Impact of Global English on Cultural Identity of UAE

Running head: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Human Geography
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Introduction
I believe that emergence of English as a global language, is nowadays deeply affecting
the cultural identity of countries like United Arab Emirates and it can be said that the aggressive
expansion of English language as a global language is affecting the cultural balance of UAE. The
purpose of this essay is to highlight the new set of circumstances in UAE, which added to global
English, aggravates the cultural fragility in the nation. This paper also sheds light on concept of
identity and culture in today’s world of globalization where world language like English is
expanding in a rapid manner destroying the cultural balance of numerous nations.
Discussion
I believe that the 150 years of British rule in UAE has contributed to poor population of
Bedouin tribes, poor condition of the pearl divers and traders and poor economic condition o the
nation. After discovery of oil and subsequent departure of British people from the land of UAE
made the economic development of the country easier and petrodollar significantly gave a boost
to the economy of the nation (Huang 2016). It is seen that for developmental purposes,
government of UAE brought in various English speaking workers from across the world and that
has effectively contributed to the expansion of English language in the nation. I believe that due
to presence of immense expatriate population is a significant contributing factor to the
dominance of English as a global language in UAE. After the year of 1968, United Arab
Emirates in developing in a immense pace and the government is trying to develop the nation
economically and technologically with the help of extremely skilled foreign labors and that is
bringing in a strong presence of global English in the nation.

2HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Figure: How global English affecting Emirati community
Source: (Hopkyns 2014)
In a survey conducted among the university and high school students and teachers, it was
found that 99% of the students choose Arabic language as their first language and English as
their second language. The regional tribal languages are day by day getting back footed and
advent of western culture is ruining the base of traditional Arabic culture. The result of the
survey is given below;