Posted by Kanga.
Identity is a bit murky in the United States, however, it is nothing to the confusion in the U.A.E. In the U.S., just being born on the soil makes you a citizen. If you are not born there, it is possible to be naturalized by going through a detailed process or marriage to a citizen. The U.S. is a large piece of real estate, in case you haven’t noticed, so there are many identities within the overall American identity – yankee, southerner, Asian American, Hispanic, Native American, African American, residents of 50 distinct states, etc. Hundreds of ways to label oneself. But, when all is said and done, you can rest in being an American. (My apologies to Canadians, Central Americans and South Americans. I admit we are rather arrogant to refer to ourselves as if we were the only Americans.)
In the U.A.E., however, it is a very different story. Citizenship was created in 1971 and was given to many residing here, although not all. Citizenship by birth is given only to those whose fathers are citizens. Very few of the children born on this soil are citizens. Citizenship cannot be attained by any form of naturalization process. Not even marriage to a citizen results in citizenship, although I did read one reference to a citizen male being able to obtain citizenship for his wife (but not vice versa). In addition to being a recipe for a dwindling citizenship, this is also the cause of identity confusion for the many of non-citizens who have lived here all their lives.
Very early on we began to meet young people who have grown up here, but have to refer to themselves as Pakistani, Indian, Canadian, or whatever nationality their parents have, even though they have only visited their “homeland.” Culturally, they are… ??? There is not a word for it, no label. Some have attempted to create a label, like Dubaian, Dubai-ite, but nothing has stuck. They must be considered expats (expatriates – legal alien residents) just like the rest of us who have only arrived a short time ago.
In the video at this link Neither Here nor There a young Sudanese woman talks about the dilemma of being an expatriate both here and in her home country.
Living the Travel Channel 