Dubai Bling | 10 Years of Boycotting the UAE
Me at the Taj Mahal, India
(TW: mentioning of human trafficking and exploitation)
In the months leading up to this moment, the idea of a global call to boycott the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had not even crossed my mind. For nearly a decade, I stood steadfast in my singular conviction, often feeling like an outlier. However, this isolation never bothered me, as my decision to boycott was not about following the herd; it was about adhering to what I believed was right. If that led to isolation and critical glares, I was more than willing to endure it. Now, not only am I holding my ground, but I am witnessing a satisfying shift in conversations surrounding this critical issue.
This unexpected surge in a global call to boycott the UAE compels us to confront the world’s infatuation with its ostentatious glamour, glossy yet vacuous lifestyle, and wholehearted embrace of capitalism. Despite the glossy allure, my commitment to boycotting has remained unyielding. Every discussion about purchases or travel plans transforms into a battlefield, where I find myself having to mount a defence with lengthy explanations just to be understood or, at the very least, left alone on the topic.
Returning to 2014, during the final stretch of my six-month backpacking journey with my ride-or-die, Lua, is where the shift occurred for me. Following a soul-reviving yoga stint in Goa, India, we embarked on a rollercoaster through India, Nepal, Dubai, and Turkey. The pièce de résistance? An arduous eight-day trek to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal, subjecting my physical and mental resilience to the ultimate litmus test.
The post-trek euphoria was real, and the days in Kathmandu allowed me to forge genuine connections with the local community. I fell in love with the country, the painting-like landscape, the buzz of the markets, the friendliness of the community, the haggling spirit of the shopkeepers, and most importantly, learning a small speck of what life was like living in the mountain towns with its challenges and blessings.
