servants.
Whether it be different nationalities, organizations, or contracted parties working together, there will always be some factors contributing to the resistance of each party to work with the other. Some examples of the inefficiency that has negatively impacted progress in the UAE include lost revenue from licensing delays, brand weakening due to inappropriate customer care, and disregard for local processes and customs. Although the list can continue forever, what is important to focus on is transforming these inefficiencies to productivity and managing the UAE’s diversity wisely. In my opinion, the inefficiency in businesses may be caused by the country’s diversity and it can be addressed through aligning the interests of all involved parties. In order to do so, 3 factors need to be met:
First, there needs to be a clear goal defined by the parties working together and roles should be explicitly defined. When the goal is unclear, the sense of creating value is lost. In a diverse environment, this lack of clarity and absence of a common drive can create different perceptions of what the end result should be. Therefore, having a shared clear goal and explicitly defining roles can significantly transform inefficiency to productivity.
Second, after the goal has been established and clearly defined, there needs to be clear incentives that motivate individuals to work towards the goal. These incentives can be pertaining to personal beliefs or preferences or the incentives can be financial. I recently witnessed this when working with the health authorities to establish a medical center in the UAE. At first, the employees I was interacting with were unwilling to cooperate with me. However, after I highlighted the projects’ benefits to the nation and as a result to their families and friends, I had their full commitment. Furthermore, financial incentives can also be a good way to ensure compliance and timeliness. For example, if licensing authorities or government entities were responsible to reimburse companies for the lost revenue caused by delays, the situation would be very different. Having such fair incentives or disincentives helps align diverse environments’ interests hence transforming inefficiency to productivity.
Last but not least, there needs to be recognition. This is often forgotten about by most corporations or individuals trying to achieve team work. The effort put in by each individual needs to be appreciated and the appreciation needs to be shown. This factor is especially valid in diverse environments where Fair appreciation needs to be maintained to avoid the perception of prejudice. Appreciation can be expressed in the form of a simple thank you or tokens such as gifts, promotions, etc. It is crucial to maintain a standard level of recognition. The existence of such a system may ensure the maintenance of productivity.
Although the UAE is a place of opportunity that attracts people from all around the world to its fruitful environment, we have witnessed that the diversity could also be a serious cause of the expressed above inefficiency. We can choose to either live with this inefficiency and proceed or strive to improve to produce even greater results that will benefit not only companies but also the society and the nation. In order to improve, I believe this inefficiency can be transformed to productivity through aligning interests by clearly defining the goal, placing the correct incentive schemes, and recognizing efforts.
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