Urban enclaves and transient cosmopolitanism

Abstract

Cities in the UAE are typically hailed as being among the most cosmopolitan in the world. There is however a deep divide within these cities separating the well-to-do from the impoverished, Emirati from expatriates, and workers from professionals. Such a condition defies the very idea of cosmopolitanism. Yet by looking closer and beyond the conventional sites of spectacle, spaces can be found permitting a certain degree of coming together that may run against conventional forms of cosmopolitanism but which nevertheless allow for varying degrees of inclusivity. Some are restricted to certain social groups while others tend to be more inclusive, accommodating varying ethnic groups and social classes. However, all share a desire for people to come together and circumvent the restrictions placed on them by the formal and hegemonic city. The paper draws on extensive mapping studies carried out over a period of six years with the aim of uncovering informal activities and behaviors carried out by the people who populate these settings. Three sites are presented as case studies to problematize the construct of cosmopolitanism. Inspired by the work of urbanists who studied similar processes in settings worldwide, the study engages the literature on informal urbanism. At the same time, it contributes to the cosmopolitan discourse by showing how a unique manifestation of this construct is maintained in the highly controlled and restrictive societies of the Arabian Peninsula. Finally, such an analysis demonstrates the resilience of city dwellers and their ability to circumvent such conditions.