Iranians feel at home here in the UAE
CULTURAL SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE UAE AND IRAN MAKE THE IRANIANS FEEL AT HOME HERE
iranian community makes up for ten percent of the UAE population. In addition, they’re the major contributors towards the business in the region — Iran is one of the largest traders in the Gulf. If you’ve had a chance to walk in the bylanes of Deira, you’d have been charmed by the aroma and richness of Iranian spices and dry fruits and the craftsmanship of carpets from their land. A noteworthy percentage of the Iranian expats are in the business of trading because of the physical proximity between Iran and the UAE and also because of the existence of great ports and easy, clear trading laws. Other than that, Iranian expats work in the production and real estate fields.
Farshad Kamisi, a businessman, has been in the UAE for last 15 years. He feels that similarities between Iranian and Middle Eastern culture have made it easy for Iranians to call the country their home. “I am more comfortable living here than in any other part of the world — it’s a warm, welcoming place. The local population is extremely friendly towards us. Not only is it a great place to raise one’s kids, but also it’s here that my wife feels safe and comfortable.”
Spending time with loved ones is a favourite activity with the expats. The café culture in Iran is huge. Back home, men meet over coffee for a game of backgammon or to do business. It’s not uncommon to find them bonding over sheesha and coffee at Iranian cafés in the city too. Their love for hospitality and sweets is also a known fact. You can’t leave an Iranian home until you’ve had your (rather large) share of sweets. A good idea would be to gift sweet boxes to your Iranian friends, especially at Nouroz (March 21), one of their most loved and celebrated festivals. It is considered as the start of the New Year and Spring.
Arefeh Abrishamy, a homemaker in Dubai, says, “For Nouruz, we set up the table with the seven S’s, goldfish, painted eggs, and a mirror. The seven S’s stand for Sabzeh (lentil sprouts that grow in a dish, symbolising rebirth), Samanu (sweet pudding made from wheat, symbolising affluence), Senjed (dried fruit of the oleaster tree, symbolising love), Seer (garlic, symbolising medicine), Seeb (apple, symbolising health and beauty), Somaq (sumac berries, symbolising the colour of sunrise), and Serkeh (vinegar, symbolising age and patience).” She adds, “We also celebrate Chaharshanbe Suri, wherein we jump over a bonfire on the last Wednesday of the year. The act of jumping is believed to burn out the fears and prepare one to enter the New Year.” The community follows their traditions, irrespective of which part of the world they live in. Another interesting ritual requires of them to eat red-coloured fruits and other items on the longest and darkest night in winter (Yalda). The colour reflects the crimson hues of dawn and glow of life.
Mohammad Farhani, a senior banker, says that while he loves Dubai, he does miss the lovely weather, natural beauty, cultural history and architecture, and bazaars of Iran. “Having said that, for me and my family, living in Dubai is as good as in Iran. There are Iranian hospital and schools here. In addition, there is the Iranian Club (Oud Mehta) and Iranian Business Council (Business Bay) too. It allows us to stay connected with fellow Iranians in this new home.”